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Date of photo: 2013	Click above photo to expand		Picture source: Hania Franek
The Bricklayers Arms was situated at 71 Redmans Road. This pub was demolished in 2004 and has now been replaced by a block of flats.
During the period 1930-1939, The landlord was Jim Mead.  It was once visited by Edward, Prince of Wales.  He drank a pint of beer out of a glass and Jim Mead retained it as a keepsake.  It was displayed on a shelf behind the bar and Jim said he would not sell it for a thousand pounds.  The pub was also the meeting place of “The Jolly Boys”  a branch of the “Grand Order of the Buffaloes”, a charitable Institution.  They organised big parties and outings for the children and hundreds attended particularly around Christmas time. The children lined up outside the pub and in Hannibal road and Redman’s Road, all were given a bag of goodies ( apple, an orange, a bun and sweets and chocolates) and then they marched to the venue , a cinema which was specially hired or wherever the party was to be held.  A Church hall or banqueting hall was again specially hired and decorated.  After the party all the children were given presents and at Christmas this included a Christmas stocking.  All the children in the neighbourhood looked forward to these outings.  The Jolly Boys also organised outings for their adult members.  In the summer they hired a fleet of Charabancs which they filled with food and drinks and set off to the seaside,  Southend or  Margate or Brighton perhaps?  The Charabancs were open-topped with a sliding or folding hood.  When they were ready to set off one of their members stood up on a seat  and played a loud tune on a cornet.  Everyone including bystanders cheered like mad and off they went.  Jim Mead also had a big white half breed dog part Chow which used to patrol up and down the street and was quite prepared to bite if someone interfered with it.
Andrew Anglo (September 2011)
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Other Photos
Site of The Bricklayers Arms, 2013		Picture source: Fergy Campbell