Albion Tavern, 21 St Katharines Way, Aldgate E1
Aldgate pub history index
The Albion Tavern was a substantial City of London public house whose documentary history can be traced back to at least 1788. It was situated on Aldersgate Street within the parish of St Botolph without Aldersgate, an area characterised by mixed commercial and residential use throughout the late 18th and 19th centuries.
Trade directory evidence shows that the site was not continuously recorded under a single house name. Notably, the 1833 directory lists the address as the Blacksmiths Arms, at 30 Lower East Smithfield, indicating either a temporary change of name or a reuse of the premises under a different designation. Such changes were common in London public houses and often reflected changes in tenancy rather than a complete break in use.
From the early 19th century onwards, the Albion appears regularly in directories and census records, frequently associated with wine merchants and hotel keepers. Census returns show multiple occupants at the address, suggesting a large building with staff accommodation in addition to public rooms. The premises therefore functioned not simply as a drinking house but as a combined commercial and hospitality establishment.
Variations in recorded street numbers over time reflect the broader renumbering and redevelopment of Aldersgate Street during the Victorian period rather than any relocation of the tavern itself. Contemporary references suggest that the Albion was one of the larger and more respectable taverns in the area, suitable for organised dinners and commercial gatherings as well as everyday trade.
By the early 20th century the Albion Tavern had disappeared, almost certainly as a result of redevelopment and street improvements that transformed Aldersgate Street. What remains is the documentary record — directories, census returns, and related sources — which together allow the history of the site to be reconstructed.
The Albion Tavern existed from at least 1788. The 1833 directory lists this address as the Blacksmiths Arms, 30 Lower East Smithfield; changing name to the Albion Tavern by 1839. At 3 Lower East Smithfield by 1891 which appears to be a rebuild about ten meters south east and now by Burr street; by 1915 renamed to 21 St Katharines Way E1 and at the junction with Burr street; This pub is now demolished. **
The burnt out Albion Tavern, St Katherines Way at the corner of Burr Street - dated 21st January 1943, the building is dated 1878
Kindly provided by Vincent O'loughlin
Residents at this address.
9 January 1788/Insured: John Dutton, the Blacksmiths Arms, opposite the Kings Brewhouse, Lower East Smithfield, victualler/../../Sun Fire Insurance records at the LMA
The Oak Lodge meets at the Blacksmiths Arms, Lower East Smithfield, London in 1795
The Foundation Lodge meets at the Blacksmiths Arms Taven, Lower East Smithfield, London in 1804
1805/Francis King, Blacksmiths Arms, Lower East Smithfield/../../Holdens Directory
1809/William Bonham, Blacksmiths Arms Tavern, Lower East Smithfield/../../Holdens Directory
1811/Henry Robertson, Blacksmiths Arms Tavern & Coffee house, Lower East Smithfield/../../Holdens Directory
1825/Mr Burn, Blacksmiths Arms, Lower East Smithfield /../../Licensed Victuallers Association
1827/Jno Burn, Blacksmiths Arms tavern, 30 Lower East Smithfield/../../Pigots Directory
1833-34/Susan Burn, Blacksmiths Arms, 30 Lower East Smithfield/../../Pigots Directory
1839/G E Willard/../../../Pigots Directory
1841/George Edward Willard/../../../Post Office Directory **
1841/George Willard/Publican/35/../Census
1841/Emma Willard/../3/Middlesex/Census
1841/George Willard/../1/Middlesex/Census
1841/Eliza Humbly/Female Servant/40/../Census
1841/Eliza Dunn/Female Servant/20/Scotland/Census
1841/Martha Whitelow/Female Servant/25/Middlesex/Census
1841/Henry Rippon/Male Servant/20/../Census
1841/Frances Eastwood/Female Servant/20/../Census
+ Lodgers
1842/George E Willard/../../../Robson�s Directory **
1846/G E Willard/../../../Post Office Directory
1847/George Foreman / Public House Keeper /../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **
1848/George Foreman / Public House Keeper /../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **
1850/Geo. Foreman/../../../P.O. Directory **
1851/George Foreman/../../../Post Office Directory
1856/Geo Foreman/../../../Post Office Directory
May 1858/George Foreman/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer
May 1858/Joseph Daniels/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer
1861/Joseph Daniels/Licensed Victualler/50/Bow, Middlesex/Census
1861/Mary Daniels/Wife/45/Herefordshire/Census
1861/Emily Keen/Barmaid/20/St Pancras, Middlesex/Census
1861/Emma White/Housemaid/23/Chertsey, Surrey/Census
1861/Ellenor Graney/Cook/23/Mile End, Middlesex/Census
1861/Thomas McKay/Potman/37/Ireland/Census
1861/William Achan/Boarder, Carpenter (Ship)/48/West Indies B S/Census
1861/John Graham/Visitor, Carpenter (Ship)/21/Woolwich, Kent/Census
1861/Richard Robson/Visitor, Engineer/28/Newcastle on Tyne/Census
1861/Joseph Adams/Visitor, Mariner/33/Oulton, Suffolk/Census
1862/Joseph Daniels/../../../Post Office Directory
1864/Joseph Daniels, Albion, 30 Lower East Smithfield/../../Post Office Directory
4th July 1868/Joseph Daniel/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer +
4th July 1868/John Daniel/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer +
1869/John Daniels/../../../Post Office Directory
1871/John Daniels/Licensed Victualler/35/Bow, Middlesex/Census
1871/Eliza Daniels/Wife/35/St Georges, Middlesex/Census
1871/Charles J L Daniels/Son/5/Germany, British Subject/Census
1871/Alice J Daniels/Daughter/8/Germany, British Subject/Census
1871/Charles Chambers/Lodger/32/London/Census
1871/Barbara Whiting/Cook/40/India/Census
1871/Anne Colman/Housemaid/16/Aldgate, Middlesex/Census
1871/Thomas Crewe/Potman/53/Whitechapel, Middlesex/Census
August 1872/John Daniels/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era
August 1872/John Green/Incoming Licensee/../../Era
1874/J Green/../../../H.D. Miles London & Suburban Licensed Victuallers'
Directory **
1882/Frederick Cloce/../../../Post Office Directory
1884/William Brinn/../../../Business Directory of London **
1886/William Brinn/../../../Business Directory of London **
1891/Jas Harry Havill/../../../Post Office Directory
1891/James H Havill/Licensed Victualler/46/Marylebone, London/Census
1891/Amelia A Havill/Wife/42/Saxmundham, Suffolk/Census
1891/Alice J Havill/Daughter/19/Sheffield, Yorks/Census
1891/Charles H Havill/Son, Pewterers Apprentice/18/Harrow, Middlesex/Census
1891/Agnes E Havill/Daughter/16/Sheffield, Yorks/Census
1891/Jane Charrett/General Servant/39/Winchester, Hants/Census
1891/William Yoewell/Potman/20/Walworth, London/Census
1899/James Harry Havill/../../../Post Office Directory
1900/James Harry Havill/../../../Post Office Directory **
1906/James Harry Havill/../../../Morris� Business Directory of London **
1910/Jas Harry Havill/../../../Post Office Directory
1911/Charles Henry Havill/Licensed Victualler/38/harrow on Hill,
Middlesex//Census
1911/Florence Mary Havill/Wife, Assistant/40/Stoke Newington, London/Census
1911/Maud Callingham/Housekeeper/44/Wakefield, Yorkshire/Census
1911/Violey Mary Havill/Daughter/9/Aldgate, Middlesex/Census
1915/Charles Havill/../../../Post Office Directory
1921/Charles Havill/../../../Post Office Directory
In 1921 census at 215 Katherine Way, St Botolph Without Aldgate
Charles Havill, Publican, aged 48 years 7 months and born in Harrow, Middlesex, the Employer
Florence Havill, Wife, Publicans Assistant, to Charles Havill Publican, aged 50 years 3 months and born in Shoreditch, London
Violet Havill, Daughter, aged 20 years 1 month and born in Aldgate, London
Maud Callingham, Servant, aged 55 years 3 months and born in Wakefield, Yorkshire W
1926/Charles Henry Havill/../../../Post Office Directory **
1935/Charles Henry Havill/../../../Post Office Directory **
+ Provided by Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park
** Provided By Stephen Harris
PUB HISTORY