Use the search box below to research your ancestors by surname, street name, pub name etc. The directory and census entries are reproduced verbatim from original sources. The Historical-Overview represents my (the author’s) interpretation of that evidence.
Do you have detail to add, please contact me : Kevan

Freemasons Arms, 244 Hillingdon Street, Walworth SE17

Newington pub history index

Freemasons Arms, 244 Hillingdon Street, Newington in the 1930s

Freemasons Arms, 244 Hillingdon Street, Newington in the 1930s.

Freemasons Arms, 244 Hillingdon Street, a charabanc day out in the 1930s

In the photo of the Freemasons Arms, 244 Hillingdon Street are pictured my great grandfather and great great grandfather, with their colleagues. They were print workers and this I believe was some kind of day out in a charabanc. Most of them went off to war not long after this I believe. It was fascinating to learn the fate of the pub in 1944.

Kindly provided by A;ex Bewley

Residents at this address.

1869/Thos Smith/../../../Post Office Directory

December 1870/Thomas Smith/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era Newspaper

December 1870/Richard Burrows/Incoming Licensee/../../Era Newspaper

1881/Alfred Small/Licensed Victualler/47/Fordingbridge, Hampshire/Census
1881/Ann Small/Wife/46/Amport St Mary, Hampshire/Census
1881/Alfred G Small/Son/24/Islington, Middlesex/Census
1881/Ann M M Small/Daughter/20/Camden Town, Middlesex/Census
1881/George Brine/Barman/25/Sparkford, Somerset/Census
1881/Alfred Greeve/Barman/20/Cripplegate, Middlesex/Census
1881/Isabella Wiley/Barmaid/20/Old Kent Rd, Surrey/Census

1882/Alfred Small/../../../Post Office Directory

1884/Alfred Small/../../../Post Office Directory

South London Press 27 September 1884 - Newington Transfer of Licenses
Freemasons Arms, Hill street, Alfred Small to Anne Small, widow and executrix.

1891/Allan Jacks Ainsley/../../../Post Office Directory

1895/William Marcus Critchfield/../../../Post Office Directory

South London Chronicle. 10 October 1896. Lucense transfer.
Freemasons Arms, 244 Hillingdon Street, to S Fowler.

1899/William Samuel Fowler/../../../Post Office Directory

In 1901 at 244 Hillingdon Street, Newington, St Saviour
Samuel Fowler, Licensed victualler aged 39 and born in Rotherhithe, Surrey
Florence J Fowler, Wife aged 37 and born in Kennington, Surrey
George R Fowler, Son aged 4 and born in Newington, London
Beatrice F Fowler, Daughter aged 3 and born in Newington, London
Minnie Cant, Barmaid aged 23 and born in Bermondsey, Surrey
Helia Vernon, Barmaid aged 18 and born in Banbury, Oxfordshire
William Henn, Barman aged 22 and born in Notting Hill, Middlesex
Katie Marchmont, Nurse maid domestic aged 15 and born in Newington, London

In 1911 at 244 Hillingdon Street S E, London & Surrey
Samuel Fowler, Licensed victualler aged 49 and born in Rotherhithe S E
Florence Jane Fowler, Wife, Assisting in the business aged 47 and born in Newington S E
George Robson Fowler, Son aged 14 and born in Walworth S E
Beatrice Florence Fowler, Daughter aged 13 and born in Walworth S E
Charles Orton, Barman aged 27 and born in Dulwich S E
Lily Cural, Barmaid aged 35
Kate Browning, Barmaid aged 23 and born in Farnham Surrey
Emma Pinfold, Cook aged 25 and born in Walworth S E
Rose Woodward, Servant aged 15 and born in London

1921/S Fowler/../../../Post Office Directory

In 1921 at the Laurels, Central avenue, Herne Bay
Samuel Fowler, Licensed victualler aged 60 years 1 month and born in London
Florence Jane Fowler, Wife aged 58 years 2 months and born in London
Beatrice Florence Fowler, Daughter, Clerk, Messrs Court Bros Ironmongers & Furnishers Herne Bay aged 23 years 6 months and born in London

Samuel Fowler dies in this address in Herne Bay in 1931.

1934/Geo L White/../../../Kellys Directory

1938/Geo L White/../../../Post Office Directory

In 1939 at 244 Hillingdon Street, Walworth, Southwark
George L White, Licensed Victualler born on 03 Feb 1891
Beatrice White, Unpaid Domestic Duties born on 28 Jul 1890
Kenneth G White, Linotype Operator born on 04 Aug 1915
Irene D White, Unpaid Domestic Duties born on 15 Jun 1910
Francis E Upstill, Cook born on 03 Mar 1894

Dad's first pub was an ale house on the corner of Lafone Street and Gainsford Street SE1 which is near the docks in London. It was always known as The Roody-Doo but I know that was not the official name, which may have been The Bricklayers Arms.
The second pub was The George and Dragon in Camberwell Road, London.
The third pub was The Enterprise in Blenheim Road (renamed Bavaria Road) Holloway, north London.  I believe a bomb fell very close to the pub and we were blasted out.
The last pub was The Freemasons Arms which was in Hillingdon Street between Farmers Road and Warham Road. I remember living there and my younger brother was born in this time. On 25th June 1944 a V1 rocket landed on the doorstep demolishing the whole building. We were all sleeping in the cellar, father , mother, brother, aunt and me. Luckily for us the steel RSJs supporting the roof of the cellar prevented the building actually falling on us. My father was unconscious as the till from the bar above had fallen on him and was sticking in his head. The steelwork kept the rubble about 1 foot from us and saved our lives. Eventually, I don't know how long, we were pulled feet first from the debris and my dad was taken to hospital, the only casualty in the pub.
I discovered that in that raid 23 people died, 50 houses, 1 pub and 4 shops were destroyed. In five streets in an area of 500 yards 100 houses were severely damaged. *

1944/William R Jukes/../../../Post Office Directory


* Provided By Barbara C McNally (nee Jukes)

** Provided By Alex Bewley


PUB HISTORY
And Last updated on: Thursday, 19-Feb-2026 12:20:24 GMT