Crown Inn

Crown Inn

North out of Aldgate High Street, east of St. Botolph Aldgate Church and Churchyard (O. and M. 1677). In Portsoken Ward.

In existence and given to Christ's Hospital in 1543 (Strype, ed. 1720, I. 21 and 27).

Site occupied by Church Row (q.v.) from the early part of the 18th century.

Crown Inn, on the Nly side of Aldgate High str. near the Gate.

[The Crown Inn.] Whitechapel is a spacious fair Street for Entrance into the City Eastward, and somewhat long, reckoning from the Laystall East unto the Bars West, where the Ward ends. It is a great Thorough fair, being the Essex Road, and well resorted unto, which occasions it to be the better inhabited, and accommodated with good Inns for the Reception of Travellers, and for Horses, Coaches, Carts and Waggons. ... On the North Side are divers considerable Inns much resorted unto, as the Three Nuns, the Crown, the Black Bull, the Blue Boar; with several Shopkeepers, who have a good Retail trade out of the Country. ...

5347 "Crowne wythout Algate" Brewhouse 1335–1543; "Crown without Aldgate" Inn or tavern 1637–1700; "Crown Inn Aldgate High Street" 1708–20.

Crown Inn, near Aldgate.

Also [tried at the Old Baily] Mr. Atkins and his Wife who lived in the Moated House in Tuttle-fields, were found guilty of high Treason in counterfeiting the Coyn of this Kingdom, as was also the Master of the Crown-Inn near Aldgate.

Post Man and the Historical Account 211, September 12–15, 1696.

 

Thomas Hollyland of the Parish of Aldgate, was indicted of High-Treason, for Clipping the Currant Coin of this Kingdom, on the 20th of June last. It appeared that the Prisoner kept the Crown Inn without Aldgate, and had Clipt at several times almost 2000 l. in a Room called the Crown, over the Gate. He denied the Fact, and said that he was out of Town at Chipping Onger in Essex at that time, but could not prove it. He called several people to his Reputation, but the Evidence being very positive against him, the Jury found him guilty of High-Treason.

Old Bailey Online Reference Number t16960909-64

In this year [1699] I find the following advertisement of a music booth, which must have been one of the earliest established:—

Thomas Dale, Drawer at the Crown Tavern at Aldgate, keepeth the Turk's Head Musick Booth, in Smithfield Rounds, over against the Greyhound Inn, during the time of Bartholomew Fair, Where is a Glass of good Wine, Mum, Syder, Beer, Ale, and all other Sorts of Liquors, to be Sold; and where you will likewise be entertained with good Musick, Singing and Dancing. You will see a Scaramouch Dance, the Italian Punch's Dance, the Quarter Staff, the Antick, the Countryman and Countrywoman's Dance, and the Merry Cuckolds of Hogsden.

Also a young Man that dances an Entry, Salabrand, and Jigg, and a Woman that dances with Six Naked Rapiers, that we Challenge the whole Fair to do the like. There is likewise a Young Woman that Dances with Fourteen Glasses on the Backs and Palms of her Hands, and turns round with them above an Hundred Times as fast as a Windmill turns; and another Young Man that Dances a Jigg incomparably well to the Admiration of all Spectators! Vivat Rex!!

—Thomas Frost, The Old Showmen, and the Old London Fairs (1874), 64; mentioned also in Bentley's Miscellany, volume 9 (184).