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.
St Giles pub history index
Old Crown in the 1839 and 1856 directory [ and listed as having the sign of the Sun in 1861 census]; apparently this is the northern part of Hog Lane, with the Crown at the junction with the High street. This is widened to become the later Charing Cross road.
A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in St Giles in Fields, London.
Residents at this address.
1825/Mr. James Clark, Crown, corner of Crown street, St. Giles/../../Licensed Victuallers Association
1825/Mr. Hopton, Crown, Crown street, Soho/../../Licensed Victuallers Association
1839/James Hopton/Old Crown, 7 Crown street, St Giles/../../Pigots Directory
1842/William Banks/Old Crown, 7 Crown street, St Giles/../../Robsons Directory
1848/William Banks/../../../Post Office Directory
1851/William Banks/Licensed Victualler/45/Stratford, Suffolk/Census
1851/Jane Banks/Wife/44/Kenton, Devon/Census
1851/William Banks/Son/10/St Giles in the Fields, Middlesex/Census
1851/Eliza Banks/Daughter/12/Rotherhithe, surrey/Census
1851/Ann Parsons/Servant/15/St Giles in the Fields, Middlesex/Census
1856/William Banks/../../../Post Office Directory
1861/William Banks/Publican, Widow/55/Stratford, Suffolk/Census
1861/Mary Ann Gibbs/Visitor/23/Benhall, Suffolk/Census
1861/Sarah Hart/Servant/16/Enfield, Middlesex/Census
June 1861/William Banks/Outgoing Licensee/../../Holborn Journal
June 1861/William David Timbs/Incoming Licensee/../../Holborn Journal
1869/William Sampson/../../../Post Office Directory
July 1869/William Sampson, deceased/ Outgoing Licensee /../../The Era
July 1869/William Sampson, executor of Wm Sampson, deceased, late occupier/
Incoming Licensee /../../The Era
1871/William Sampson/Licensed Victualler/25/Fulham, Middlesex/Census
1871/Mary Sampson/Wife/22/Australia/Census
1871/Rose Sampson/Daughter/3/St James, Middlesex/Census
1871/Lillian Sampson/Daughter/1/St Giles, Middlesex/Census
1871/Elizabeth Sampson/Sister/32/Brompton, Middlesex/Census
1871/Ann Hydon/Barmaid/22/Rotherhithe, Surrey/Census
1871/Ellen Bush/Servant/22/Southampton, Hampshire/Census
1873/William Sampson/../../../Post Office Directory
1873/Thomas Burgess/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1874/Thomas Burgess/../../../Post Office Directory
1874/Thomas Burgess/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
Licensed Victuallers' Guardian. 25 July 1874 Transfer of Licenses
Crown, Crown street, Thomas Burgess to Richard Frost
1875/Richard Frost/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1876/Richard Frost/../../../Post Office Directory
1876/Richard Frost/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1877/Richard Frost/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1878/Richard Frost/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1879/Richard Frost/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1880/Richard Frost/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1881/Richard Frost/Licensed Victualler/34/Devon/Census
1881/Albert E Frost/Son/2/St Giles, Middlesex/Census
1881/Kate Loftus/Domestic Servant/25/Ireland/Census
1881/Richard Frost/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1882/Richard Frost/../../../Post Office Directory
1882/Richard Frost/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
Morning Advertiser. 30 September 1885 - Transfer of Licenses
Crown, 71 Crown street, John Stening to Joseph Ranson