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Blackmoors Head, 3 Cartwright Street, Royal Mint Street, Aldgate E1

Aldgate pub history index

The Blackmoors Head was a public house located at 3 Cartwright Street, Royal Mint Street, Aldgate (E1), with documented operation from at least 1791, when John Workman is recorded there as a victualler in Sun Fire Office insurance records. The establishment appears again in 1794 with Thomas Vickress as victualler, showing that the premises were in continuous licensed use from the late 18th century.

Throughout the 19th century the Blackmoors Head is listed in trade directories and census returns, with licensees including Jeremiah Hayes in 1833–34 and Alexander Thompson in the 1850s. The 1841 census records Walter Reid and family living at the address, alongside lodgers, indicating that like many taverns of the period the premises provided both refreshment and accommodation.

By 1871 the address is listed as part of 5 Cartwright Street, and Caroline Freeman appears as publican in both census and directory sources. In March 1874 a contemporary newspaper notice records Freeman as outgoing licensee with Alfred Ingram incoming, showing continuity of trade well into the later 19th century.

Names such as Blackmoors Head reflect a common inn sign tradition in Britain, where depictions or references to a “Moor’s head” appeared on pub signs from at least the medieval period onward. Such names derive from historical iconography rather than direct local individuals, and their usage was widespread across English towns and cities. The Blackmoors Head existed from at least 1791. At 5 Cartwright Street by 1871

Residents at this address.

1791/John Workman / Victualler /../../Sun Fire Office records held at Guildhall Library **

1794/Thomas Vickress / Victualler /../../Sun Fire Office records held at Guildhall Library **

1833-34/Jeremiah Hayes/../../../Pigots Directory

1841/Walter Reid/Publican/30/Middlesex/Census
1841/Matilda Reid/../30/Middlesex/Census
1841/John Walter Reid/../10/Middlesex/Census
1841/William Reid/../8/Middlesex/Census
1841/George Reid/../5/Middlesex/Census
1841/Matilda Reid/../3/Middlesex/Census
1841/John Baker/Watch Maker/25/Middlesex/Census
1841/John Nunn/Painter/20/../Census
1841/Archibald Hamith/Clerk/20/Scotland/Census

1842/W Read/../../../Robson�s Directory **

1851/Alex Thompson/../../../Kellys Directory

1856/Alexander Thompson/../../../Post Office Directory

1861/Caroline Thompson/Victualler, Widow/62/Lambeth, Surrey/Census
1861/Robert Pool/Brother, Cellerman & Barman/55/Lambeth, Surrey/Census
1861/Matilda Pitchfork/Niece, Barmaid/46/Lambeth, Surrey/Census
1861/Alice Fox/General Servant/15/Aldgate, Middlesex/Census

1862/Mrs Caroline Thompson/../../../Post Office Directory

1869/Mrs Caroline Freeman/../../../Post Office Directory

1871/Caroline Freeman/Publican, Widow/52/Tenterden, kent/Census
1871/Frederick Freeman/Son, Barman/22/Deptford, Kent/Census
1871/Arthur Freeman/Son, Compositor/18/Camberwell, Surrey/Census

1874/Caroline Freeman/../../../H.D. Miles London & Suburban Licensed Victuallers' Directory **

March 1874/Caroline Freeman/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer

March 1874/Alfred Ingram/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer


** Provided By Stephen Harris


PUB HISTORY
And Last updated on: Sunday, 01-Feb-2026 14:23:34 GMT