The Living History of Britain’s Pubs

Landlords, legends, census records, and lost taverns.

Barcelona in June 2026 was absolutely brilliant. The accessibility of Barcelona was amazing.
I will be visiting Barcelona again, but I will never be using the services of Cunard again, they were absolutely dreadful. Cunard should be ashamed. They were crap, as was ths scumbag disabled taxi which charged us 46 euros to travel from the Cunard ship back to the airport. His taxi fare always showed as 46 euros, and felt a bit like being shafted by Cunard, a member of the Carnival group. I hate scum like this, BUT sadly NOT worth a court case, but I can tell the world about the scum at Cunard, and Carnival.

I should point out that I did raise a complaint whilst on the cruise, but this was ignored and I have never heard any more of this, instead they turned their rabid dogs on me. Useless scum management at Cunard, and Carnival - getting the picture? I also believe the main law firm which takes on cases against the likes of Cunard is probably owned by Carnival, because they are absolutely a waste of time. Not a problem, as my interest is not in money, and more in awrning others about their service.
Of course you can pay me to shut up. I just like mentioning the shit Cunard service.

Rainbow, 404 The Highway E14

Ratcliffe pub history index

At 3 Queen Street in 1856 and earlier; and at 18 Queen Street in 1869, and again the Rainbow, Queen street in 1878; then the address is at 18 Medland street until at least 1938; The address is at 404 The Highway by 1940, as the Highway extends. Also see The Highway in  1940

A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Ratcliffe, London

Residents at this address.

1803/Davis / Victualler /../../Sun Fire Office records, held at Guildhall Library **

1818/Davis / Victualler & Breeches Maker /../../Sun Fire Office records, held at Guildhall Library **

1827/Thomas Galloway, Rainbow, Queen street, Ratcliffe/../../Pigot's Directory

1833-34/William Nicholls, Rainbow, Queen Street, Ratcliff/../../Pigot�s Directory

1839/Joseph Dowler/../../../Pigot�s Directory **

1842/Jos. Dowler/../../../Robson�s Directory **

March 1849/Henry Francis Smith/ Outgoing Licensee /../../The Era

March 1849/John Brown/ Incoming Licensee /../../The Era

1851/John Bruns/../../../Kellys Directory

1851/Johan Bruns/Publican/39/Guernsey/Census
1851/Mary Bruns/Wife/35/Ireland/Census
1851/Ann Finnigan/Servant/23/Ireland/Census
1851/George Johnson/Lodger/18/Shadwell/Census

January 1853/William Werneling/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era

January 1853/James Ross/Incoming Licensee/../../Era

1856/James Ross/../../../Post Office Directory

August 1860/Thomas Gwalter/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer

August 1860/Thomas Le Cheminan/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer

July 1861/Daniel Francis Gale/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era

July 1861/Archibald Bennet Thomas/Incoming Licensee/../../Era

August 1861/Archibald Bennett Thomas/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era

August 1861/James Francis/Incoming Licensee/../../Era

October 1861/James Francis/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer +

October 1861/Thomas Lack/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer +

March 1862/Thomas Luck/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era

March 1862/Charles Macro/Incoming Licensee/../../Era

1864/George Prentice/ Outgoing Licensee /../../The Era, 22 May 1864 *

1864/Stephen Fowler/ Incoming Licensee /../../The Era, 22 May 1864 *

September 1867/James Alexander Prike/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era

September 1867/Maurice Brissenden/Incoming Licensee/../../Era

1869/Benjamin Downe/../../../Post Office Directory

July 1869/Edward John Peters/ Outgoing Licensee /../../The Era

July 1869/John Suffield/ Incoming Licensee /../../The Era

November 1869/John Suffield/ Outgoing Licensee /../../East London Observer

November 1869/Joshua Everett/ Incoming Licensee /../../East London Observer

1874/J Everett/../../../H.D. Miles London & Suburban Licensed Victuallers' Directory **

6th March 1875/Joshua Everett/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer +

6th March 1875/James Haynes/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer +

August 1875/James Haynes/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer

August 1875/William Rutherwood/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer

19th August 1876/William Rutherwood/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer +

19th August 1876/James Henry Buckmaster/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer +

12th May 1877/James H Buckmaster/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer +

12th May 1877/William Rotherwood/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer +

September 1878/William Rutherwood/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer

September 1878/John Martingell/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer

March 1879/John Martingell/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer

March 1879/Sarah Terry/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer

July 1879/Sarah Terry/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer

July 1879/Harriett H Storey/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer

Morning Advertiser. 07 July 1880 License Transfers
Rainbow, Medland street, Joseph Batterham to Philip Turner Godfrey

1881/Richard H Cloud/Publican, Widow/55/Hammersmith, Middlesex/Census
1881/Henry R Cloud/Son, Barman/28/Paddington, Middlesex/Census
1881/Emily A Cloud/Daughter/26/Holborn, Middlesex/Census
1881/Laura L Cloud/Daughter/20/Finsbury, Middlesex/Census

1884/John Pruce/../../../Post Office Directory

1891/William Knights/Licensed Victualler/39/Ipswich, Suffolk/Census
1891/Clara Knights/Wife/39/London/Census
1891/Stanley V A Knights/Son/8/York/Census
1891/Archilbald Knights/Son/4/Dirndalk, Ireland/Census
1891/Patrick Coleman/Potman/58/Limerick, Ireland/Census

1895/John Holloway/../../../Post Office Directory

1899/John Holloway/../../../Post Office Directory

1910/Charles Ellice/../../../Post Office Directory

1911/Charles Ellice/Licensed Victualler/48/Newington, London/Census
1911/Thomas Garrett/Barman/32/Mile End, London/Census
1911/Susan Garrett/Barmaid/31/Hoxton, London/Census
1911/May Garrett/Daughter/9/Bethnal Green, London/Census
1911/Ruth Garrett/Daughter/4/Stepney, London/Census
1911/William Donovan/Transport Worker/38/Whitechapel, London/Census
1911/Mary Ann Donovan/Wife/33/Ratcliffe, London/Census

1921/Henry Wright/../../../Post Office Directory

In 1921 census at 18, Medland Street, Stepney, Ratcliff,
H Wright, Publican, aged 50 years, and born in Shoreditch, London, Own Account
Mrs Wright, Wife, aged 48 years, and born in Bristol, Gloucestershire
H T Wright, Son, aged 15 years, and born in Shoreditch, London
D Wright, Son, aged 13 years, and born in Shoreditch, London
H Wright, Daughter, aged 10 years, and born in Shoreditch, London
J Wright, Son, aged 9 years, and born in Shoreditch, London
W Rochford, Boarder, Labourer, London County Council Tramway Dept, aged 23 years, and born in Shoreditch, London
E Rochford, Boarder, Factory Hand, Messrs Bargers, aged 19 years, and born in Poplar, London
V Tickerage, Boarder, Boot Trade, aged 26 years, and born in Poplar, London
E Tickerage, Boarder, Out Of Work, aged 21 years, and born in Poplar, London

1934/Harry Wright, Rainbow, 18 Medland street E14/../../Post Office Directory

1938/David S Simpson, Rainbow, 18 Medland street E14/../../Post Office Directory

1940/David S Simpson, Rainbow, 404 The Highway E14/../../Post Office Directory

1944/David S Simpson, Rainbow, 404 The Highway E14/../../Post Office Directory


+ Provided by Friends of Tower Hamlets Cemetery Park

* Provided By Ken Ripper

** Provided By Stephen Harris


PUB HISTORY
And Last updated on: Thursday, 28-May-2026 16:53:31 BST