The Town of Ramsgate

public house A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...

is located at the centre of the ancient

hamlet ''The Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark'', often shortened to ''Hamlet'' (), is a tragedy written by William Shakespeare sometime between 1599 and 1601. It is Shakespeare's longest play, with 29,551 words. Set in Denmark, the play depicts ...

Wapping Wapping () is a district in East London in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets. Wapping's position, on the north bank of the River Thames, has given it a strong maritime character, which it retains through its riverside public houses and steps, ...

in the

London Borough of Tower Hamlets The London Borough of Tower Hamlets is a London boroughs, London borough covering much of the traditional East End of London, East End. It was formed in 1965 from the merger of the former Metropolitan boroughs of the County of London, metropol ...

. It features in several books about London inns where it is rated as "a notable specimen of a waterman's tavern."

Construction

Although the present building dates back to 1758, the National Monuments Record have stated that it was constructed on earlier foundations. Today it benefits from a Grade II listing, awarded primarily for the pub's interior; the "beamed ceilings, benches, plank paneling and engraved glass screen" but also for its "group value and historical associations." Despite later changes, the pub has a distinctive atmosphere. Crammed into a small rectangular area between

Wapping Old Stairs ''Wapping Old Stairs'' is an 1894 comic opera in three acts, with music by Howard Talbot, which played at the Vaudeville Theatre in London. It included D'Oyly Carte Opera Company regulars Courtice Pounds, Richard Temple and Jessie Bond in the cas ...

and Oliver's Wharf, its fight for space is reflected in the long narrow shapes of the pub's main bar. Walking out onto the pub's riverside terrace, the visitor is confronted by the dramatic sight of narrow steps leading up to the mock gallows that loom against the skyline.

Nearby

To the left of the inn are the

Georgian houses Georgian architecture is the name given in most English-speaking countries to the set of architectural styles current between 1714 and 1830. It is named after the first four British monarchs of the House of Hanover—George I, George II, Georg ...

of Pier Head which were built in 1811 for the employees of the

London Dock Company London Docklands is the riverfront and former docks in London. It is located in inner east and southeast London, in the boroughs of Southwark, Tower Hamlets, Lewisham, Newham, and Greenwich. The docks were formerly part of the Port of Lo ...

. The railed gardens cover the former entrance to Wapping Basin. Opposite the pub is St. John's Church. Built in 1790, all that remains is the tower, as the main body of the church was destroyed during the

Blitz Blitz, German for "lightning", may refer to: Military uses *Blitzkrieg, blitz campaign, or blitz, a type of military campaign *The Blitz, the German aerial campaign against Britain in the Second World War *, an Imperial German Navy light cruiser b ...

. To the right is Oliver's Wharf.

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Town of Ramsgate Pubs in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Grade II listed buildings in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Restaurants in London History of the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Buildings and structures on the River Thames Tourist attractions in the London Borough of Tower Hamlets Grade II listed pubs in London Wapping

Construction

Nearby

See also

References

External links