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: Pub Pub Theme