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Lobster Smack, Hole Haven, Canvey Island

A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Essex.

Also known as the Lobster Pot

This little inn was weathering storms on the sea front at Hole Haven, Canvey even before marauding sailors from a Dutch man of war launched an invasion here in 1667. Fortunately they soon departed and the noisiest and most violent thing in these parts once again became the waves sifting the shingle.

My 3g-grandfather Crisp Molineux Harridge is listed as licensee of the The Sun Inn, Billericay (between about 1820 and about 1840) and The Lobster Smack Inn, Canvey Island (between about 1845 and 1851). **

Lobster Smack, Hole Haven, Canvey Island

Provided by Janet Penn

The Lobster Smack Inn

Lobster Smack, Hole Haven, Canvey Island

Both kindly provided by Colleen

Lobster Smack, Hole Haven, Canvey Island, 1993 class="img-responsive">

Lobster Smack, Hole Haven, Canvey Island, 1993

Taken by Irene Martin

Residents at this address

The licensee in 1769 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Greenaway Haggar, at the Worlds End.

The licensee in 1772 was also recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Greenaway Haggar, at the Worlds End.

The licensee in 1806 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as James Richmond, at the Lobster Smack.

The licensee in 1825 was also recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as James Richmond, at the Lobster Smack.

1828/Susannah Richmond/Innkeeper/../../Alehouse Recognizances*

1839/William Finch/../../../Pigots

Census Place: Holy Haven, Canvey Island, Essex

1841/Crisp Harridge/Publican/50/Essex/Census **
1841/Mary Ann Harridge/../45/Essex/Census
1841/George Harridge/../13/Essex/Census
1841/Alfred Fitch Harridge/../6/Essex/Census
1841/William Burrells/Servant/35/Essex/Census
1841/Emma Bradcock/Servant/15/Essex/Census
1841/Charles Corey/Waterman/18/Essex/Census
1841/Robert Ellis/Waterman/55/Essex/Census
1841/Charles Moles/Waterman/55/Essex/Census

1845/Crisp Molyneaux Harridge/../../../Post Office

1848/Crisp Molyneaux Harridge/Victualler/../../Whites

1851/Crisp Molyneaux Harridge/../../../Post Office

Place: Sluice Inn (aka Lobster Smack Inn), Canvey Island, Essex

1851/Crisp M Harridge/Victualler/63/Leigh, Essex/Census **
1851/Mary A Harridge/Wife/62/Rochester, Kent/Census
1851/George Harridge/Son/22/Billericay, Essex/Census
1851/Benjamin Burrels/Ostler/57/Cotford, Essex/Census
1851/Eliza Stow/General Servant/19/Pitsea, Essex/Census

I am the great grandson of Charles Beckwith, and grandson of Charles Beckwith jr. who had the Lobster Smack Inn and Sluice Farm on Canvey Island. Charles Beckwith sen, ran the Inn from about 1862 up to 1903 when my Grandfather took over and left his Father to run Sluice Farm. He was eventually called up to fight in the first world war and as there was very little trade, no yachts from the clubs around the coast, and no labour to work the farm, he sold up in 1915. After the war he returned home to Canvey and bought the village butchers which he ran until after the second world war, and then sold to Mr. H. C. Cook.
My Great Grandfather, and Grandfather together with their family members are buried in St Katherines Church yard between the gate and porch. ***

In the 1861 census, Charles Beckwith is at the Ordnance Arms, 1 Queen Street, Milton, Gravesend, a licensed victualler alongside his sister Mary, and prior to that they are at the Cock & Magpie, Stanford le Hope.

1862/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1867/Charles Beckwith/../../../Post Office

1870/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1871/Charles Beckwith/../../../Post Office

1871/Charles Beckwith/Licensed Victualler/37/Margaretting, Essex/Census
1871/Mary Rosberry/House Keeper, Widow/60/Northfleet, Kent/Census
1871/Hanry Vine/Godson/14/Gravesend, Kent/Census
1871/William Rowe/Visitor, Waterman/60/Greenwich, Kent/Census
1871/James Wood/Visitor, Labourer/20/Steeple, Essex/Census
1871/Samuel White/Visitor, Agricultural Labourer/52/Thundersley, Essex/Census

1874/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1878/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1881/Charles Beckwith/Licensed Victualler & Farmer/48/Margaretting, Essex/Census
1881/Lucy Beckwith/Wife/40/Vange, Essex/Census
1881/Alice Beckwith/Daughter/8/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1881/Ellen Beckwith/Daughter/6/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1881/Charles Beckwith/Son/5/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1881/Lucy Beckwith/Daughter/4/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1881/Edith Beckwith/Daughter/1/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1881/Elizabeth Cutts/Sister in Law/21/Vange, Essex/Census
1881/Emily Brewitt/General Domestic Servant/15/South Benfleet, Essex/Census
1881/James Thornton/Boarder, Waterman/50/Greenwich, Kent/Census
1881/James Thornton Jnr./Boarder, Waterman/17/Greenwich, Kent/Census

1882/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1886/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1890/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1891/Charles Beckwith/Licensed Victualler, Widow/57/Ingatestone, Essex/Census
1891/Alice Beckwith/Daughter, Assistant/17/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1891/Charles Beckwith/Son, Assistant/15/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1891/Henry Wm Vine/Servant/34/Gravesend, Kent/Census

1894/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1895/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1898/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1899/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1901/Charles Beckwith/Publican, Widow/66/Danbury, Essex/Census
1901/Charles Beckwith/Son, Assistant, Barman/25/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1901/Edith Beckwith/Daughter, Assistant/21/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1901/Lizzie Beckwith/Daughter, Assistant/19/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1901/William H Vine/Assistant, Barmman44//Canvey Island, Essex/Census

1902/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1906/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1908/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1910/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1912/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1914/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kellys

1914 - 1934/J Went/../../../Freehold

1917/James Went/../../../Kellys

1922/James Went/../../../Kellys

1925/James Went/../../../Kellys

1929/James Went/../../../Kellys

1933/James Went/../../../Kellys

1935 - 1951/P J Went/../../../Freehold

1937/Percy John Went/../../../Kellys

1952 - 1961/Mrs L E Went/../../../Freehold

1962/J A T Childs/../../../Freehold


* Provided by Mike Smith

** Provided by Keith Taylor (Third great grandson of Crisp Harridge)


PUB HISTORY
And Last updated on: Saturday, 21-Jun-2025 16:45:40 BST