Some history of The Angel at Rotherhithe in Bermondsey in London.

London | Rotherhithe | The Angel

The Angel, a hostelry that has traded as the Angel Inn and the Angel Tavern, stands next to Platform Stairs, partly propped up from the foreshore of the River Thames by sturdy timbers that, along with other parts of the fabric, were restored when the building was saved by Samuel Smith's Brewery in the early years of the 21st century. The modern address for The Angel is 101 Bermondsey Wall East but it was formerly listed under Rotherhithe Street, latterly at No.21. Although in the Borough of Bermondsey, the building was in Ward 1 of Rotherhithe. In 1986 this area was bundled into Southwark as part of the reorganising of London's boroughs. However, it remains in my section for Bermondsey as I cannot be having any of that modern nonsense.

© Crown Copyright. Reproduced with kind permission of the National Library of Scotland under the Creative Commons Attribution licence.

I have marked the location of the pub on the above map extract surveyed in 1894 and published in 1915. This gap may, of course, mean that some changes to the landscape may have altered and not be represented. In terms of The Angel, along with the neighbouring taverns, this arrangement of buildings remained static. All three pubs were considered for compensation by the justices for the Newington Licensing Division in February 1929. Despite appeals by solicitors making appeals on behalf of their brewery clients, both the Dover Arms and Jolly Waterman were included in a wider cull of licensed houses. The Angel survived this threat to its existence. At the time the premises were owned by Courage & Co. Ltd. Mr. E. W. Preston, surveyor to the justices, reported that "within a quarter-mile radius of the house there were 21 full licences. It was a very good house in every way, and superior in its accommodation to the two fully-licensed houses in the immediate vicinity." The legal representative for Courage, Sidney Lamb. stated that "the licence had been held by members of one family for 45 years, and much money had recently been spent upon repairs." After consideration, the justices renewed the licence of The Angel.

I have a soft spot for The Angel. True, the interior is a retro-confection by Samuel Smith's but I generally like the sympathetic treatment given to the brewery's estate of houses. There is no real ale served but I don't mind their keg bitter and stout, especially when it can be supped in this lovely tavern.

© Photo taken by author on August 1st, 2019. DO NOT COPY

The above view from Bermondsey Wall shows the relationship between the building and the River Thames. Affording superb views across the river, some claim that J. M. W. Turner painted The Fighting Téméraire from the tavern's balcony. This nugget of information appears in a number of tomes. If this story is actually true then the plasterwork within the building was still drying alongside the artist's oils for the building was, according to a history panel on the corner, erected around 1837.

© National Gallery of Art, London. DO NOT COPY

A survivor of the Battle of Trafalgar, H.M.S. Téméraire was towed to the breaker's yard during the following year. Crowds flocked to see the famous man-of-war when it was broken up in John Beatson's yard. Some of the spectators were sailors who had served on the vessel. "Here's the poor old Téméraire come to the knackers at last," exclaimed a jolly old tar, who lost his starboard leg at Trafalgar, "I couldn't have believed they would has sarved her so, howsomdever, I hope I shall have timber enough for a new leg out of her." His request was complied with, and a piece of oak was given to the sailor for the purpose! ³³

Whether it was applied to canvas from the balcony of The Angel or a neighbouring spot, the painting is quite magnificent. John Ruskin, the art critic and polymath, summarised the work beautifully when he wrote : "of all pictures of subjects not visibly involving human pain, this is, I believe, the most pathetic that was ever painted. The utmost pensiveness which can ordinarily be given to a landscape depends on adjuncts of ruin; but no ruin was ever so affecting as this gliding of the vessel to her grave."

© Photo taken by author on August 1st, 2019. DO NOT COPY

Here is the aforementioned history panel on the corner of the building. As mentioned, it states that The Angel was re-built around 1837, replacing an older tavern that dated back to the 17th century. The predessor, according to this panel, was "sited diagnonally opposite, alongside the moat of King Edward III's mansion." This would mean that the earlier Angel Inn was erected on land reclaimed from the moat that surrounded the 14th century manor house. On CAMRA's What Pub? website it states that "the present building dates from 1830s, with parts possibly dating back to the previous 17th century pub of the same name," a sentence borrowed from the British Listed Buildings website. Well, I guess it was possible that some fragments of the old place could have been carried across Rotherhithe Street - that is if the information on the history panel is true, and that the pub did move location. The following map extract suggests that it did ...

© The British Library and reproduced with kind permission under the Creative Commons Attribution licence.

This extract from a map of the parish of Saint Mary, dated 1755, does not show any building at Redriff Stairs, the earlier name for Platform Stairs - indeed, an early name for Rotherithe, generally spelt Redriffe, the etymology being "Rather" or "rother" meaning cattle in Old English, coupled with "hythe", an Anglo-Saxon word for harbour. The map indicated that the southern side of what was Redriff Street being extensively developed. Just to throw a spanner in the works, Richard Newcourt's Map of London, published in 1658, does show a building next to Redriff Stairs.

Many other websites and a couple of books state, with varying degrees of uncertainty, that The Angel was formerly called the Salutation and acted as guest house for Bermondsey Abbey in the 15th century and that the tavern was patronised by Samuel Pepys. Unless I am missing a trick, I have not seen an entry in his diary for the Salutation or Angel in this location. He did record visits to pubs with these signs in other parts of London. It is true that the nearby Cherry Gardens is mentioned but not in relation to a visit to a tavern here. Who came up with this so-called fact? And why does it get rolled out as a fact by journalists, bloggers and tour guides? As already mentioned, the previous tavern is supposed to have stood alongside the moat of King Edward III's mansion NOT Bermondsey Priory which was some distance to the south-west. The romantic in me wants these stories to be true but there is no evidence to verify the tales. Talking of which, the trap door of the building [which does exist] is often cited as a convenience for smugglers. However, the building was erected during a period when the golden days of smuggling were over, tight regulations and river law enforcement making it very unlikely that cases of illicit booty were being hauled up into the kitchen.

© Insurance Museum, London. DO NOT COPY

A possible date for the former tavern is 1682 as there was once a sale contract bearing this date on display inside the building. A late 18th century reference to The Angel can be found in the Sun Fire Office Policy Registers in which Sarah Donald, "victualler of the Angel near Rotherhithe Stairs," took out insurance for the premises on March 23rd, 1791. She would have had a Sun firemark or plaque mounted on the building to indicate to a fire crew that she was a paid-up policy holder and entitled to some defence against a conflagration. Other local people to take out an insurance premium on the same day were William Munro, a chandler near the Three Mariners' Stairs, along with Robert Dallaway, a baker at Rotherhithe Wall.² Sarah Donald appeared each year in the Surrey list of licensed victuallers during the early-mid-1890s. In the Surrey Land Tax Records she is recorded in Rotherhithe Street as a tenant to a freeholder named Hucks.³

Rotherhithe could be a dangerous place for a pub landlady running a house alone. In March 1750 villains broke into the Dutch Skipper public house and robbed the landlady of a considerable sum of money. The gang, with faces covered in crapes and large knives in their hands, bound and gagged the woman, and left her in that condition. Brandishing the blades, they "threatened to cut her to pieces if she spoke the least word." ⁴

There was no shortage of incidents at Rotherhithe Stairs in the 18th century. In January 1756 a woman who had brought a child to be buried at Rotherhithe Church, on stepping out of the boat at the stairs, fell into the Thames and was drowned.⁵ In July 1861 a young woman of fortune attempted to drown herself in the Thames near Rotherhithe Stairs; but "a young man happening at the instant to come by, jumped into the water, and saved her life at the hazard of his own." When the woman recovered her senses, she declared that a love affair led her to attempt such a desperate action. She reportedly made him a handsome present for his bravery and trouble, and gave him directions to call for a future gratuity.⁶ In November 1872 another woman, "seemingly big with child" was apprehended while stepping out of a wherry at Rotherhithe Stairs, by revenue officers. She was "safely delivered of a large pillow-case, containing India handkerchiefs, muslin etc. to a very considerable value." ⁷

Cutting from Page 3 of the "Morning Advertiser" published on Thursday March 5th, 1818.

Fast-forward to 1818, when a couple named Rogers were running The Angel, there was a case of fraud committed by Henry Harris for which he was committed for trial.

Extract from Licensed Victuallers Register of 1822.

John Charles Ratcliffe is recorded as licensee between 1822 and 1826 when he was succeeded by John Terry. The owner of the property appears to be the Bermondsey brewer, Charles Palmer, based in Russell Street.⁸ He was facing bankruptcy in 1828.

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Thomas and Martha Paul were running The Angel in the 1840s, a period when the tavern was used regularly for coroner's inquests. On Sunday, September 11th 1842, at half-past six o'clock, a lad named Wallmeer was playing among the boats off the platform, Rotherhithe, and fell into the river. He was recovered in less than fifteen minutes afterwards and taken to the Angel. The body was then warm and attempts were made to restore animation, which were persevered in for some time by several medical gentlemen, but without success.⁹ Two days later The Angel was packed to hear the coroner's inquest into the death of Joseph Paul, later master of the brig Eden, of North Shields, who was drowned when his boat was capsized in a collision with the Waterman steam-boat No.2, while off Colestairs, Shadwell. As it was a case in which river protocols were being examined, the Harbour Masters of the Port of London, along with others connected with the navigation of the river were in attendance. In a heated hearing with much conflicting evidence, the jury, after hour's deliberation, returned a verdict of "Accidental Death," with a deodand of £260 on the steamer, and a recommendation that the laws which regulate the speed of steam-boats in the port of London, which have been much infringed upon, should be in future duly enforced.¹⁰

On the following day, September 14th 1842, another inquest was held in The Angel with regard to the sad death of 29-year-old Mary Ann Osborne, who committed suicide by throwing herself over Waterloo Bridge. From the evidence of several witnesses it appeared that she had been a married woman, but owing to suffering abuse from her husband, had left him five years earlier. Since that time she had led what was called "a very abandoned life." On the morning of Wednesday, September 7th, about one o'clock, she had met with a gentleman to whom she was much attached, and walked with towards Waterloo Bridge. The coroner was told that she was a woman of strong feeling, and was much excited at the time she was walking with her companion, on account of his refusing to appoint a time when he would visit her. When about the centre of the bridge she suddenly left his arm, ran forward, and before she could be overtaken had got upon the parapet, and rolled herself over into the water. An alarm was instantly given, and boats put off, but the body was not found until the following Monday, when it was picked up by a dredgerman of Horseferry Stairs, Rotherhithe. She had a gold watch and silver guard-chain about her, and four gold rings on her fingers. It was stated that she was in the habit of giving way to passion, and frequently said she would destroy herself. The jury returned a verdict of "Temporary Insanity." ¹¹

Reproduced under the Creative Commons Attribution licence.

The Angel figured in the recruitment process of the so-called Flores Expedition of 1846, an operation in which Juan José Flores, the exiled former president of Ecuador, attempted to gather a force of 6,000 men in Europe to undertake an expedition to conquer his country, regain power and install a new monarchy. On November 24th, 1846, it was reported that "several hundred lads and men were collected near the Angel public-house platform, Rotherhithe, for the purpose of engaging themselves in the expedition, under the name of emigrants. An officer and a doctor occupied a large room in the public-house, where the men and lads were examined by the doctor, and, after being supplied with sixpennyworth of bread and cheese and ale, they were shipped on board a steam-tug, and taken to Gravesend." Upwards of five hundred were engaged in this manner.¹² However, the financial houses of the City of London, led by Baring Brothers, deemed the expedition a threat to English economic interests. Ultimately, the ships on which they were to sail to South America were impounded by invoking the Foreign Recruitment Act. The Irish-born mercenary soldier, Adderley Wilcocks Sleigh, a man decorated by the Spanish and Portuguese in various campaigns was arrested and charged with unlawfully enlisting British subjects to serve under a foreign power. He was in charge of the enlistment proceedings at The Angel.¹³ In a sensational court case, amid a frenzy, the cavalier Adderley Wilcocks Sleigh "effected his escape from all his would-be detainers, manifesting remarkable agility and getting clear off." ¹⁴ The involvement of The Angel in this chapter of history is a rather unique story for a London pub!

Sarah Burry was probably the landlady of The Angel during the recruitment process for the Flores Expedition. She had earlier kept the Rose and Rummer in nearby Paradise Street.¹⁵ She left the house in 1847, the licence being transferred to James Chapman at the Newington Sessions held on November 12th of that year.¹⁶ He remained for almost three years, handing over to Edward de Heer who was granted the licence on September 25th. 1850.¹⁷ Born in Kingston-upon-Hull around 1819, Edward de Heer married Maria Arliss in his hometown in May 1835. By the time the couple were running The Angel they had four children. The couple employed a servant and pot boy who lived on the premises. They upheld The Angel's traditions of serving as an inn and had a couple of lodgers in residence.¹⁸

On the 1915 map extract Platform Sufferance Wharf can be seen a few metres to the west of The Angel. Next to this was Platform Wharf. It was in this area that a major fire took hold on Sunday September 19th, 1852. It was reported as being one of the most terrific fires to have occurred in the locality. Two people died and several other were injured. The conflagration originated in the premises of William Hogg, an optician and mathematical instrument dealer, but also a factor supplying chandlery and goods for ships sailing to faraway destinations such as Australia. At the time his warehouse was carrying a large stock in trade, including guns and ironmongery of nearly every description. It was just before one in the morning when screams of "Fire!" and "Save Us!" were heard. A policeman and others were soon on the scene and, when looking up, could see William Hogg, along with some of his female servants, at the windows. Just as the policeman was attempting to break down the main door, Susan Hogg, a niece of the proprietor, leapt from the upper floor, hitting the pavement hard. Her body, with burns to the face and hands, was removed to safety. William Hogg was told to remain until something could be procured for him to leap upon. A counterpane was procured and stretched out beneath the window he was to jump from. However, his weight was such that he went through it and broke his legs and severely injured his spine. The draught created by the door being broken open caused the fire to spread rapidly. Seven fire engines fought in vain to prevent the spread of the fire, the flames shooting across to other properties, including the nearby India House Tavern, the frontage of which was destroyed. The damage to other adjacent properties was considerable, William Hogg's premises had collapsed and was ruined.

Two of the firemen, Robert Langford and Thomas Morris, were badly burned in the efforts to extinguish the flames. It was only when daylight broke that a proper examination of the premises could be undertaken. After some time the charred remains of Jane Brown and Rosina Riches, another niece to William Hogg, were found amongst the timbers. The death toll could have been higher, except that on the previous day the proprietors wife, Mary Ann Hogg, together with four children, left the house for a trip to the country.

On the following Tuesday an inquest was held at the Angel Tavern, on the bodies of Jane Brown, aged twenty-seven, and Rosina Riches, aged twenty-three, who perished in the fire. It was with some difficulty that the identification of the bodies could be established. The inquest had to be adjourned as the survivors were too ill to attend and give evidence.¹⁹

For one reason or another it was seemingly a tough gig at the Angel Tavern in the mid-19th century because the turnover of licensees was quite high. Edward de Heer left the premises to become a cooper, first across the water at Limehouse, but returning to Rotherhithe in later years.²⁰ He was followed by John Walker but his stay was short, being succeeded by James Lugg, the licence of The Angel being transferred to him on July 27th, 1853.²¹ This may have been the same publican who later kept the White Horse in Orchard Street. Certainly, he departed this house in 1857, handing over the keys to Joseph Wills. The son of a mariner, he was born in Folkestone in 1809. He had a military background which is possibly the reason for him meeting Charlotte Coe, a Devon-born daughter of a Bermondsey pub landlady. They were married at Southwark in April 1857.²² The Angel would have been their first matrimonial home. They seemingly prospered and remained until the 1871 when Charlotte shuffled off this mortal coil. Widower Joseph Wills gave up the pub and retired to Kent where he died in 1879.

At the Newington Licensing Sessions held in December 1871 the licence of The Angel was transferred from Joseph Wills to George Paul Unwin.²³ The son of a builder, he married Angelina Baynham Addington at Camberwell in April 1858 when he was also recorded as a builder. However, prior to taking over at The Angel he was documented as a house painter.²⁴ He and his wife Angelina remained at The Angel throughout the 1870s. A number of their children also helped to run the pub.

Tragedy struck the Unwin family in a most terrible manner on April 7th, 1883. From the evidence given by the publican at a subsequent inquest held in the tavern, it was a Saturday night, shortly after closing the pub, and he was counting up the money, that his wife went to fetch him a candle so that he could extinguish the gas in the house. She came back with it into the bar parlour and placed it upon the table. She then said she was ready for bed, and George Unwin turned out the gas overhead. His wife then stretched her arm over the candle to reach the cash box, when a fancy shawl on her neck caught fire and in an instant she became enveloped in flames. Her husband succeeded in extinguishing the fire in a few moments, but she was very much burned about the arms and shoulders. At the inquest it was stated that medical assistance was not obtained till noon on the following day, and death ensued on Thursday April 12th. She was 48 years of age. The local surgeon, R. T. Nicolls, of Union Road, Rotherhithe, deposed to attending Angelina Unwin, who had severe burns on the throat, chest, shoulders and arms. He knew her as a woman of weak constitution, and unable to stand the shock. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death." ²⁵

Six months after the tragedy, in November 1883, the 50-year-old widower re-married to Caroline Done, a woman 28 years his junior.²⁶ She hailed from Kidderminster in Worcestershire where her father, a licensed victualler and hay dealer, died amid a court case in 1878 in which he was accused of theft.²⁷ Relocating to London, Caroline Done had become a mother in the year before her marriage to George Unwin, though it is unclear who the father was. What a web of intrigue. Following their marriage, the couple had a son, George, in June 1885. The publican would not see the child grow up as he died on Christmas Eve in 1886. Indeed, the boy would be be brought up by his grandmother as widow, Caroline, died in September of the following year.

Customers of today's pub are advised to close the windows when the tide is up. The water can splash over the balcony of the tavern. On Thursday, August 26th 1886, the river was particularly high. A customer disappeared and was later found drowned "under circumstances of a mysterious character." He was Frederick Blacketer, a 58-year-old pilot of the steam-float Dodo, in the service of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade. He was a resident of Union Road and the inquest on his body was held in the Royal Oak in that thoroughfare. George Unwin, as proprietor of The Angel, was ordered to attend and deposed that he had known the pilot for a number of years and was a personal friend. On the night in question he and his wife were among a group of friends who were guests at The Angel and partook of a supper. The publican stated that "About 11 o'clock they were about to depart, when Frederick Blacketer went to the back of the balcony, which overlooks the river, and where there was a place of convenience. As he was absent longer than was necessary he went on the balcony and called out, and not getting any reply he procured a light, but nothing was seen of him." An alarm was raised, and a number of men clambered into boats to search the river. It was about two o'clock when the publican saw the pilot dead in a boat. When further questioned, George Unwin said : "when the pilot went on to the balcony he was not quite sober; he was not tipsy, but 'fresh.' The balcony was protected by a rail fence 3ft. high." The jury, after hearing other evidence, returned a verdict, "that the deceased was found drowned in the river Thames, but how he got into the water they had no evidence to show." ²⁸

Image melded from 1887 Goad Plans of City of London.

This plan shows The Angel and surrounding properties in a survey of 1887, all numbered for easy identification. Two doors away at No.25 was the coffee rooms of William Henry Blackall. At No.29 was the barge-builder, Robert James Moore. No.33 was the premises George Pace, another barge-builder. Between these two properties was the confectioner's shop of James Pink.

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There was a game of musical pubs within Rotherhithe Street in the early 1890s. James Henry Hughes moved to The Angel from the Black Bull further along the street. Meanwhile Henry Owers moved from The Angel to The Ship.

Cutting from Page 12 of the "London Daily Chronicle" published on Monday April 26th, 1897.

This extract from the London Daily Chronicle gave notice that an auction for several public-houses, including the freehold of The Angel, was to be held on April 28th, 1897. For the freehold rental of £42 a year, derived from the property, £1,610 was obtained, the reversion to possession being in 20½ years.²⁸

Albert Boatman was the licensee of The Angel at the time of the auction. Born in Bermondsey he spent his formative years at the Royal George in Union Road, a boozer kept by his parents. In January 1896 he married Ada Elizabeth Drake, daughter of the shipwright, John Drake. Only in his mid-20s, he died in the following year, his widow taking over as manager of The Angel. With a young daughter, she remained at the helm for over a decade. In February 1909 she was the treasurer of the newly-formed Angel Social Club. A large company assembled at The Angel for the inaugural meeting, to whom it was explained that the object of the club was to promote good fellowship by holding meetings for harmony, games and converse. For a nominal fee, the members were to have the use of billiard, bagatelle and cannon tables, whilst it was hoped that a summer outing and an annual dinner would be included in the programme.²⁹

It is possible that whilst Ada Boatman was managing The Angel the tenancy was being held by her in-laws. Certainly, John and Caroline Taylor had an interest in the house, along with the Duke of Edinburgh in Forsyth Street. Following the death of her husband, Caroline Taylor remained at the aforementioned Royal George, clocking up half a century of running the establishment, along with her son Frederick Boatman. Yes, she was formerly a Boatman - hence The Angel being operated by the same family for several decades. Following an attack of influenza Caroline Taylor died in January 1926.³⁰

Although the licence of The Angel was held by John Taylor in 1911, The Angel was being run by his appointed manager, Sidney George Smith. The former carman and carter had married Easter Barham in August 1900. The couple had two children living with them at The Angel.

Another Boatman was managing The Angel throughout the 1920s. Nellie Boatman had married Alfred Ebsworth in 1907. It was her husband who held the licence of the house. He was the licensee when The Angel was considered for redundancy, as outlined at the start of this page. He and Nellie kept the pub until the mid-1930s.

In September 1932 The Angel hosted the prize presentations for the City of London River and Docks Regatta. This was the 53rd annual regatta, an event open to all men working at London Docks and Wharves. The favourite for the main race, C. Taylor of Greenwich, comfortably won the mile-and-a-half sculling championship on a course from Cherry Garden Pier to Limehouse. The captain of the steamer "Ich Dien" acted as starter, and the vessel, complete with a brass band, and carrying a considerable number of enthusiasts, followed the race throughout. Publican, Alfred Ebsworth, warmly congratulated the promoter of the event as the prizes, consisting of £20 in money, clocks, watches and cutlery, were awarded to the victorious competitors.³¹

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

An image of The Angel taken from the River Thames. It could be earlier than my suggested date of 1920. It appears that The Angel had been extended into the neighbouring property by this time. The buildings to the left included the old coffee rooms, along with the barge-building business of William James Moore. The image offers a glimpse of buildings in Cathay Street, a thoroughfare formerly known as Love Lane. On the corner, and extending into several premises fronting Platform Wharf was the engineering firm of Wilmott & Cobon. The firm, specialists in steam wire-netting machines, suffered a serious fire in May 1906, which resulted in a large building being practically destroyed. The premises on the corner of Cathay Street, if the aforementioned history panel is correct, stood on the site of the former Angel Inn.

Cutting from Page 16 of the "Daily Express" published on Tuesday January 18th, 1938.

This image captured a particularly high tide in January 1938. The couple looking at the river swirling around the verandah of The Angel was probably Albert and Martha Spear, a couple who succeeded Alfred and Nellie Ebsworth as hosts of the tavern. The Spear's had previously kept the Ship in Shad Thames, a beer house that they had kept from 1930.³²

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

This view of The Angel shows the narrow road junction with Cathay Street, and the even narrower section of Rotherhithe Street. A small part of the premises of Wilmott & Cobon can be seen to the right of the image. Along Rotherhithe Street on the right was the premises of J. G. Smith & Son, manufacturers of tarpaulins and sacks.

© Image from author's photographic archive. DO NOT COPY

Not long after the outbreak of the Second World War, Albert and Elsie Reeve became the managers of The Angel. The couple moved from Pickwick Road from where Albert Reeve worked as a lithographic artist. They remained until the early-mid 1950s.

© Photo taken by author on August 1st, 2019. DO NOT COPY

in August 2019 we called into The Angel for refreshment during the Prologue of our Coastal Pub Tour. It was a very hot day so we livened up our taste buds with some Pure Brewed Organic Lager Beer whilst admiring the lovely interior. Undertaken around 2005, the restoration project saw the introduction of new timbers but the dark-wood partitions look terrific and restored the Victorian feel of the pub's interior. Purists may sneer at the absence of original timbers but the Tadcaster brewery made such a splendid job of the restoration it is something of a showstopper.

© Photo taken by author on August 1st, 2019. DO NOT COPY

Not so Victorian but lovely nonetheless is the terrazzo flooring of the bar areas. You can see how low you have to stoop to access the other areas of the bar through the partitions. It is all very lovely. A group of old men were playing dominoes in the far room. Indeed, the Tadcaster brewery like to promote traditional bar games in many of their houses. Already noted for banning piped music, in 2019 the company introduced rules forbidding the use of mobile telephones, tablets and laptops inside their pubs, the aim being to bar activities that discouraged conversation.

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"Elizabeth Smith and Emma Martin were charged with passing bad monies at the Angel Inn, Rotherhithe wall, and the Black Bull, Rotherhithe Street. Mr. Chapman proved serving the prisoner Martin with half a quartern of gin, the other prisoner being in company. She tendered a counterfeit sixpence, which he mentioned. The prisoner Smith then pulled out copper, and paid for the liquor. Mrs. Carpenter proved that the prisoner Smith tendered a bad sixpence in payment for gin, which she served, and gave change in return, A police constable came in, and expressed his suspicion that bad money had been passed, which was the fact. He followed, and took her into custody a short time afterwards. Police Constables of the detective force 237M and 98M, each proved their apprehending one prisoner. On the prisoner Martin was found 1s. 10½d, in copper monies, and 4d. in silver. The prisoners were committed to Newgate for trial."
"Uttering A Counterfeit Coin"
Kentish Mercury : March 17th 1849 Page 5

I looked this case up in the Criminal Registers and both women were imprisoned for nine months.

"Robert Morgan, a tall man, dressed in a pilot coat, was charged with uttering a counterfeit shilling at the Angel Tavern, Rotherhithe. James Chapman, the landlord, said that the prisoner came to his bar about 9 o'clock in the morning, and called for three-halfpence worth of gin, which was given to him. The prisoner then tendered the coin now produced, but suspecting it to be bad from its feel, witness bent it on the counter and broke it in two parts. The prisoner took up one half and broke that, at the time remarking that "it was very rotten." Witness retained half of it, the prisoner took the other, and left the house. Witness immediately after the prisoner was gone, went to the police station and gave information. Sergeant Roberts, M, proved that he went with another officer, and found prisoner only a short distance from the house. They took him into custody, and when at the station searched him, and in his right-hand waistcoat pocket found five counterfeit shillings, wrapped in paper, in a small black canvas bag. The prisoner threw something away when first, apprehended, which proved to be another counterfeit shilling. Committed."
"Greenwich"
Morning Advertiser : January 7th 1850 Page 4

"On the 9th inst. Mr. William Carter, the coroner for East Surrey, held an inquest at the Angel Tavern, Rotherhithe Wall, respecting the death of James Edmonds, aged nine years. From the evidence it appeared that the deceased was the son of a fireman, residing at Rotherhithe. On the morning of the 7th inst. he left home for the purpose of going to school, but on his way he met another lad, named William West, and they both proceeded to the Rotherhithe Stairs and hired a small pleasure boat. While they were going down the river in it the deceased attempted to pick something out of the water, and while he was kneeling over the side of the boat it suddenly capsized and they were both turned into the river. Their screams drew the attention of a waterman, and he immediately went in a boat to their rescue, but before he could get to the spot they disappeared. A search was at once made, and the boy West was rescued, but the deceased was not recovered until about two hours afterwards. The jury returned a verdict of "Accidental Death."
"Fatal Boat Accidents"
East London Observer : November 16th 1872 Page 7

"Henry Forbes, 24, a waterman, of Rotherhithe, was before Mr. Balguy, with two assaults. It appeared that at eleven o'clock the previous evening the prisoner entered The Angel, at Rotherhithe, and in consequence of his being the worse for liquor the landlady refused to serve him. The prisoner, who has but one leg, and walks with a crutch, alleged that he had handed the landlady a 6d., which was denied, and a disturbance took place. Harnell, the potman, on telling the prisoner he had not paid any money, was instantly knocked down. P.C. Kast, 214 R, was then sent for and took the prisoner into custody, when the prisoner struck him a violent blow with his crutch, bit one of his fingers, and tried to bite him in the thigh. His crutch was then taken from him, and he was carried to the station. It was stated that the prisoner was one of the most troublesome and dangerous men in Rotherhithe. He had been several times in custody for assaults on the police, and had only recently left prison. Mr. Balguy sentenced the prisoner to a month's hard labour."
"Assault With A Crutch"
Kentish Mercury : May 16th 1874 Page 6

"On Tuesday, Greenwich police-court, Mary Ann Anstey, aged 22, tinworker, of Trinity Road, Rotherhithe, was charged before Mr. Kennedy with attempting to commit suicide, by throwing herself into the river Thames at Angel Stairs, Rotherhithe. Police-Constable Waters, 393 M, said the prisoner ran twice towards the river and was stopped. She said, "Let me go; I mean to go in. I've got nothing to live for.- The prisoner, who had nothing to say, was remanded."
"Nothing To Live For"
South London Press : August 14th 1897 Page 3

"Frederick Boatman, barman at the Angel public-house, Rotherhithe, was ordered to pay 4s. a weeek towards the maintenance of the child of a young woman who had been a barmaid at another at which he was engaged. He was also directed to pay her £1 1s. expenses and 6s. 6d. costs."
"Boatman And The Baby"
Kentish Mercury : April 23rd 1909 Page 6

"Albert John Boatman, landlord of the Angel public-house, Rotherhithe Street, appeared to summonses alleging that he permitted drunkenness and riotous and quarrelsome conduct on his premises. The defence was that there was friendly lead at the house, and that the cause of the quarrel was a man who was not served with drink there. For permitting the drunkenness defendant was lined £5, and 20s. costs, and on the other summons 20s., and 20s. costs."
"A Publican Fined"
Kentish Mercury : April 3rd 1896 Page 6

"John Maher [43], labourer, no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to stealing £5 in gold, which he had been sent to change into silver by Mrs. Boatman, the widowed licensee of The Angel, Rotherhithe Wall. The prosecutrix said the prisoner absconded with the money. He was employed as a daily servant, and but for her would have been without food or lodging. Six weeks' hard labour."
"An Ungrateful Fellow"
South London Press : March 18th 1905 Page 8

"At the Tower Bridge Police Court on Wednesday, George Newman, 21, labourer, of Nauben Street, Bermondsey, was charged with stealing nine bagatelle balls, value £2 10s., from the Angel Tavern, Rotherhithe Street. P.C. 222M, said he stopped the prisoner in Jamaica Road, Bermondsey, because he noticed that one of his pockets was bulky. Prisoner at first said it was food, but later produced the balls and said : "I stole them last night from some pub near Platform Wharf." Prisoner was remanded."
"Sold Food"
Brockley News : August 22nd 1913 Page 4

"Albert Spear, licensee of the Angel public-house, Rotherhithe Street, Rotherhithe, was summoned for "supplying drinks during non-permitted hours," Sidney Winckles, of 132, Adams Gardens Estate, Rotherhithe, was summoned for -consuming."
"Thursday"
South London Observer : September 2nd 1938 Page 5

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References
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2. Sun Fire Office Policy Registers, Old Series and Town Department, 1710-1863 within The London Archives <https://www.thelondonarchives.org/your-research/research-guides/fire-insurance-records>, Accessed December 12th, 2024.
3. Surrey, England, Land Tax Records, 1780-1832 : England > Surrey > Rotherhithe; Roll No.90 : Reference Number 992368.
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15. "1839 Robson's Directory for London and Birmingham Part 1" : London : William Robson & Co.; 1839. p.400.
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18. 1851 England Census HO 107/1583 Folio 203 : Surrey > Rotherhithe > District 6, Page 2.
19. "Dreadful Fire And Loss Of Life At Rotherhithe" : The Era ; September 26th, 1852. p.7.
20. 1861 England Census RG 9/288 Folio 20 : Middlesex > Limehouse St, Anne > Limehouse > District 16, Page 3.
21. "Transfer Of Licences" : Morning Advertiser ; July 28th, 1853. p.7.
22. London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938, Southwark > Saint George The Martyr, 1855-1860, Page 124.
23. "Newington Licensing Sessions" : London Daily Chronicle ; December 15th, 1871. p.5.
24. 1871 England Census RG 10/739 Folio 152 : Surrey > Camberwell > St. George > District 20, Page 35.
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26. London, England, Church of England Marriages and Banns, 1754-1938, Camden > Saint Pancras, 1882-1884, Page 228.
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28. "The Property Market" : Morning Post ; April 29th, 1897. p.4.
29. "Angel Social Club" : Southwark and Bermondsey Recorder ; February 26th, 1909. p.4.
30. "The Late Mrs. Caroline Taylor" : Southwark and Bermondsey Recorder ; January 8th, 1926. p.6.
31. "City Of London River And Docks Regatta" : Southwark and Bermondsey Recorder ; September 30th, 1932. p.1.
32. "Licenses Transferred" : Southwark and Bermondsey Recorder ; June 20th, 1930. p.4.
33. "The Temeraire" : Morning Post; October 11th, 1838. p.1.

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