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Picture source: National Brewery Heritage Trust

The Kings Arms was situated at 18 Kingsland High Street.

This pub was present by 1636 and may initially have been called the Prince’s Arms.  In these early days it fronted on to Kingsland Green.  There is a good story from 1901 when Landlord Mr Wilkinson placed advertisements for a barman, asking applicants to visit the pub between 11 and 1 o’clock on a certain day.  One applicant took umbrage on being told when he came that the post had already been filled.  He set up an elaborate series of hoaxes during which an undertaker, some butchers, a corset maker, a draper, a cheesemonger and various others turned up at the pub with goods and services which had not been ordered.  At around this time, the pub was sometimes nicknamed the “18” after its street number, which appeared prominently on the frontage.  It was a Charrington’s Brewery pub, but in 1993 it was sold to the Charles Wells Brewery of Bedford, who continued to run it until its closure in 2008.  The extension of the London Overground Railway network had led to a compulsory purchase order and the pub was demolished in 2009 to accommodate the railway works.

Stephen Harris

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Other Photos

Picture source: National Brewery Heritage Trust

Picture source: Ewan M