The address is given as 29 Old King Street in 1871 and earlier (and as simply King Street in 1826), prior to street renaming. The pub's name is given as the Masons Arms in the 1826 Directory *, and (possibly incorrectly) as the King's Arms in 1858. *
Deptford Index
A listing of London historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Deptford, Kent in the parishes of St Pauls or St Nicholas - now partially in London.
Residents at this address.
1826/John Godwin/Mason's Arms/../../Pigot's Directory *
1832-34/James William Bartrum, Freemasons Arms, Old King street/../../Pigots Directory
1836/William Batch, Freemasons Arms, Old King street/../../Pigot's Directory
1840/William Batch/../../../Pigot's Directory *
1851/Mathew Bromley/Licensed Victualler/37/Deptford, Kent/Census *
1851/Elizabeth Bromley/Wife/33/Deptford, Kent/Census
1851/Elizabeth Bromley/Daughter/13/Deptford, Kent/Census
1851/Mathew Bromley/Son/11/Deptford, Kent/Census
1851/Eliza Bromley/Daughter/7/Deptford, Kent/Census
1851/Alice Bromley/Daughter/1/Deptford, Kent/Census
1858/Matthew Bromley/King's Arms/../../Melville's Directory *
1861/Matthew Bromley/Victualler/47/Deptford, Kent/Census
1861/Elizabeth Bromley/Wife/44/Deptford, Kent/Census
1861/Matthew Bromley/Son, Lighterman/22/Deptford, Kent/Census
1861/Eliza Bromley/Daughter, Dressmaker/17/Deptford, Kent/Census
1861/Alice Bromley/Daughter/12/Deptford, Kent/Census
1861/Rebecca Bromley/Daughter/8/Deptford, Kent/Census
1869/Matthew Bromley/Freemasons Arms, Old King Street/../../Post Office Directory
1871/Mathew Bromley/Licensed Victualler/57/Deptford, Kent/Census *
1871/Elizabeth Bromley/Wife/54/Deptford, Kent/Census
1871/Alice Bromley/Daughter/21/Deptford, Kent/Census
1871/Rebecca Bromley/Daughter/17/Deptford, Kent/Census
1871/Elizabeth Pead/Granddaughter/11/Deptford, Kent/Census
1871/Eliza Pead/Granddaughter/9/Deptford, Kent/Census
1871/Edward G. Briant/Servant/23/Ireland/Census
1874/M Bromley/../../../LV Directory
1881/Charles Gilbert/Licensed Victualler/36/Freston, Suffolk/Census
1881/Michael Gilbert/Wife/23/Wilmington, Kent/Census
1881/George Basset/../15/Wilmington, Kent/Census
1882/Charles Gilbert/../../../Post Office Directory *
1884/Henry A Craighead/../../../Post Office Directory
The Greenwich and Deptford Observer of Friday 18 May 1888, lists the conviction of James Richard Knevett: ***
"REFUSING TO QUIT.—James Richard Knevett, 25, labourer, of 202 Evelyn-street, Deptford, was charged with retuning to quit the Freemason's Arms public house, Watergate-street, Deptford, and assaulting Margaret Bryant, wife of the landlord. — Fined 20s or 14 days."
I cannot find any record of the transfer of the licence, but there was another conviction the following year (from the Kentish Mercury of Friday 20 September 1889):
"Ellen Capp, 30, no occupation, of 17 Watergate Street, Deptford, wilfully breaking a plate glass window value £5, at the Freemasons Arms, Watergate-street, Deptford, the property of W Bryant, the landlord. Three weeks' bard labour. The prisoner to Mr. Bryant - 'wait till I come out' "
So it looks the landlord was "W Bryant" - other newspapers report this same case, listing the landlord as "F Bryant" - I can't find any more information about Margaret Bryant and either W or F Bryant, but it looks like they were at the Freemason's Arms in 1888 and 1889.
Jack Pass, also known as Edward John Pass had a number of pubs during his
lifetime, these include the
Freemasons Arms
76 Watergate Street, Deptford (1891);
Admiral Napier,
94 Carburton Street, Bethnal Green (1895); the
Waterloo Tavern 64
Samuel Street, Stepney (1899-1901 ); the
White Horse 236
Cambridge Road, Bethnal Green (1902-1909); the
Hope (Woodman), 89 Holly
Street, Hackney (1910-1915); and at the
Boundary House 1
High Street, Ponders End, where he died (1915-1940). *
1891/Edward J Pass/Publican/33/Bethnal Green, London/Census
1891/Margaret Pass/Wife/36/Bethnal Green, London/Census
1891/Edward J Evans/Nephew/5/Bethnal Green, London/Census
1895/Patrick Breen/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
1899/Patrick Breen/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
Lewisham Borough News 16 April 1903
Deptford Publicans Fatal Fall.
An inquest was held at Deptford, on Monday morning, on the body of Patrick Chas Dreen, aged 50, landlord of the Freemasons Arms, Watergate-street, Deptford, who died on Saturday from injuries caused by falling down the stairs leading to the cellar of his house.
Miss Flora Dreen stated that her father was a pensioner from the Royal Horse Artillery, in which he had been the rank of lance-sergeant.
Kentish Independent 17 June 1904- Transfers :
Freemasons Arms, Deptford, from H Breen to Jessie Trott
1910/Samuel Kiddle/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
London Evening Standard 22 June 1910
Licensing Act 1904 Notice of principal meeting to discuss by the Compensation authority on 12th July 1910
Blackheath
Freemasons Arms, Watergate street, St Nicholas, Deptford, Full, Samuel Kiddle
1911/Samuel Kiddle/Licensed Victualler/52/Peterborough/Census
1911/Florence Kiddle/Wife/45/Plumstead, Kent/Census
1911/Samuel James Kiddle/Son, Assistant/23/Woolwich/Census
1911/Florence Nellie Kiddle/Daughter, Assistant/16/Plumstead, Kent/Census
1911/Ivy Kiddle/Daughter/14/Plumstead, Kent/Census
1911/Ethel Kiddle/Daughter/12/Plumstead, Kent/Census
1911/Walter Kiddle/Son/8/Plumstead, Kent/Census
* Provided By Ewan
** Provided By John Carnaby
*** Provided By Stephen Barratt