Lobster Smack, Hole Haven, Canvey Island

A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Essex. The  Essex listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.

Also known as the Lobster Pot

This little inn was weathering storms on the sea front at Hole Haven, Canvey even before marauding sailors from a Dutch man of war launched an invasion here in 1667. Fortunately they soon departed and the noisiest and most violent thing in these parts once again became the waves sifting the shingle.

My 3g-grandfather Crisp Molineux Harridge is listed  as licensee of the The Sun Inn, Billericay (between about 1820 and about 1840) and The Lobster Smack Inn, Canvey Island (between about 1845 and 1851). **

Lobster Smack, Hole Haven, Canvey Island

Provided by Janet Penn

The Lobster Smack Inn

Lobster Smack, Hole Haven, Canvey Island

Both kindly provided by Colleen

1993

Taken by Irene Martin

The following entries are in this format:

Year/Publican or other Resident/Relationship to Head and or Occupation/Age/Where Born/Source.

1828/Susannah Richmond/Innkeeper/../../Alehouse Recognizances*

1839/William Finch/../../../Pigot's

Census Place: Holy Haven, Canvey Island, Essex

1841/Crisp Harridge/Publican/50/Essex/Census **
1841/Mary Ann Harridge/../45/Essex/Census **
1841/George Harridge/../13/Essex/Census **
1841/Alfred Fitch Harridge/../6/Essex/Census **
1841/William Burrells/Servant/35/Essex/Census **
1841/Emma Bradcock/Servant/15/Essex/Census **
1841/Charles Corey/Waterman/18/Essex/Census **
1841/Robert Ellis/Waterman/55/Essex/Census **
1841/Charles Moles/Waterman/55/Essex/Census **

1845/Crisp Molyneaux Harridge/../../../Post Office

1848/Crisp Molyneaux Harridge/Victualler/../../White's

1851/Crisp Molyneaux Harridge/../../../Post Office

Place: Sluice Inn (aka Lobster Smack Inn), Canvey Island, Essex

1851/Crisp M Harridge/Victualler/63/Leigh, Essex/Census **
1851/Mary A Harridge/Wife/62/Rochester, Kent/Census **
1851/George Harridge/Son/22/Billericay, Essex/Census **
1851/Benjamin Burrels/Ostler/57/Cotford, Essex/Census **
1851/Eliza Stow/General Servant/19/Pitsea, Essex/Census **

I am the great grandson of Charles Beckwith, and grandson of Charles Beckwith jr. who had the Lobster Smack Inn and Sluice Farm on Canvey Island. Charles Beckwith sen, ran the Inn from about 1862 up to 1903 when my Grandfather took over and left his Father to run Sluice Farm. He was eventually called up to fight in the first world war and as there was very little trade, no yachts from the clubs around the coast, and no labour to work the farm, he sold up in 1915. After the war he returned home to Canvey and bought the village butchers which he ran until after the second world war, and then sold to Mr. H. C. Cook.
My Great Grandfather, and Grandfather together with their family members are buried in St Katherine's Church yard between the gate and porch. ***

In the 1861 census, Charles Beckwith is at the Ordnance Arms, 1 Queen Street, Milton, Gravesend, a licensed victualler alongside his sister Mary, and prior to that they are at the Cock & Magpie, Stanford le Hope.

1862/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1867/Charles Beckwith/../../../Post Office

1870/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1871/Charles Beckwith/../../../Post Office

1871/Charles Beckwith/Licensed Victualler/37/Margaretting, Essex/Census
1871/Mary Rosberry/House Keeper, Widow/60/Northfleet, Kent/Census
1871/Hanry Vine/Godson/14/Gravesend, Kent/Census
1871/William Rowe/Visitor, Waterman/60/Greenwich, Kent/Census
1871/James Wood/Visitor, Labourer/20/Steeple, Essex/Census
1871/Samuel White/Visitor, Agricultural Labourer/52/Thundersley, Essex/Census

1874/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1878/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1881/Charles Beckwith/Licensed Victualler & Farmer/48/Margaretting, Essex/Census
1881/Lucy Beckwith/Wife/40/Vange, Essex/Census
1881/Alice Beckwith/Daughter/8/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1881/Ellen Beckwith/Daughter/6/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1881/Charles Beckwith/Son/5/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1881/Lucy Beckwith/Daughter/4/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1881/Edith Beckwith/Daughter/1/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1881/Elizabeth Cutts/Sister in Law/21/Vange, Essex/Census
1881/Emily Brewitt/General Domestic Servant/15/South Benfleet, Essex/Census
1881/James Thornton/Boarder, Waterman/50/Greenwich, Kent/Census
1881/James Thornton Jnr./Boarder, Waterman/17/Greenwich, Kent/Census

1882/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1886/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1890/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1891/Charles Beckwith/Licensed Victualler, Widow/57/Ingatestone, Essex/Census
1891/Alice Beckwith/Daughter, Assistant/17/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1891/Charles Beckwith/Son, Assistant/15/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1891/Henry Wm Vine/Servant/34/Gravesend, Kent/Census

1894/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1895/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1898/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1899/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1901/Charles Beckwith/Publican, Widow/66/Danbury, Essex/Census
1901/Charles Beckwith/Son, Assistant, Barman/25/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1901/Edith Beckwith/Daughter, Assistant/21/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1901/Lizzie Beckwith/Daughter, Assistant/19/Canvey Island, Essex/Census
1901/William H Vine/Assistant, Barmman44//Canvey Island, Essex/Census

1902/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1906/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1908/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1910/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1912/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1914/Charles Beckwith/../../../Kelly's

1914 - 1934/J Went/../../../Freehold

1917/James Went/../../../Kelly's

1922/James Went/../../../Kelly's

1925/James Went/../../../Kelly's

1929/James Went/../../../Kelly's

1933/James Went/../../../Kelly's

1935 - 1951/P J Went/../../../Freehold

1937/Percy John Went/../../../Kelly's

1952 - 1961/Mrs L E Went/../../../Freehold

1962/J A T Childs/../../../Freehold


* Provided by Mike Smith

** Provided by Keith Taylor (Third great grandson of Crisp Harridge)

*** Provided by Alan Blackwood

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  • And Last updated on: Thursday, 25-Jan-2024 15:42:34 GMT