Five of the oldest pubs in east London dating back centuries

We previously shone a light on five of the oldest pubs in the east of the capital and here are five more.

The Golden Lion, Romford

The Golden Lion, Romford (Image: Google) One of Havering’s oldest pubs is The Golden Lion, located in High Street where it has stood since around the fifteenth century. 

According to Havering Libraries, the earliest mention of the pub and hotel dates back to February 1482 when it was known as The Lion. 

The watering hole is now part of the Greene King portfolio, and the brewery claims the pub has been known for its haunted nature, with 23 reported ghost sightings. 

One ghost is said to belong to the White Lady, a woman who held her wedding reception at the pub and was murdered in Harold Hill in the 1980s. 

Town of Ramsgate, Wapping

Town of Ramsgate, Wapping (Image: Google) Town of Ramsgate in Wapping High Street, Tower Hamlets, is believed to date back to the 1460s when a pub called The Hostel originated during the War of the Roses.

In 1766 the pub became known as Ramsgate Old Town and in 1811 took on the name of Town of Ramsgate.

An image of Ramsgate harbour from 1850 features in the pub sign and is also etched on the mirror near the entrance to the pub.

After escaping destruction in World War II, a few extensions were built between the 1950s and 80s, according to planning records, resulting in the current layout with a riverside terrace.

The Old George, Bethnal Green

The Old George, Bethnal Green (Image: Google) In Bethnal Green Road, Tower Hamlets, The Old George is believed to have been present by 1703 and by the mid-nineteenth century was trading as the George IV.

It was rebuilt in its present form in 1880.

According to PubsandBeer, brothers Henry Balls and William Austin Balls bought the pub from their father in 1897 and made it the base for their port wine importing business.

An article written by Londonist noted “the internal walls are battered and bruised, as though still recovering from the Luftwaffe” and “the furniture is straight out of your great-aunt Maud’s sitting room, yet we can’t help but fall a little in love with the place”.

The King’s Head, Chingford 

The King’s Head, Chingford (Image: Google) On King’s Head Hill, Waltham Forest, the aptly named King’s Head pub appears on maps from 1782 according to Chingford Historical Society.

It’s thought that the village stocks were near the King’s Head and the lock-up was built opposite in 1815.

The village pond was also near the pub and for centuries the pond provided a watering-place for animals after the long pull up King’s Head Hill.

The Boleyn Tavern, East Ham

The Boleyn Tavern, East Ham (Image: Google) Built in 1899, The Boleyn Tavern in Barking Road, Newham may not be as old as some of the other pubs in this list but it makes up for this in cultural significance – especially to West Ham fans.

The Grade II listed building was the “centre of the universe on match days” before the Irons moved to the London Stadium in Stratford, according to CAMRA.

The boozer would sometimes have its windows boarded up for local derbies due to the threat of vandalism from rival fans such as those from Millwall.

According to the Daily Star and Sport Bible, The Boleyn Tavern was even visited by Mahatma Gandhi who socialised with fans and drank cream soda before attending West Ham matches during his visits to London.