Last Orders at the William IV

On May 15 last orders were called for the final time at the William IV pub, at the junction of Streatham High Road and Hermitage Lane, writes John W Brown

The closure of this pub ends a tradition dating back at least 320 years. The earliest mention of the tavern dates from March 26,1681, when the burial of "John a lodger at the Green Man" is recorded in the Streatham parish registers.

By 1716 the pub, had changed its name to the King's Head and in 1739/40 the inn appears to have been briefly known as the Blackboy.

However, by the mid 18th century it was called the Princes Head - a name which would stick for more than a century.

The first reference to the tavern is in 1757, making it one of the earliest known inns to bear the name in London. In the 18th century, the isolated position of the Princes Head made it an ideal meeting place for local felons.

It is well documented the Princes Inn was a popular spot for highwaymen as the adjacent stretch of road, lined with thick hedges and isolated fields, was an ideal place to rob lonely travellers and coach drivers.

When, coaches travelling along the London to Brighton Road stopped for refreshment, thieves would leave the bar and hide in hedges down the road, ready to waylay travellers resuming their Journey.

Legend has it that Dick Turpin drank at the Princes Head.

Close to the inn, in nearby Hermitage Lane, stood a number of old cottages dating back to at least the 1660’s.

It is said that when visiting the area Turpin used to hide out in one of these hovels, where relatives of his wife lived. This may be true as there is a recorded robbery by him in nearby Thornton Heath.

In the early 1790’s the inn that stood on the spot now occupied by the William IV appears to have been rebuilt.

Benjamin Pickett was known to be publican here, at least up to 1789. James Foot is recorded as holding the license in 1791 but the pub continued to act as a magnet for undesirables. In 1817 the then publican, Richard Powell, had his license taken away.

In 1856, Henry Gibbs was granted a new license and it is likely the inn started to trade under the new name of the King

Beer has been supped under this sign ever since, other than for a brief period in the 1980’s when it was re-christened the Schooner Inn and afterwards the Berni Steakhouse, before reverting to the William IV again in 1992.

From 1907 to 1937 the licensee here was Mr Harry Lee, who had two famous sons - Benny, who became world roller skating champion, and Sydney, a champion billiard player and famous TV snooker commentator.