The Prince of Wales

The site of a tragic pub bombed in April 1941.

Location: 122 Manor Way, Grange Hill, Chigwell, IG7 5PW

Description: Today its a block of flats next to a junction and petrol station but until the 1990's it was The Prince of Wales public house.

On a packed Saturday evening in wartime 19th April 1941 when a darts match was in full flow, a parachute mine silently fell outside the pub completely destroying it and the row of cottages next to it.

At least 46 people were killed including 4 Clayhall Cricket Club members & brothers Harry and Dick Johnson, Jack Kestrall and Les Wells. 4 members of J1 Chigwell Post and three of the Royal Observer Corps members' wives were also killed.

A plaque on the Stone of Remembrance outside by the road details the tragic events here.

The pub was rebuilt as a temporary building and reopened on the 19th December 1949 before being properly rebuilt in the 1950's.

Themes: Disaster Disaster Theme