The Widow's Son


The Widow's Son

The pub with a sad navy rite on Good Friday every year.

Location: 75 Devon's Road, Bow, London, E3 3PJ

Description: The story behind this pub's name is about a cottage on this site where a widow lived, and her only son a sailor. He was due to return home on Good Friday (reputedly in 1824) and asked his mother to bake him some hot-cross-buns. Sadly, he never returned.

Nevertheless every Good Friday his mother had a new bun waiting. Each year a new bun was added to ones she had kept from previous years. When she died the buns were found hanging from a beam in her cottage, which became known as the Bun House.

The cottage was replaced by a pub in 1848 and the story kept alive by successive landlords.

Every Easter on Good Friday, a Royal Navy sailor adds a new bun to the collection which hangs in the pub. Sailors from around Britain come to pay their respects to the widow. They hold a religious service, then sing, drink and generally have a good time.


Themes: PubPub Theme  MilitaryMilitary Theme  QuirkyQuirky Theme
The Widow's Son

The pub with a sad navy rite on Good Friday every year.

Ranking This Month: 44/3019

Pages Hit This Month: 17


Your Comments:

Name:
Email:
Your email will ONLY be used once, to confirm the publication of your comments. We value your contribution and privacy.

Anti-spam Security: Please enter this code:


Other places nearby:


St Andrews Day Boozer», 3.5km

The Eagle», 3.2km

Queen's No1», 5.8km

John Harvards Tavern», 3.3km

Morpeth Arms», 5.2km

The Chesham Arms: a Great Pub», 2.2km

The Cross Keys», 7.0km

Well Crafted Beers», 3.9km

Peter Storey's Pub», 3.1km

A Right Royal Bird», 7.6km

Location Pinpointed: