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The Box Tree Tavern, 5 Gravel Lane, Aldgate E1

Aldgate pub history index

The Box Tree Tavern was a long-established public house at 5 Gravel Lane, Aldgate E1, with documented activity from at least 1765 through to around 1915. Early records show Sarah Fosset in occupation in 1765, and other 18th- and early-19th-century listings, including Eliza Swain and Barnet Swayne, indicate that the premises were in licensed use at this address from the mid-1760s onward.

Throughout the 19th century the tavern is regularly recorded in directories, insurance records, censuses and trade lists. Successive victuallers such as George Vile in the 1830s–60s and later Alfred and Eliza Polley in the 1870s–80s, and then Frederick Geo Weir and Samson Joseph Britton, demonstrate continuity of use and changing proprietorship over many decades. Census evidence from 1851 and 1861 shows the licensed victualler and family living on site alongside staff and lodgers, typical of public-house households of the period.

By the early 20th century the pub was still listed in Post Office directories under Aaron Isaacs through 1915, but like many historic City establishments it did not survive later redevelopment and was ultimately demolished during the 20th century, with the site’s historic use now lost to modern change.

The Box Tree Tavern existed from at least 1765 unti about 1915. This pub is now demolished. **

Residents at this address.

1765/Sarah Fosset/../../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **

1817/Eliza Swain/../../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **

1828/Barnet Swayne/Victualler/../../Sun Fire Office Records, held at Guildhall Library **

1829/Bennett Swayne/Victualler/../../Sun Fire Office Records, held at Guildhall Library **

1833-34/Elizabeth Swayne/../../../Pigots Directory

1836/George Vile/Victualler/../../Sun Fire Office Records, held at Guildhall Library **

1839/George Vile/../../../Pigots Directory

1841/George Vile/../../../P.O. Directory **

1842/Geo. Vile/../../../Robson�s Directory **

1844/George Vile / Public House Keeper /../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **

1851/ George Vile / Head / 43 / Licensed Victualler /../../../1851 census **
1851/ Ann Vile / Wife / 40 / London /../../../1851 census
1851/ John Hains / 30 / Servant / Bedfordshire /../../../1851 census

1851/George Vile/../../../Kellys Directory

1856/G Vile/../../../Post Office Directory

1861/George Vile/Licensed Victualler/67/Kent/Census
1861/Annie Wile/Wife/60/London/Census
1861/William Bayley/Potman/?/London/Census

1869/Alfred Polly/../../../Post Office Directory

1871/Alfred Polley/Licensed Victualler/41/Oxfordshire/Census
1871/Elizabeth Polley/Wife/38/Bethnal Green, Middlesex/Census
1871/James H Polley/Son/17/Bethnal Green, Middlesex/Census
1871/Mary Randal/Servant/47/Somerset/Census
1871/William Woodnul/Potman/21/Isle of Wight/Census

1872/Alfred Polley/../../../P.O. Directory **

1881/Eliza Polley/Licensed Victualler, Widow/48/Bethnal Green, Middlesex/Census
1881/James How Polley/Son, Assistant/17/Pimlico, Middlesex/Census
1881/Anna Rix/General Servant/22/Norfolk/Census
1881/Charles Brand/Potman/20/Stepney, Middlesex/Census

1884/Mrs Elizabeth Polley/../../../P.O. Directory **

1886/Elizabeth Polley/../../../Business Directory of London **

1891/Frederick Geo Weir/../../../Post Office Directory

1891/Geo F Weir/Licensed Victualler, Widpw/65/nk/Census
1891/Alfred Weir/Son, Tinman/24/St Lukes, London/Census
1891/Christopher Weir/Son, Brass Finisher/21/St Lukes, London/Census

1899/Samson Joseph Britton/../../../Post Office Directory

1910/Aaron Isaacs/../../../Post Office Directory

1915/Aaron Isaacs/../../../Post Office Directory



** Provided By Stephen Harris


PUB HISTORY
And Last updated on: Sunday, 01-Feb-2026 15:25:19 GMT