Clerkenwell pub history index
The address is 4 Little Warner Street in 1871 and earlier, prior to street renaming. The pub is named in the 1911 census return. *
Historical London public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels.
Residents at this address.
1836/Hugh Honey/beer retailer/../../Pigots Directory
1842/John H. Wright/beer retailer/../../Robson's Directory *
1848/Mrs Ann Harrison/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
1851/Thomas Cole/Beer Retailer/27/Bethnal Green, Middlesex/Census *
1851/Matilda Cole/Wife/25/Cheltenham, Gloucestershire/Census
1851/Thomas J. Cole/Son/2/St Pancras, Middlesex/Census
1851/James T. Cole/Son/11 months/Camberwell, Surrey/Census
1856/Henry Coster/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
1869/Joseph Pritchard/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
1871/George Byford/Beer Retailer/39/Seven Dials, Middlesex/Census *
1871/Mary Byford/Wife/30/Clerkenwell, Middlesex/Census
1871/George Byford/Son/8/Clerkenwell, Middlesex/Census
1871/David Byford/Son/1/Clerkenwell, Middlesex/Census
1881/Thomas Byford/Beerhouse Keeper/46/Clerkenwell, Middlesex/Census
1881/Frances Sarah Byford/Wife/50/Hereford/Census
1881/Charles Thomas Byford/Son, Cab Proprietor, Widow/23/St Pancras,
Middlesex/Census
1881/Francis William Dimach/Wifes Son, Pianoforte Maker/30/Islington,
Middlesex/Census
1882/Thomas Byford/Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1885/Thomas Byford / Beer Retailer /../../../P. O. Directory **
1891/Thomas Byford / Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
1891/Thomas Byford/Beerhouse Keeper/56/Clerkenwell/Census *
1891/Frances S. Byford/Wife/60/Herefordshire/Census
1891/Thomas Byford/Son, Cab Driver/26/Middlesex/Census
East Anglian Daily Times - Saturdy 13 February 1892 :
A freehold corner licensed beer house, known as the Two Brewers, No 41,
Warner street, Clerkenwell, let upon a repairing lease expiring in 1904, at
£32 per annum.
1895/Thomas Byford/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
1899/Thomas Byford / Beer Retailer/../../Post Office Directory
My grandfather, George Stiles, was landlord of The Two Brewers from about
1899/1900 to about 1912 or so. ***
1901/George W. Stiles/Beerseller/28/Burford, Oxfordshire/Census *
1901/Catherine Stiles/Wife/32/Clerkenwell/Census
1901/Nellie Stiles/Daughter/2/Westbourne Park/Census
1901/George Stiles/Son/4 months/Clerkenwell/Census
Islington Daily Gazette & North London Tribune, 7th April 1902 :
HAVE A DRINK? At the Clerkenwell Police - court on Friday,
George Stiles, 41, of Warner-street, Clerkenwell, was summoned for supplying
Police-constable Ambrose, 228 E, with refreshment while he was on duty at
Baker's-row. Police-sergeant 49 E said that on the evening of the 14th of
March he was passing through Back-hill, Clerkenwell, and saw defendant pass,
through Warner-street. He followed him to Baker's-row, and saw a man leave
the "Two Brewers" public house carrying something. The man entered some
stables, and witness on going there saw the man and the constable in the
stables. Witness called them out and spoke to them, and subsequently saw the
defendant, who said, " A man came in and called for some beer. Had I known
it was for a policeman, I would not have served it." Police-constable
Ambrose, 228 E, said he was on duty at the corner of Baker's-row on the day
in question, when a private person asked if he would have a drink. Witness
made no reply, but crossed over to the other side. Immediately afterwards
the man brought some liquor to him. Mr. D'Eyncourt—What was it? Witness—l
don't know. I hadn't time to drink it. Mr. D'Eyncourt—The sergeant came up?—
Yes. (Laughter.) Robert Lilley, an enameller, said he asked the constable to
have a drink. He made no reply, but "hung his ..ead down." That witness took
as a nod accepting the offer. Witness then entered the "Two Brewers" and
called for two "mild and bitters," which he brought out of the house. The
landlord did not notice him leave the house with the beer, and could not see
the constable. Witness took the beer over to some stables. The constable was
a stranger to him. Mr. D'Eyncourt said there was no evidence against the
landlord. He dismissed the summons. ***
Same policeman again, Ambrose, as 6 years before!
The Islington Daily Gazette & North London Tribune, Aug 6th, 1908 :
THURSDAY, AUG 6. 1908. THE POLICEMAN'S NOD Story of a Drink
At Clerkenwell Police-court yesterday afternoon, before Mr. Bros, George
Stiles, of the "Two Brewers " beer-house, Warner street, Clerkenwell, was
summoned by Inspector Appleton, of the E division, for on July 22nd
supplying refreshment to Police-constable Ambrose, 228 E, when duty, without
the authority of some superior officer. Mr. Barker prosecuted for the
Commissioner of Police, and Mr. Ricketts defended. Inspector Appleton said
that at 12.15 a.m. on the day the day in question he keeping observation in
plain clothes. He saw Police-constable Ambrose working his beat. When
opposite the "Two Brewers” he crossed over to the house, looked left and
right, went to one Of the two entrances of the house, and nodded in at the
open door. Then licensee handed a can to a man is the bar, and that man
brought the can to the constable. The policeman drank up and handed the can
back to the man, who re-entered the house. The inspector then declared
himself to the constable and went into the Iicensee with him. The defendant
said did not know who the beer was for. A man called for beer in a can and
took it outside. He did not know the man. Cross-examined—The inspector had
been in the house as a customer. He had only left the premises a few minutes
before the constable came along. Police-constable Ambrose said he was on
duty when he was passing the "Two Brewers,” and, hearing voices, looked in
at the door. He nodded to the landlord and moved away, and someone brought
him can of beer, which he drank up. Then the inspector came up to him.
Cross-examined—He did not remember refusing a drink offered by a man at
eleven o’clock, saying " Not then." He did not remember some time previously
advising the man not to fight in the Italian quarter. Mr. Ricketts said the
case failed, because there was no evidence that the defendant or his agent
supplied the refreshment. Mr .Bros said the evidence was that the
constable’s nod produced drink. Mr. Ricketts said he should call the man who
gave the officer the drink. The defendant took the nod of the constable as
an act of civility, and took no further notice of it than saying "Good
night" to the officer, who apparently passed on. The defendant gave evidence
for himself, and was corroborated by customers who witnessed the incident.
William McBride, pianoforte finisher, said he was the man who supplied the
forbidden refreshment. He saw the officer about eleven o’clock, and asked
him to have a drink. The constable replied, "Another time." At 12.15 the
officer passed the house and nodded, and witness took it as acceptance of
his previous offer. He then supplied him with half a pint of ale at his own
expense, and did not tell the landlord who it was for. He had taken cans of
ale out at other times to organ men. Cross-examined—He knew the constable
months ago, when he rescued him from a street bother, and this was the first
time be had an opportunity of doing the officer a good turn.’’ Mr.
Barker—Perhaps you will remember in future that the worst possible turn you
can do an officer is to offer him a drink. Mr. Bros said the beer seemed to
have been the result of the nod, but it did not appear to be the gift of the
landlord. Therefore he dismissed the summons. ***
1910/George William Stiles / Beer Retailer /../../Post Office Directory
1911/George William Stiles/Beer Retailer/38/Burford, Oxfordshire/Census *
1911/Catherine Stiles/Wife/42/City of London/Census
1911/Helina Stiles/Daughter/12/Paddington/Census
1911/Oswald Stiles/Son/8/Finsbury/Census
1911/Dora Stiles/Daughter/6/Finsbury/Census
1911/Harry Stiles/Son/4/Finsbury/Census
1914/Frank Lockett / Beer Retailer /../../Post Office Directory
1915/Frank Lockett/beer retailer/../../Post Office Directory *
* Provided By Ewan
** Provided By Stephen Harris
*** Provided By Dominic Stiles