Clerkenwell pub history index
Historical London public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels.
Residents at this address
It is particularly alluded to by Mawworm, in BickerstafFs comedy of " The
Hypocrite ;" wherein he says, "Till I went after him (Dr. Cantwell), I was
always roving after fantastical delights. I used to go to the Three Hats at
Islington. It is a public-house. Mayhap your ladyship may know it." In a
field behind the Three Hats, one of the first Equestrian Performers in
England exhibited in 1758, - the celebrated Irishman, Thomas Johnson, who is
represented in a plate in the Grand Magazine, published in the same year,
riding on two, three, and four horses, in Astley's manner, and is there
termed the "Tartar."' He was succeeded here by the no less eminent Mr.
Sampson, in 1767, who had an opponent named Price, who displayed his
equestrian talents at an adjacent place of amusement, called Dobney's
Gardens. The exhibition of these two heroes so near to one spot, caused no
small degree of jealousy between them; but Price contriving to render
Sampson incapable of riding on horseback, by ensnaring him into gay company,
the latter was obliged to dispose of his stock' to one Coningham, who
performed at the Three Hats in 1771. But, about this period, this once
popular place of resort fell into disuse, in consequence of the celebrated
Hughes and Astley establishing themselves in St. George's-fields; and,
although it remained as a "tea-gardens" for many years, it is now a mere
public-house and wine-vaults.
In the neighbourhood of the Three Hats were the "Dobney's" pleasant
tea-gardens and bowling-green, which occupied the ground between White
Lion-street and Winchester-place, and were established at least as far back
as the year 1718; they were also known as the Jubilee-gardens, and had boxes
for refreshments, painted with different scenes from Shakspeare's plays.
Soon after the death of Mrs. Ann Dobney, who kept the house many years, and
died in 1760, aged eighty-six, the proprietor, anxious to extend his
business, called in the aid of Price, an equestrian performer; and as the
boxes surrounded the spacious bowling green, a circle was formed on it, and
an amphitheatre was at once made, with little trouble or expenses. In 1769,
"Johnson's Prospect and Bowling-green-house," as the place was then.
- St Mary Islington History 1842
"Yesterday his Royal Highness the Duke of York was at the Three Hats at
Islington, to see the extraordinary feats of horsemanship exhibited there.
There were near 500 spectators." July 17, 1766. - St Mary
Islington History 1842
3 "Horsemanship, April 29, 1767.
Mr. Sampson will begin his famous feats of horse-manship next Monday, at a
commodious place built for that purpose, in a field adjoining the Three Hats
at Islington, where he intends to continue his performance during the summer
season. The doors to be opened at four, and Mr. Sampson will mount at five.
Admittance 1s. each. A proper band of music is engaged for the entertainment
of those ladies and gentlemen who are pleased to honour him with their
company."
At Mr. Dingley's, the Three Hats, Islington. Mr. Sampson begs leave to
inform the public, that besides the usual feats which he exhibits, Mrs.
Sampson, to diversify the entertainment, and prove that the Fair Sex are by
no means inferior to the male, either in Courage or Agility, will this, and
every evening during the summer season, perform various exercises in the
same art, in which she hopes to acquit herself to the universal approbation
of those ladies and gentlemen whose curiosity may induce them to honour her
attempt with their company."—July, 1767.
Mrs. Sampson was the first female equestrian performer; Sampson, in 1776,
fitted up a riding-school in Tottenham Court Road, where he displayed "the
grandest feats of horsemanship that were ever attempted." - St Mary
Islington History 1842
1789/Robert Beckerdike/victualler/../../Sun Fire Office records held at the
London Metropolitan Archives *
1802/Frances Preece/victualler/../../Sun Fire Office records held at the
London Metropolitan Archives *
1809/M Herst, the Three Hats, High street, Islington/../../Holdens Directory
St. John-street-road was, until 1818, called Islington-road. "On Tuesday
next, being Shrove Tuesday, will be a fine hog barbyqu'd whole, at the
house of Peter Brett, at the Rising Sun in Islington road, with other
diversions. It is the house where the ox was roasted whole at Christmas
last."—Mist's Journal, February 9, 1726.
Statesman (London) 22 March 1820 :
General Election
Middlesex
State of the Poll - fourth day
Whitbread 1563
Byng 1810
Mellish 1176
Freeholders of the County of Middlesex.
Mr Whitbreads majority goes on steadily and uniformly. Every nerve has been strained by our opponent to swell his numbers on this days poll, but again we have signally triumphed.
There is but one circumstance that can prejudice our cause - heedless confidence in the superior strength which we possess. It is this which may prevent its full development. Relax not in your efforts. Remember that Official Circulars on the other side must be met by vigous efforts on ours.
Mr Mellish has condescended to borrow the plumes of Mr Whitbread. He calls himself the "Friend of the People!"
Choose for yourselves. Gentlemen, which of these "Friends" shall represent you in Parliament - he who depends upon the undue influence of Ministerial Circulars, or he who relies upon your free and independent Suffrages. Be prompt - be firm - and you must be victorious. By order of the Commmittee.
Charles Shaw Lefevre, Jun, Chairman
Conmmittee room, Freemasons Tavern, March 21 1820.
Coaches for the conveyance of Freeholders in the interest of Mr Whitbread are stationed at the following places :-
Yorkshire Gray, Piccadilly
Northumberland Arms, Clerkenwell green
Johns terrace, Hackney road
Silver Lion, Poplar.
Three Hats, Islington turnpike
White Horse, Church street, Chelsea
Wheat sheaf, Red Lion street, Holborn
Gloucester Coffee house, Park street, Oxford street
Rockingham Arms, Kent road
Globe, Tichfield street, Marylebone
Star, Old street road, St Lukes
No 119 Brick lane, Spitalfields
No 162 Shoreditch
Angel Inn, Whitechapel
Red Lion, Chamber street, Goodmans fields
George and Dragon, Shadwell
Sun and Sword, Back Church lane, St Georges east
Ram Inn, Smithfield
Guildhall Coffee house, King street, Cheapside
Salmon and Ball, Bethnal Green
Artichoke, Ratcliff highway
The Crown, Obelisk, St Georges fields
Mr Winchs - Sunbury. Hammersmith. Chiswick. Turnham green. Shepperton, Fulham and Halliford.
Mr Tapps, Twickenham
Mr Knights, High street, Kensington, Knightsbridge. Kensal green, Kilburn, Walham green, Brompton
And at the Freemasons tavern, Queen street, Lincolns inn fields.
1822/James Henshaw/victualler/../../Sun Fire Office records held at the
London Metropolitan Archives *
1825/Mr. James Henshaw, Three Hats, High street, Pentonville/../../Licensed
Victuallers Association
1825/James Henshaw/wine and spirit merchant and victualler/../../Sun Fire
Office records held at the London Metropolitan Archives *
1826/George Harden/wine and spirit merchant and victualler/../../Sun Fire
Office records held at the London Metropolitan Archives *
1827/Robert Heathcote/../../../Licensed Victuallers Asylum and School
subscribers *
1830/Joseph James Collins/victualler and wine and spirit dealer/../../Sun
Fire Office records held at the London Metropolitan Archives *
1839/John Cooper/../../../Pigot's Directory *
The Three Hats, near the turnpike-gate, which was re-built in consequence of
the damage its roof sustained from a fire, which destroyed two adjoining
houses, January 6, 1839, was for many years a well-known and favourite place
of resort. - St Mary Islington History 1842
1848/David Edwards/../../../Post Office Directory *
1851/David Edwards/../../../Post Office Directory *
1856/John Emmerson/../../../Post Office Directory *
* Provided By Ewan