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Zeal ?

Laz

By Laz
in St. Albans City Forum

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Laz Newbie

Laz

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Not for me, Zeal or the Voice.

 

I'm sure you have plenty of 800 year old, oak beam, pubs in Canvey, CANV.

 

I suggest you use public transport next time you visit. (That's assuming Aldershot are promoted and not yourselves.)

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CANV EFM Newbie

CANV EFM

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heres canveys oldest boozer Laz.. positivly a 'new town'

seems there was problems with gravesend even then!!! and some quality punch ups.. brilliant!

 

 

In and around the Lobster Smack Inn

By far the oldest, and certainly the first fully-licensed, premises on the island was the Lobster Smack Inn. It nestles conveniently close to the sea wall on the south coast at the furthest end of Haven Road. Indeed this position has been very favourable for passing trade in its time since the waters in the Hole Haven creek are deep, providing a suitable shelter for vessels.

The inn has also been known as the Sluice House and the World's End. The wooden structure boasts a lip-tile dating from 1510, although this in itself does not give conclusive proof of age. It is thought that a more reasonable date for its construction would be around the 17th century.

The hostelry claims a licence dating from the time of Elizabeth I. It has been described as an unobstrusive but comfortable inn with comparatively lofty rooms, supported by oak beams. A boatman could expect to get very reasonable bed and board accomodation here, including large four poster beds. The inn was referred to by Dickens in Great Expectations.

The Lobster Smack was once the watering hole for unlicensed pilots, patronised by captains who objected to the higher charges requested by the Trinity House men at Gravesend.

It was not uncommon to hear only Dutch spoken in the Smack during the evenings, since most of the guests came off the Dutch fishing vesels laden with eels from the Texel. Pieces of clay from the pipes that the sailors smoked can still be found in the soil surrounding the area.

The activity of smugglers was notorious throughout the country at this time, and Canvey was believed to have no less a share of this action than anywhere else. Preventative men were employed by the government, and it must be assumed that theirs was a thankless task, often being sent on fool's errands while the deed took place in areas they usually frequented. At Hole Haven, however, the strength of the coastguard station resulted in the employment of a Chief Officer, a chief boatman, two commissioned boatmen and four other boatmen. A watchtower was built close to the inn, overlooking the sea wall. Not surprisingly corruption occurred from time to time, and it was rumoured that coins changed hands for the lookout to turn a blind eye at the appointed time. He was persuaded to develop an incredible thirst and subsequently to vacate his post when the contraband came ashore.

Apart from its connections with smuggling, the Lobster Smack Inn was well-known as a site of an annual fair, which took place on 25th June. Records show that it was well established by the year 1767. This would have been a pleasant distraction from the usual mundane course of the island's agricultural life. Here one could expect to buy quantities of home produce such as gingerbread. Toys, ribbons, fruits and items of similar importance made this event popular with all the family. The fair continued to operate until at least 1848, although in governmental documents published in 1889 covering Market Rights and Tolls there is no further mention of it.

What must surely have been another source of entertainment, particularly to the men, were the regular bare-knuckle prize fights, staged outside the inn during the 1800s. Just what modern-day boxing officials would say about the lengthy and often arduous bouts that took place can only be guessed at, for some only just fell short of 90 rounds.

 

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