Wivenhoe pub history index
The original name 'Union Flag' suggests an opening date not long after the 1707 union of England and Scotland and the adoption of the Union Jack BUT the 1734 map of Wivenhoe still shows woodland; so perhaps the pub opened c1750. It was certainly in existence before the start of the licensing records in 1769. The building, a small single-storey cottage with attic rooms above (the northern half of the present pub) could well be of that period. It was extremely small for a place that always called itself an Inn. The name seems to have changed to Flag in 1822. The two-storey portion at the south end was not built till c1910. The Flag was a Daniells pub, thence Trumans from 1958, but has since become a Free House.
Kindly provided by Jacky Lawrence
Union Flag, Wivenhoe Cross, Wivenhoe, 2000
Residents at this address
The licensee in 1769 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as John Plume, at the Union Flag, Wivenhoe.
The licensee in 1772 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as John Plume, at the Union Flagg, Wivenhoe.
The licensee in 1776 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Elizabeth Plume, at the Union Flagg, Wivenhoe.
The licensee in 1784 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Elizabeth Plume, at the Union Flag, Wivenhoe.
The licensee in 1792 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as James Wyard, at the Union Flag, Wivenhoe.
The licensee in 1801, 1804 and 1806 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as James Wyard, at the Union Flag, Wivenhoe.
The licensee in 1810 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as James Wyard, at the Union Flag, Wivenhoe.
The licensee in 1816 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Mary Wyard, at the Union Flag, Wivenhoe.
The licensee in 1825 was recorded on the Alehouse Recognizances as Mary Wyard Widow, at the Flag, Wivenhoe.
1828-9/Samuel Wade/../../../Pigot's
1832-3/George Hyam/../../../Pigot's
1839/Abraham William Abbott/../../../Pigot's
1845/George Philbrick/../../../Post Office
1848/George Philbrick/../../../White's
1851/George Philbrick/../../../Post Office
1851/George Philbrick/Innkeeper/49/Wivenhoe, Essex/Census*
1851/Martha Philbrick/Wife/50/Ardleigh, Essex/Census
1851/George Philbrick/Son, Shoe Maker/22/Wivenhoe, Essex/Census
1851/Joseph Head/Lodger, Farmers Labourer/29/Wivenhoe, Essex/Census
1855/Miss J Wenden/../../../Post Office
In 1861 at the Union Flag, Heath, Wivenhoe, Lexden
Sarah Wenden, Landlady, Widow aged 40 and born in Colchester, Essex
Anne Wenden, Daughter aged 20 and born in Great Bromley, Essex
Avis Wenden, Daughter aged 15 and born in Dedham, Essex
James Cole, Visitor, Agricultural labourer aged 25 and born in Wivenhoe, Essex
1862/Mrs. Sarah Wenden/../../../Kelly's
1867/Mrs. Sarah Wenden/../../../Post Office
1870/Mrs. Sarah Wenden/../../../Kelly's
1871/Mrs. Sarah Wenden/../../../Post Office
In 1871 at the the Flag Inn, Wivenhoe Cross Wivenhoe
Sarah Wenden, Inn keeper aged 50 and born in Colchester, Essex
Alice Wenden, Daughter aged 23 and born inDedham, Essex
1874/Mrs. Sarah Wenden/../../../Kelly's
1878/William Goldsmith/../../../Kelly's
1881/William Goldsmith/Gardener/48/Hedenham, Norfolk/Census
1881/Esther Goldsmith/Wife/49/Hedenham, Norfolk/Census
1882/William Goldsmith/../../../Kelly's
1886/William Goldsmith/../../../Kelly's
1890/William Goldsmith/../../../Kelly's
In 1891 at Flag Inn, 1, Heath, Wivenhoe, Lexden
William Goldsmith, Licensed victualler aged 56 and born in Hedenham, Norfolk
Esther Goldsmith, Wife aged 58 and born in Hedenham, Norfolk
Sarah Catling, Visitor, Widow aged 75 and born in Great Oakley, Essex
1894/William Goldsmith/../../../Kelly's
1895/William Goldsmith/../../../Kelly's
1898/William Lawrence/../../../Kelly's
1899/William Lawrence/../../../Kelly's
In 1901 at the Flag Inn, Wivenhoe Cross, Town, Wivenhoe
William Lawrence, Licensed victualler aged 36 and born in Harwich, Essex
Julia Lawrence, Wife aged 27 and born in Dover Court, Essex
Richard Lawrence, Son aged 3 and born in Wivenhoe, Essex
Laura Lawrence, Daughter aged 1 and born in Wivenhoe, Essex
Priscilla Youngs, Boarder, Servant (domestic) aged 20 and born in Harwich, Essex
1902/William Lawrence/../../../Kelly's
1906/William Cole/../../../Kelly's
1908/William Cole/../../../Kelly's
1910/William Cole/../../../Kelly's
In 1911 at the Flag Inn, The Cross Wivenhoe, Essex
William Cole, Licensed victualler aged 46 and born in St Osyth
Caroline Cole, Wife aged 42 and born in Colchester
Hilda Florence Cole, Daughter aged 7 and born in Wivenhoe
Cyril Earnest Cole, Grandson aged 2 and born in Wivenhoe
1912/George William French/../../../Kelly's
1914/George William French/../../../Kelly's
1917/Thomas Chamberlain/../../../Kelly's
In 1921 at the Flag Inn, Wivenhoe, Essex
Thomas Chamberlain, Licensed Victualler aged 51 years 5 months and born in Hackney, Middlesex
Rosa Chamberlain, Wife, Housekeeper, Thomas Chamberlain aged 51 years 1 month and born in Norfolk
Edgar Lougher, Boarder, Farmer aged 34 years and born in Swansea, Glamorganshire, Wales
1922/Thomas Chamberlain/../../../Kelly's
4,1923 Charles Geary
1925-6/Thomas E. Daines/../../../Kelly's
1929/Ernest John Blower/../../../Kelly's
2,1930 Edward Wilkinson
11,1930 Lionel T.W.Planck
1933/Arthur Robert Cottee/../../../Kelly's
1937/Arthur Robert Cottee/../../../Kelly's
11,1944 Frederick Peak
8,1953 Douglas Albert Metcalf
11,1955 Alfred John Gooch
1.1959 Roy Adrian Leeder
My uncle Francis Edward Lawrence and his wife ran the Flag [Union Flag pub]
at Wivenhoe. He was born in Harwich,1870 and died 1959 at Dovercourt. He was
great friends with Captain Fryatt and was pall bearer at Fryatts funeral.
Captain Lawrence was Master of the SS Colchester when the ship was
harassed by German submarines on 11th December 1914. He received a gold watch
for his valour. When the ship was captured by the Germans on 22nd September
1916, Capt L was on leave, his place being taken by his Mate, Frank Bennett.
This was when the Germans captured Fryatt.
Captain Lawrence was pallbearer at Capt Fryatt' funeral, a photo of this is
held at the Redoubt Fort.
Capt L became the first Master of SS Bruges which entered service between
Harwich and Antwerp in Oct 1920. He stayed with this ship until he retired on
14th Nov 1925. Bruges was a 2949 gross ton passenger ship. Further information
from our Town Archivist:
The Trade Directory of 1878 shows Capt Francis Lawrence residing at 'New
Road' Harwich. No specific house is identified in these directories (or in the
Rate Books). In 1882 the entry reads: Captain Francis Lawrence, Main Road, .Iassume
it is the same address. The road would have been labelled 'new' to distinguish
it from the 'old' road which was blocked off by the Redoubt. My assumption
would be that the house was located in the Main Road opposite Cox's Pond,
anywhere between Station Rd and the old Main Road School. **
1988 - 90/R A Leeder esq/../../../Watney Truman publicans list
2018, The Flag Inn, Colchester Road, Wivenhoe, Colchester CO7 9HS
* Provided byEssex Villages
** Kindly provided by Jacky Lawrence