Abbey Arms, 484 Barking Road, Plaistow
Plaistow index
Also see the History of Plaistow
This pub was originally built in 1742 and named at that time the 'Crown'. It was re-built in its present form in 1882, listed at 384 Barking Road in 1891 to 1901. The pub remains open as seen in January 2007 as The Abbey. ***
A sketch of the Abbey Arms by Thomas Merry jr in 1862, showing the original building, possibly from West Ham Library
Kindly provided by Doreen Saunders
Abbey Arms, 484 Barking Road, Plaistow - in January 2007
Kindly provided by Stephen Harris
The Abbey, 484 Barking Road, Plaistow - in 2016
The Abbey, 484 Barking Road, Plaistow - in 2019
Residents at this address
Kentish Weekly Post or Canterbury Journal 19 January 1819
Married - January 13, Mr Thomas Cobley, of Essex street, Whitechapel, to Mrs Elizabeth Wallis, of the Abbey Arms, Plaistow, Essex
Weekly Dispatch (London) 04 December 1825
Alexander, the ostler of the Abbey Arms, Plaistow gave evidence to the robbery of Cart and Horse belongig to a Mr Partridge, of Orsett.
1826/Thomas Cobley/../../../Pigots Directory
1828/Thomas Cobley/Licensee/../../Alehouse Recognizances*
1828-9/Thomas Cobley/../../../Pigots Directory
Morning Advertiser 12 September 1831
Thomas Cobley, Abbey Arms, Plaistow, in addition to two guineas - two guineas subscription to the Licenced Victuallers Asylum
1832-3/Thomas Cobley/../../../Pigots Directory
My 3xGGPs were Thomas & Margaret Merry who both died of cholera in August 1849. I have the original very detailed Inventory for Probate done in September 1849, which I have transcribed as best I can (some of the handwriting is difficult to read, but you might find it interesting). *+
Morning Advertiser 22 March 1838
Good Friday next, April 13, 1838 - The Annual Dinner will take place at Thomas Merry's (successor to T Cobley), at the Abbey Arms Inn, Plaistow, Essex, five miles from Cornhill.
To those frieds who have passed so many Good Fridays at this house words would be superfluous, to those Gentlemen who have not, be it known, that they will find there good society, a superior dinner, and much amusement.
The charges are astonishingly reasonable. Cricket, Trap-ball, Shooting and Pleasure grounds. Rooms for private parties. Dinner on Table at Three o'clock. Omnibuses from the City.
Morning Advertiser 15 May 1838
Shooting Match, Abbey Arms Inn, Plaistow, Essex -
T Merry begs to acquaint his numerous friends that a Shooting Match will take plavce at his above named Inn on Thursday next., the 17th instance. for two fat pigs, nine sparrows each - shooting to commence at Eleven o'clock Forenoon.
T M assures those friends who may honour him with their company, that no exertion on his part shall be wanting to give satisfaction.
The Era 24 February 1839
Union Flint Glass Company, to be Incorporated by Act of Parliament or Charter - Capital, £30,000 in 6,000 shres of £5 each, Deposit of £1 per share.
Trustees
Mr Benj Bigley, Mr Francis Ireland and Mr George Grover.
Provisional Committee.
Mr T Bedwell, No 53 Great Alie street, Goodmans fields
Mr B Bingley, Kings Arms, Shoreditch
Mr J Eaton, Norton folgate
Mr W Giles, No 6 Philip street, St Georges East
Mr G Grover, Rose and Crown, Bromley, Bow
Mr J Hendry, No 180 Blackfriars road
Mr F Ireland, Plaistow
Mr J Mercer, No 60 King William street, City
Mr T Merry, Abbey Arms, Plaistow
Mr T Morris, Sun wharf, Ratcliff
Mr J Powell, Two Bells, Whitechapel
Mr H T Stannenutt, Brook street, Ratcliff
Mr G Swatton, Ben Jonson, Stepney
Mr J Tims, Fox and Grapes, Primrose street, Bishopsgate street.
Mr John Booth, Manager.
D W Wite Esq, solicitor, No 9 St Swithins lane
Messrs Ladbrokes, Kingscote and Co, Bankers, Bank buildings
1839/Thomas Kerry/../../../Pigots Directory
1841/Thomas Merry/Victualler/36/../Census
1841/Marg A Merry/../33/../Census
1841/Henry Merry/../15/Essex/Census
1841/Mary A Merry/../14/Essex/Census
1841/Thomas Merry/../7/../Census
1841/Daniel Merry/../4/../Census
1841/Clarissa Monk/Female Servant/17/../Census
1841/Sarah Merry/Female Servant/22/../Census
1841/Ebenezer West/Male Servant/16/Essex/Census
1841/James Simmons/Blacksmith/23/../Census
1845/Thomas Merry/../../../Post Office Directory
1848/Thomas Merry/../../../Whites Directory
William & Margaret Merry who both died of cholera in August 1849 - detailed Inventory for Probate done in September 1849 :
To add here *+
See A detailed Inventory of the late Thomas Merry and the Abbey Arms in 1849"
Morning Advertiser 22 August 1849
On the 21st instance, suddenly, aged 50, Margaret, the beloved wife of Mr Thomas Merry, of the Abbey Arms Inn, Plaistow, Essex.
She was a Life Donor to the Licensed Victuallers School, and is sincerely lamented by all who had the pleasure of her acquaintance.
Morning Advertiser 15 October 1849 - Transfer of Licences
West Ham - Abbey Arms, Plaistow, Thomas Merry to Henry Merry, his son
1851/Henry Merry/../../../Post Office Directory
1851/Henry Merry/victualler/25/Stratford, Essex/Census **
1851/Daniel M Merry/brother/14/Bow, Middlesex/Census
1851/Clarissa Monk/relation, barmaid/27/Bromley, Middlesex/Census
1851/James Haydon/potman/23/West Ham, Essex/Census
1851/Richard White/horse keeper/27/West Ham, Essex/Census
1851/Ann Yeo/housemaid/22/Plaistow, Essex/Census
1851/Joseph Hammett/lodger, gardener/50/Fulham, Middlesex/Census
1855/William Dawson/../../../Post Office Directory
1861/William Dawson/Licenced Victualler/35/Whitechapel, Middx/Census
1861/Maria Dawson/Wife/35/Betston, Staffs/Census
1861/Maria Williams/Visitor/14/Smethwick, Staffs/Census
1861/Sarah Culon/Servant/21/Canewdon, Essex/Census
1861/John Links/Pot man/38/Shadwell, Middx/Census
1861/Richard Luxford/Lodger, Jobbing Smith/25/Kent/Census
1862/William Dawson/../../../Kellys Directory
1867/William Dawson/../../../Post Office Directory
1867/Mr William Dawson/../../../LV Association
1870/William Dawson/../../../Kellys Directory
1871/William Dawson/Licensed Victualler/45/Aldgate, Middx/Census
1871/Mary Ann/Niece, Barmaid/17/Aldgate, Middx/Census
1871/Margaret Maybury/Niece, Dress Maker/17/Bilston, Staffs/Census
1871/Mary A W Clements/General Servant/19/Dover, Kent/Census
1871/John Pullin/Pot man/22/Gt Walton, Essex/Census
1874/William Dawson/../../../Kellys Directory
1878/George Graham/../../../Kellys Directory
1881/George Graham/Licensed Victualler/46/Durham/Census
1881/George R. Graham/Son/16/Plaistow, Essex/Census
1881/John C. Graham/Son/12/Plaistow, Essex/Census
1881/Henry J. Graham/Son/10/Plaistow, Essex/Census
1881/Hannah Graham/Sister in Law, Housekeeper/57/Stockton, Durham/Census
1881/Hannah Graham/Niece, Servant/15/Newcastle/Census
1881/Richard Williams/Inn Servant/42/Croydon, Surrey/Census
1881/Agnes Millen/Servant/21/Plaistow, Essex/Census
1882/George Graham/../../../Kellys Directory
1886/H. Adam Smith/../../../Kellys Directory
1891/William D Golding/Licensed Victualler/23/Millwall, London/Census
1891/Ellen S Golding/Wife/21/Mile End, London/Census
1891/Olive Baldwin/Barmaid/22/Poplar, London/Census
1891/Lily Hallett/Barmaid/23/Poplar, London/Census
1891/Isabella Moore/Barmaid/19/West Ham, Essex/Census
1891/Susan Cranmore/Domestic Servant/23/Poplar, London/Census
1891/Sarah Mardell/Domestic Servant/20/Upton, Essex/Census
1891/Walter Baker/Cellerman/21/Broxted, Essex/Census
1891/Alfred Bell/Errand Boy/16/Romford, Essex/Census
1896/W D Golding/Manager/../../Post Office Directory
Prudence Lowe married Harry Adam Smith the younger brother of George Arthur
Smith, in 1899 West Ham, she can be found at the Huntingdon Arms in earlier
census
1901/Harry A Smith/Manager of Tavern/24/Limehouse, Middlesex/Census
1901/Prudence Smith/Wife/24/Plaistow, West Ham/Census
1901/Nellie Smith/Daughter/8 months/Plaistow, West Ham/Census
1901/Ruth Jones/Barmaid/23/Greenwich, Kent/Census
1901/Mary Chandler/Barmaid/21/Islington, Middlesex/Census
1901/Florence Shannon/Barmaid/21/Southwark, Surrey/Census
1901/Lillie Watts/Barmaid/19/Clapton, Middlesex/Census
1901/Maud Demuth/Barmaid/19/Canning Town, West Ham/Census
1901/Ellen A Lehay/Cook/24/Nottingham, Notts/Census
1901/George Lawrence/Groom/17/East Ham, Essex/Census
1902/Adam Smith/../../../Kellys Directory
1906/Adam Smith/../../../Kellys Directory
1908/Harry Adam Smith/../../../Kellys Directory
1912/Harry Adam Smith/../../../Kellys Directory
1914/Harry Adam Smith/../../../Kellys Directory
1917/Harry Adam Smith/../../../Kellys Directory
1921/Harry A Smith/../../../Hughes Directory
1922/Harry Adam Smith/../../../Kellys Directory
1925/Harry Adam Smith/../../../Kellys Directory
1934/Geo Thos Bradstock/../../../Kellys Directory
1935/R L Banks & G O Page/../../../Kellys Directory ***
1944/W J Bradstock & M Banks/../../../Post Office Directory ***
* Provided by Mike Smith
*+ Provided by Doreen Saunders
** Provided by John Mead
*** Provided by Stephen Harris
Provided by Lee Cole