Robin Hood and Little John (Hoxton)

From International Robin Hood Bibliography
Locality
Coordinate 51.534727, -0.08288
Adm. div. Middlesex, now Greater London
Vicinity 256 Pitfield Street
Type Public house
Interest Robin Hood name
Status Defunct
First Record 1803
A.k.a. Robin Hood; Robinhood
Loading map...
Approximate indication of site of Robin Hood and Little John (Hoxton).
Pitfield Street. The pub was located near the building beyond the playground / Google Earth Street View.

By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2018-01-15. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2022-05-05.

The Robin Hood & Little John on the east side of Whitmore Place is apparently recorded as early as 1803. Already an old pub in 1811, it closed in 1954.[1]

While the pub seems to have stayed at the same premises throughout its existence, its address changed a couple of times when new streets were constructed and/or old ones renamed:

  • 1811-62: 16 Whitmore Place east
  • 1862-19??: 140 St Johns Road
  • By 1944, after 1938: 256 Pitfield Street.[2]

The 1811 allusion cited below makes it clear that the pub already then had a long history as a meeting place for archers who practised their sport on the adjacent Finsbury Fields. In 1817 the proprietor, David Trickey, was accused of tippling.[3] The allusion of 1830 refers to the pub as "the Robin Hood, Hoxton Old Town". The 1835 allusion occurs immediately after a paragraph discussing localities on or near Whitmore and Kingsland roads, a fact which tends to strengthen the conclusion that the Robin Hood inn in or near Hoxton Fields mentioned in 19th century topogaphical works is indeed the establishment at Whitmore Place/St Johns Road and not some other public house of that name. Information on publicans gleaned from trade directories etc. from the period 1814–1954 can be found at Pub History (see Sources below).

A painting of the pub, dated 1833, can be seen at the Lost Pubs Project's page on the Robin Hood and Little John.[4]

Records

1823 - Proceedings of the Old Bailey

[3 Dec. 1823:]
HARRIET BROWN. I am nearly eleven years old, and live near Matthews's. I have known the prisoner two months; he lived by the Rosemary Branch; I knew him very well by sight. On a Friday night, two or three weeks before I went to Worship-street, which was two or three weeks ago, about seven o'clock, I saw him with a clock - he was going away from Matthews's; three more boys were with him; he was going towards the Robin Hood, which is near Matthews's; I am sure it was him. I did not speak to him - he had nothing over the clock - it was Matthews's, for I had seen it before a good many times. It was dark, but there is a gas-light by the Robin Hood. Jane Ruddle and I were playing by the Robin Hood - I used to play with Matthews's little girl often, and have often seen the clock. I nursed his child.

Q. Did you go and tell Matthews of it - A. Two boys, Findley and Gray, who were playing with us, went and told him directly. Matthews never told me what to say. I did not see where the prisoner came from.

WILLIAM MATTHEWS. It may be thirty or forty yards from my house to the Robin Hood. My house is in the centre, between two gas-lights. My palings are near five feet high.

JAMES FINDLEY. I am eleven years old. I was at play with Brown, on a Friday night, not long ago, (five or six weeks ago, I think.) I know it was on a Friday, because I carry pots about on Fridays. I know the prisoner by having seen him several times before. I saw him between six and seven o'clock, with three more boys - it was nearer seven than six. I saw him hang a clock on Matthews's gate, while he got over the gate out of the garden, and then ran away towards the Whitmore's Head, public-house, with it under his arm, and went by the Robin Hood. I know it was Matthews's clock, because I have often seen it before.

THOMAS GRAY. I am thirteen years old.* I have known the prisoner about twelve months. He lodged up at the Rosemary Branch. I saw him with a clock, on one Friday night, about seven o'clock. Three more young men were with him. I saw him inside Matthews's fence. I saw James Reynolds and John Tover jump over Matthews's railing. He hung the clock on the rails before he jumped over, then took it off, and ran by the Robin Hood. We hallooed Stop thief! I do not know whether anybody went to Matthews; I did not. I am sure he was the person. Matthews has not told me what to say. I saw Matthews that night, and went with him to the Rosemary Branch, about eight o'clock. He asked for the prisoner there. I did not see Reynolds afterwards till he was apprehended.

Prisoner. Q. Did you not see me by the Canal one rainy afternoon - A. That was the day Matthews took him. He was by Kingsland-road bridge. I told Matthews, and he went after him.

JANE RUDDLE. I am nearly eleven years old.* I have known the prisoner a good while. I went before the Justice last Thursday fortnight. I saw him on the Friday fortnight before that. I was by the Robin Hood, with Brown and saw him run by the Robin Hood with Matthews's clock under his arm. I did not see him get over the rails. I knew it to be Matthews's, because I had often seen it before. Three more young chaps were with him. They said. "Mind you do not drop it." We hallooed out, Stop thief! but could see nobody to take him. There was not time to go and tell Matthews. They got away. Findley and Grey went to tell him directly. I do not know the other boys. Matthews has not persuaded me what to say. He told us what to say, for I did not know.

* These witnesses, upon being questioned, appeared perfectly to understand the obligation of an oath.

Q. What did he tell you - A. He told me to say, that I saw James Reynolds run by with Mr. Matthews's clock. He did not tell me anything else. He only told me once or twice. He gave me nothing. All I have said is true.

Q. Be sure you tell nothing but the truth. Did you see him that night with the clock or not - A. Yes. I did not see him get over the rails.

Q. When did Matthews tell you this - A. As we went to Worship-street. He told me nothing else.

JAMES FINDLEY re-examined. Matthews never said a word to me. When I saw the prisoner go by with the clock, I hallooed Stop thief! and ran after him as far as the Robin Hood. I live behind the Robin Hood. I saw him down by Matthews's rails; he ran towards the Whitmore's Head. I then ran back, and told Matthews that some boys had been taking his clock away. He asked if I should know them. I said, Yes. I did not mention who it was; I only knew his name by what the other boys used to call him - Chummy. I told him what he was called. Gray went to him with me.[5]

1826 - Proceedings of the Old Bailey (1)

[16 Feb. 1826:]
WILLIAM JUST, JUN. I am fifteen years old. My father lives at Hoxton. On the night of the 5th of February I was in my father's yard and heard something like the smash of a window, which I mentioned to my mother. My father went out, for half an hour, in the evening – my mother then said the place had been stripped - upon which I went to fetch my father - as I was going along I saw the prisoner and another man - this was about half-past eight o'clock in the evening, and only a few minutes' walk from my father's house - the prisoner walked before me and the other man over the way - as soon as the prisoner saw me he went on the other side of the road with a dark bundle; the man on the other side had a white bundle; I believe the prisoner noticed that I saw him cross over to his companion. I got before them and they looked at me very hard; I kept my eye upon them; when I got a little further towards the Whitmore's Head public-house, I saw my father and a boy coming, and I said "Father, here they are?" I saw the dark bundle pitched over the wall, where it was afterwards found - he ran away - my father laid hold of the prisoner, and gave him to a gentleman, and then ran after the other towards the Robin Hood, public-house. When my father returned back, he was about to let the prisoner go - he said he was a hard-working lad; my father looked at his shoes, which were not like a tradesman. My father said "Where do you work?" but he could not tell; he then gave him in charge. [6]

1828 - Proceedings of the Old Bailey (1)

[10 Jan. 1828:]
CHARLOTTE VERNON. I am the wife of William Vernon - he keeps the Robin Hood and Little John public-house, at Hoxton. The prisoner was our pot-boy: I gave him this bill to deliver to Miss Brockwill; he never brought the money to me.[7]

1829 - Proceedings of the Old Bailey (1)

[15 jan. 1829:]
CHARLES TRUE was indicted for stealing, on the 5th of December, 2 handkerchiefs, value 15s., the goods of Mary Thacker, from the person of Hannah Thacker.

HANNAH THACKER. I am the daughter of Mary Thacker - she is a widow, and lives in Hoxton. On the 5th of December, I was carrying a bundle of my mother's, containing silk handkerchiefs, night-caps, and other things - the prisoner met me, and snatched them from me; the things fell out of the bundle - he carried away two silk handkerchiefs, and an apron, and made his escape - I had seen him several times before, but had never spoken to him, nor he to me: I am sure he is the person.

WILLIAM THACKER. I am the witness's brother: she told me, when I went home, that these things had been taken - I knew the prisoner before, and had spoken to him, but he was no friend of mine; I met him in Shoreditch, and accused him of the robbery - he denied it; I asked him to come to my mother's - he came to the door, and then ran away; he is a butcher.

WILLIAM WELLS. I live at Hoxton. On the 5th of December, I saw this young woman with a bundle, coming along; I saw the prisoner go and take it - most of the things dropped, but some remained in his hands, and he ran away with them; I had seen him before about the town.

Prisoner's Defence. It was in a dark place, and this witness owes me a grudge; he gets his living by stealing dogs, and selling them at the Exchange.

WILLIAM WELLS. No, I do not - I can get a good character from the Robinhood public-house, and from the master I last lived with.

GUILTY. Aged 17.

Transported for Fourteen Years.[8]

1830 - Proceedings of the Old Bailey (1)

[14 jan. 1830:]
JOHN REYNOLDS. I am a smith, and live at No. 5, Hare-street, Hoxton. In December Bennett introduced me to Tomkins, as I had asked him for work, about eight o'clock in the morning; it was on a Saturday - Bennet told me Tomkins was the foreman of the works; I went and asked him if he could give me work - Tomkins told me he should like to see me at the Gun in Shoreditch; I went there between twelve and one o'clock, and Tomkins said he had got a job in hand, and where could he meet me on the Monday - I appointed the Robin Hood and Little John, and met him there between six and seven o'clock; he came in while I was there taking a pint of beer with a man named Balls - Tomkins asked me to walk out with him, and we went as far as the new church, Haggerstone; I asked him what the job was - he said, it was to break open the iron chest of the Imperial Gas-house, which must be done on a Wednesday night, as there was most money in it then; I said I did not understand it myself, and he might apply to other persons who would do it much better- he said he had applied to others, who had disappointed him; I said I did not wish to have any thing to do with it- I went home and spoke to Balls of what had passed; I went to Tomkins two days after the robbery, and said,"You have done the job you wanted me to do" - he said,"No, I have not done it, I can prove I was in bed and asleep at the time; I had a man at my place with the tools and keys to do it with, but I had put it so far in his hands, that he went out at the beginning of the evening and did it" - I then went home; Bennett came after that, and said Tomkins, the foreman, had sent me 30s., and we had a drop of hot together - two days after Christmas, I met Tomkins, who gave me 30s. more, and said, "I hope you won't say any thing about the robbery, as you were seen with Bennett, you are very likely to be taken up;" I told him where I lived, and said, "You may send Mr. Vickers, or any one to me, and I will clear myself, and pay the 30s. when I get work" - I went down to Balls, and told him what had passed; on the Saturday morning, Balls went and gave information; I was sent for - I went before the gentlemen of the Company, I think about a week after I saw Tomkins.

Cross-examined by MR. CLARKSON. Q. You have been a smith? A. Yes, and in the bedstead line, and can turn my hand to any thing in the labouring line; I was intimate with Balls - I have done hay-work for Mr. Rhodes; I was not taking up dead bodies on the 6th of March, no one can say that; I do not know whether I was charged with stealing dead bodies on the 6th of March - I might be taken up for getting the worse for a drop of liquor; you cannot bring any one to swear that I was taken up for breaking into a church-yard and stealing dead bodies- that might be a charge against me or it might not; I have taken goods to Camberwell, but never was in Camberwell new church-yard, and do not know where it is -I never was charged with stealing dead bodies from there; I do not know whether I was in custody at all on the 6th of March - if I was ever charged with stealing dead bodies it was unknown to me; I do not know a man of the name of William Burt, who lives in Mill-row, Kingsland - I never went by the name of Read; I know Phillips, who lives in Bridgewater-gardens, by sight and by drinking with him - I do not know that I was with Phillips in Camberwell new church-yard on the 6th of February, or in any church-yard; I was never charged with stealing dead bodies from St. Thomas', Hospital, which were afterwards returned from the London University - I do not know a man of the name of Sherrin, or Sherrill: I never borrowed a sack of him, and took it back the following morning - I do not know such a person as William Burt, and I did not meet him against the Hand and Sheers, in Cloth-fair.

Q. Did you not ask him how he got on for work? and did not you tell him you could put him into a plan, by which he could get some money - he asked you how, and you said, the foreman at the gas manufactory had a good situation, and he might go to him and say, if he did not send you money, you would go and tell his master he had done the robbery; and if Burt did not know him, you would go and show him the person? A. I do not know the man.

Q. Do you know this man (a witness)? A. I have seen him about with a man of the name of Tom Sheels, who went breaking open Shoreditch dead-house, but I did not know his name; the reason I said I never saw this man was, because I did not know his name - I did see him in a public-house; I do not know whether it was near Cloth-fair - I do not know such a place; what you have stated as passing between him and me respecting the Gas Company is not true, so help me God - he did not say "I do not like the job;" nor I did not say I would go and try it on, but I hoped he would say nothing about it - Balls is here to-night, he came with me, and he was here last night - he is no relation of mine; he lives at No. 6, Canal-road; no person was present when the conversation took place between Tomkins and I - I did not then know Tomkins' name; I knew him by having seen him once before, but he asked me to break open the iron chest, there is no mistake about that - I stated before the Magistrate that he said there was a man in his house with the tools - that he had put it in his power, and he had done it unknown to him; I heard of a reward of 50l. after I got the last 30s. - I saw it on the wall near the factory; I did not hear it from Balls.

MR. BRODRICK. Q. You were never accused of stealing dead bodies? A. No; I was the worse for liquor. and was sent to Guildford as a vagrant - that was some time last year.

THOMAS BALLS. I am a smith and farrier. I went to get a pint of beer at the Robin Hood and Little John, in Hoxton with Reynolds - I saw Tomkins there; he stopped a few minutes, and went out with Reynolds - I do not know what day it was - I never paid any regard to it; I went to Tomkins' house, in Margaret-street, near the Gas Company's works, on Saturday week - I tapped him on the shoulder, and said this business must be settled on better terms between Reynolds and him; he said, "Reynolds! I do not know such a man;" I said,"Do not you know the young man to whom you proposed to do that job for you at the counting-house?" he said,"I don't know him;" I said, "You must know the young man you gave 3l. to, to say nothing about it" - he went in, and staid about ten minutes, when he came out and said, "I can't see the other parties to-day;" I said, "It must be settled to-day between one and two o'clock, there is 50l. reward, and you must do the best you can, or things will go forward in the job" - he said,"Will you have any thing to drink?" I said, "I do not mind," and we went into a public-house, I believe the Antelope - I said I did not like gin, and we had a quartern of rum; we came out, and he said, "I will meet you to-morrow at the Robin Hood and Little John, between four and five o'clock" - I said that would do, but I did not go.[9]

1833 - Proceedings of the Old Bailey (1)

[14 Feb. 1833:]
WILLIAM ANDERSON was indicted for stealing, on the 14th of January, 2 shirts, value 14s.; 1 gown, value 10s., and 1 petticoat, value 2s., the goods of Elizabeth Campbell.

ELIZABETH CAMPBELL. I live in Whitmore-street; I am a laundress. I lost a shirt from my copper on the 14th of January, and the officer brought it to me in the course of three days; this is it – I have had it constantly to wash ever since it was made; the mark has been cut out, and a piece put in the place – the prisoner lodged next door to me.

JOSEPH MELLISH (Police-constable N 5). I apprehended the prisoner at the Robin Hood public-house; I found this shirt on him – he said he bought it in Chiswell-street, and then in Chick-lane.

Prisoner's Defence. I said I bought it in Chick-lane.

GUILTY. Aged 20. – Confined Fourteen Days.[10]

1835 - Proceedings of the Old Bailey (4)

[26 Oct. 1835:]
ALLEN CAMERON. I am a policeman. On sunday the 4th of October, between two and three o'clock in the morning, I was on duty near Hoxton — I passed by the Robin Hood and Little John, and saw a person answering the description of Chantry, going towards the New North-road — he came out of Constable-alley — and soon after Bond came — I am quite certain of him — a very few seconds passed between the first and second man passing me — Bond had a bundle with him — I asked him what he had got there — he said a goose — I asked him how he came possessed of it — it was loose on his shoulder — in his hand, naked — not covered with any thing — I asked him who that chap was that had passed before him — he said he did not know — I asked how his father became possessed of the goose — he said he did not know, but he believed he had bought it — I asked him how he came possessed of the bundle — he said his father gave it him to take home — I asked him what it contained — he said a coat, waistcoat, and a pair of trousers — I asked him how his father became possessed of it, or whether his father bought it — he could not tell — I asked if he remembered seeing his father wear any of the clothes — he said he did not recollect — I said I was not satisfied with his statement, and took him into custody — I took possession of the bundle, which contains the same things as it did then.[11]

1857 - Proceedings of the Old Bailey (2)

[15 jun. 1857:]
MR. DOYLE. Q. Did your club meet at a public house? A. Yes, it is a good bit past the Church, but I am a stranger there—it is the Robin Hood, at Hoxton—it was 12 o'clock when we left.

MR. SLEIGH. to OLIVER TOMLINS. Q. What are you? A. I am in the employ of Mr. Spiers, of Bridge Street, Blackfriars — I was here yesterday — I remember speaking to two women outside the Court about this case — I did not go up to them, and say, "I will not appear against Merrick if you will pay me to stop away; I will not go before the Grand Jury" — (Two women were brought into Court) — those are the women I spoke to — on my solemn oath I did not say to them that I would not go before the Grand Jury if they would pay me to stay away, nor to anybody else.

MR. DOYLE. Q. Did you address them? A. No, they addressed me; they had been watching me — the young one spoke first; she said, "Is the case come on?" — I said, "I do not know; I expect we had better wait here all the morning" — she said, "Are you going to have something to drink?" — I said, "No," and would not stop with her — the father and mother came down to my place; they did not ask me not to go before the Grand Jury, and I said nothing about it to them.

GEORGE MATTOCK. (Policeman, G 162). On the night of 2nd May, about half past 1 o'clock, Tomlins and his friend met me by Bell Alley, Goswell Street—Tomlins said that he had been knocked down—(he was then about a mile and a quarter or a mile and a half from Hoxton Church, about half an hour's walk—I do not know the Robin Hood)—I took them into Little Arthur Street, and was listening by the door of No. 2, and the prisoners came up from Golden Lane, and were going into No. 1 — they were inside the passage, and I said, "I want you," and called them back, and turned my lamp on, and Laney said, "They are the parties;" Tomlins also identified them — I told Merrick the charge; he said that he knew nothing about it — I did not hear what the female said.[12]

1883 - Proceedings of the Old Bailey

[10 Sep. 1883:]
WILLIAM HENRY BLACKABY. I live at 8, Canal Road, Shoreditch, and am a wheelwright — on 19th July, shortly after midnight, I had been in a public-house near the high road, near Hoxton, and was going home — when near the corner of the high road the prisoner, whom I had not seen before to my knowledge, came behind me, took hold of me, said "Halloa," opened my coat, and took out my pocket-book from a side pocket—I said, "What are you doing of?" and took hold of the end of his coat and collar — he dragged me on to the side of the road — I called out "Police" — he said, "I will give you your pocket-book back if you will let me go" — I said "No," and called out "Police" — they came and took the pocket-book out of his hand — there were a cheque for 2l. 7s. 6d. and a few of my cards in it — I did not notice any people about when this occurred — I cannot say if the prisoner was sober.

Cross-examined. I do not know the name of the public-house — I went in about 11.30 — I had been at the Robin Hood, another public-house, before that for a quarter of an hour — before that I had been on business at another public-house — when I went to the Robin Hood I saw a gentleman with whom I did business, and he asked me to go and have a glass of ale — I was not doing business of that kind before I was at the public-house — I went to the second public-house to have a glass of ale with a gentleman I had purchased goods of — I will take my oath I did not have any spirits — the second house was a beershop; while there I proposed we should all go to a spirit house, and I would treat them to some gin — there might have been a little music there, I gave a comic — we were all together in one compartment — I was quite sober — the persons were strangers to me, except one — they asked me to stand something, and I gave them two pots of ale — there might have been eight or ten — I have not a clear recollection of it — I don't know how much I drank — I did not take out my pocket-book in the public-house and say I have got so much — I went out by myself — I had had sufficient — I was not going to get some gin, that did not come off — the prisoner might have been in the bar with me — I know he came behind, and the sergeant took the pocket-book away from him — he thought I could not hold him, but he said he had never had such a man before tackle him — I did not say that we had been in the public-house together — I did not drop my pocket-book on the floor of the public-house — my friend did not pick it up, and as I was in such a state that I could not take it, hand it to the prisoner — I can recollect all that took place.[13]

1891 - Proceedings of the Old Bailey (1)

[4 May 1891:]
MARK BARNETT. I am a stickmaker, of 247, Cable Street East — I have known both the Rudmans since the Saturday before Good Friday — I was with Phelps taking a ramble round Hoxton, and the two Rudmans came along; Phelps spoke to them first, and went into his own house; I waited outside, and the two Rudmans waited some distance from me; I did not speak to them — I had no ferrules in my pocket, but I had received some from Phelps and a man named Bunn — I have none now; I only bought them to sell; I sold them all — I met the two Rudmans a few yards from the Robin Hood, and went in there with them and Phelps — I told Edward I was surprised he could get so many ferrules as he did — he said, "My brother is employed there" — I said I had looked for him on several occasions — he said, "Where?" — I said, "When I was in the neighbourhood of Aldermanbury; I looked outside White and Harrington's firm to see whether I could see you, but not knowing you I did not know who to look for; if I had seen anyone come down with a parcel I should have put it down as you" — he said he saw me outside, and took me for a policeman — I said, "I do not think it is possible for your brother to bring out large parcels like that" — he said, "It is generally done at dinner-time" — I said, "Somebody must have known something about it besides your brother" — he said he would sooner suffer ten years' imprisonment than he would bring Goatly into it; Goatly was a gentleman; he took an oath and said Goatly knew nothing about it — I told him I tried to sell some to Bignolles — he said he had sold them hundreds of gross; they had had more than anybody — they are umbrella manufacturers — he asked if I had sold the goods in my own name — I said yes — he said I was a fool to do so — I said I cannot alter my name, as I had been doing business with the people some years — he asked me if I had a receipt for the ferrules; I said no — he offered to make one out, which I declined — I had not bought any of him; I never made any purchases of him in my life; I never saw him before that night.[14]

Allusions

1811 - Nelson, John - History of Islington

An old house yet remains fronting the fields at Hoxton, which was formerly much resorted to by the Finsbury archers. It bears for its sign the Robin Hood, which has, to the present day, written underneath, the following inscription;

"Ye archers bold, and yeomen good,
Stop, and drink with Robin Hood;
If Robin Hood is not at home,
Stop, and drink with Little John."[15]

1830 - Interlocutor - Reminiscient

Like Morland, [the painter Samuel] Scott was improvident and wayward, following the momentary impulse of fancy, and the only reflections he used, were in his professional studies; his foibles relaxed often into an injurious tendency, and he [p. 90:] generally suffered in pocket and health by their influences. But, Sir, I am going out of the path; you wish me to be less digressive and more anecdotal. I will endeavour to be so. I observe that he was not exempted from difficulties. A little difference required adjusting with him and a publican then living at the Robin Hood, Hoxton Old Town. The result was the issuing of a writ for payment. The officer, as most fellows are in this calling, being blunt and pertinacious, he entered our little dwelling, looking pleasantly over towards the Rosemary Branch, famous for company, water-sport and Devonshire cider, and finding Scott at work, told him his business, and said, 'If you can't pay me my demand, Sir, I must remain with you and take Scott and Lot, or the like.'—'Not so,' replied my husband warmly, 'nay, Mr. Bailiff, if you want Scott, I am your humble servant for a sponge; but, as for Lot, why you may go nxt door, where' (his neighbour kept a shop, and was named Launcelot Salter,) 'you may see his wife turned into a pillar of salt.'—'Ay, ay,' rejoined the unsuspicious Bailiff, 'a pillar of salt, eh?'—'Verily so,' added my husband, shutting the door, and chuckling most affectedly with me at the indicent. He applied, however, to a friend for assostance, and the needful settled all dispute without further parley.[16]

1835 - Cromwell, Thomas - Walks through Islington

Ere we finally quit Hoxton, and Finsbury Fields, it may be noticed that a public-house, called the Robin Hood, stands within the precincts of the former, and overlooks the latter, which witnessed the expiring games of the metropolitan archers, and was one of their chief places of resort when their sports were over. In our youthful days, the appropriate sign, representing the famed outlaw, and his constant attendant, both in their suits of "Lincoln green," yet swung from an arm of a lofty tree before the door; and the following invitatory couplets met the eye beneath:— [p. 112:]

"Ye Archers bold, and Yeomen good,
Stop and drink with Robin Hood.
If Robin Hood is not at home,
Stop and drink with Little John."


The tree and the sign, the last relics of the "good old times" of Archery, have, however, disappeared; and the house, having acquired a modern fron, is merely called "The Robin Hood" by way of customary distinction for houses "in the public line."[17]

1841 - Daniel, George - Merrie England in the Olden Time

 The several rehearsals being over, and all things put in order for their approaching campaign, the exhibitors were about to depart, when it occurred to Uncle timothy that he had not paid his footing for being admitted behind the scenes. He addressed the real wild Indian, and begged her to call for what best pleased her palate; which call resolved itself into a rasher on the coals, a Welsh rabbit, a rummer of nutbrown, and a thimblefull of brandy to keep off the spasms. She was then escorted to her tea-kettle, and put under cover for the night. The bear and the monkey having been similarly disposed of, their respective shavers made merry with the rest of the show-folk. Uncle Timothy took the poor little Italian boys under his own care, and feasted them plenteously. At this moment a rival tea-kettle drew up, with a caravan in the rear.
'Pray, madam,' said a tragedy queen, peeping through a bit of ragged green curtain that depended before the entrance of the tea-kettle, toa dwarf in the caravan, 'do you put up at Mother Red-Cap's?' {p. 370:] 'Not I, madam,' responded the Lilliputian lady, 'I stops at the Robin Hood at merry Hoxton; none but the lower orders stops at Mother Red-Cap's!' And the caravan moved on as fast as the wall-eyed, half-starved anatomy of a Rosinante could drag it.[18]

Gazetteers

Sources

Lost Pubs Project: Robin Hood & Little John.

Maps

Background

Also see


Notes

  1. See below and Pub History: Robin Hood & Little John, 16 Whitmore Place east, Hoxton, Shoreditch; Pub History: Robin Hood & Little John, 140 St Johns Road, Shoreditch N1, London Pubology: Robin Hood and Little John.
  2. Pub History: Robin Hood & Little John, 140 St Johns Road, Shoreditch N1. Also see maps listed in Maps section.
  3. Anonymous. Police Report of May, 1817. Relative to Public House Licences. Report of the Committee on the State of the Police of the Metropolis, with the Minutes of Evidence and an Appendix (London, 1817), p. 444. As of 31 Mar. 1817 the case had not been heard.
  4. Lost Pubs Project: Robin Hood & Little John.
  5. Proceedings of the Old Bailey: 3 Dec. 1823
  6. Proceedings of the Old Bailey: 16 Feb. 1826.
  7. Proceedings of the Old Bailey: 10 Jan. 1828.
  8. Proceedings of the Old Bailey: 15 jan. 1829.
  9. Proceedings of the Old Bailey: 14 jan. 1830.
  10. Proceedings of the Old Bailey: 14 Feb. 1833
  11. Proceedings of the Old Bailey: 26 Oct. 1835.
  12. Proceedings of the Old Bailey: 15 jun. 1857.
  13. Proceedings of the Old Bailey: 10 Sep. 1883.
  14. Proceedings of the Old Bailey: 4 May 1891.
  15. Nelson, John. The History, Topography, and Antiquities of the Parish of St. Mary Islington, in the County of Middlesex (London, 1811), p. 30 n. 1.
  16. Interlocutor. 'The Reminiscient.—Chap. I.—Prose Etchings of the Late Mr. Sam Scott: Hogarth and his Contemporaries', The Olio; or, Museum of Entertainment, vol. IV (London, Jul.–Jan. 1830), pp. 89-91, see pp. 89-90.
  17. Cromwell, Thomas. Walks through Islington; comprising an Historical and Descriptive Account of that Extensive and Important District, both in its Ancient and Present State: Together with some Particulars of the Most Remarkable Objects Immediately Adjacent (London, 1835), pp. 111-12.
  18. Daniel, George. 'Merrie England in the Olden Time: Or, Peregrinations with Uncle Tim and Mr. Bosky, of Little Britain, Drysalter. Chapter XI-XII', Bentley's Miscellany, vol. IX (London, Jan.–Jun. 1841), pp. 361-74, see p. 361.
  19. Also see the following pages at Pub History: Licensed Victuallers Association in 1825 - AB; The London 1839 Public House & Publican Directory - as listed in London 1839 Pigots Directory - R3; The London 1842 Robsons Public House & Publican Directory - R2; London 1856 Public House & Publican Directory - R2; The London 1884 Public House & Publican Directory - R2; The London 1891 Public House & Publican Directory; The London 1899 Public House & Publican Directory - R3; London publicans in 1910 - Post Office directory R3; Pub History: London and Suburbs pubs in 1921 - Hughes directory listing - Ro; The London Public Houses in the 1938 Post Office Directory - R; The London Public Houses in the 1944 Post Office Directory - Ri.