The London, Essex, Kent, Suffolk, Sussex, Surrey, Berkshire, Middlesex, Devon, Buckinghamshire, Gloucestershire, Hampshire, Hertfordshire, Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire & Oxfordshire, Huntingdonshire, Cornwall, Dorset, Wiltshire, Somerset, Norfolk Pubs and UK best Broadband

The historical street directory shows details of an address through time. Search for an open OR closed pub by historical Pub name, surname or street address.
site search by freefind

If you need help incorporating the new web site legislation for cookies on your web site (with simple examples), - please support Eddie Izzard on his 27 marathons in 27 days, in South Africa, barefoot. Here is his latest activity, beautiful pictures too. Then send an email to : Kevan
If you support Eddie Izzard through sponsorship, I will help you for free!

Untitled 1

Lobster Smack, Hole Haven, Canvey Island

The story of the Beckwith family - 1870 to 1878  - 1895 to 1910 - 1908 - 1912

This little inn was weathering storms on the sea front at Hole Haven, Canvey even before marauding sailors from a Dutch man of war launched an invasion here in 1667. Fortunately they soon departed and the noisiest and most violent thing in these parts once again became the waves sifting the shingle.

See the original Lobster Smack page for history of the Lobster Smack from at least 1828.

I am the great grandson of Charles Beckwith, and grandson of Charles Beckwith jr. who had the Lobster Smack Inn and Sluice Farm on Canvey Island. Charles Beckwith sen,  ran the Inn from about 1862 up to 1903 when my Grandfather took over and left his Father to run Sluice Farm. He was eventually called up to fight in the first world war and as there was very little trade, no yachts from the clubs around the coast, and no labour to work the farm, he sold up in 1915. After the war he returned home to Canvey and bought the village butchers which he ran until after the second world war, and then sold to Mr. H. C. Cook.
My Great Grandfather, and Grandfather together with their family members are buried in St Katherine's Church yard between the gate and porch. ***

In the 1861 census, Charles Beckwith is at the Ordnance Arms, 1 Queen Street, Milton, Gravesend, a licensed victualler alongside his sister Mary, and prior to that they are at the Cock & Magpie, Stanford le Hope. ****

For census information see the Lobster Smack history page

Charles Beckwith senior, taken at Lobster Smack Inn about 1870

Charles Beckwith senior, taken at Lobster Smack Inn about 1870

1878 Lobster Smack Inn (oldest photo - poor quality) - note that there were no signs on the Inn then.

1878 Lobster Smack Inn (oldest photo - poor quality) - note that there were no signs on the Inn then.

Both Kindly provided by Alan Blackwood & copyright

 

*** Provided by Alan Blackwood

Search the London & Southern England Pub History site and Street directory by historical Pub name, surname or street address. The Pub history site is a major historical street directory which lists mainly Pubs and street name changes between about 1840 and 1940. The site is updated every day. Contact: Kevan with any updates and additions.
site search by freefind

All transcriptions and imagery is copyright, and excepting personal usage (which is fine); it is NOT available for commercial usage or copying onto other websites without explicit permission. Many of the images, and all of the transcriptions are the work of myself and other contributors - please do not steal this work.
The historical trade directory and census listing of all of London, Essex, Kent, Suffolk, Berkshire, Buckinghamshire, Sussex, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire Oxfordshire, and Dorset. If you are searching for a historical address, try the census and street directory database. This is a Victorian view on the streets of london and the south of England.

The deadpubs news channel - deadpubs news site
Best Broadband Providers in the UK .

And Last updated on: Friday, 30-Sep-2011 11:27:00 BST