Black Boy, 88 Lower East Smithfield, Aldgate E1

Aldgate pub history index

The Black Boy was a public house at 88 Lower East Smithfield, Aldgate (E1) with documented activity from at least 1762, when the address appears in Old Bailey records under the descriptive location Salt-Petre Bank, and again in insurance records from 1789 under the Black Boy name. The premises stood on the river-side fringe of the City and was very likely associated with the adjacent wharves and water-related trades in this part of Lower East Smithfield.

In the first half of the 19th century the Black Boy is regularly recorded in trade directories and Post Office lists, with John Corsan in 1833–34 and George McBlain in 1839–1842, while census evidence from 1841 shows Mary McBlain as publican alongside a mixed household including mariners and clerks. Licensee changes in the 1850s and 1860s, including John Angus McLeod, William Brock and James Woollcott, reflect ongoing operation through much of the Victorian era.

By the later 19th century this address had disappeared from directories, and the Black Boy name no longer appears in this part of Lower East Smithfield by 1882, implying that the premises were either demolished, renamed, or absorbed into wider redevelopment of the docks and streets in the area.

Existed from at least 1762. This address appears to have disappeared by 1882. I think there is a strong chance that this is the pub that earlier had the address Salt-Petre Bank. ** This is at or by the Carron and the Black Lion & Carron Wharves.

Residents at this address.

1762/[Black Boy, Salt-Petre Bank] Thomas Evans/../../../Proceedings of the Old Bailey **

1 April 1789/Insured: William Barton, the Black Boy, Lower East Smithfield, victualler/../../Sun Fire Insurance records at the LMA

9 October 1794/Insured: Charles Wipperman, The Black Boy, Lower East Smithfield, victualler/../../Sun Fire Insurance records at the LMA

1794/[Black Boy, Lower East Smithfield] Charles Wipperman / Victualler /../../Sun Fire Office records held at Guildhall Library **

1833-34/John Corsan, Black Boy, 88 Lower East Smithfield/../../Pigots Directory

1839/George McBlain/../../../Pigot�s Directory **

1841/George McBlain/../../../P.O. Directory **

1841/Mary McBlain/Publican/45/../Census
1841/Stephen Larkins/Mariner/50/../Census
1841/Edward Stephens/Clerk/30/Middlesex/Census
1841/Henry King/Mariner/25/../Census
1841/William Freeman/Miller/40/../Census
1841/Sarah Junks/Independant/55/Middlesex/Census
1841/Ellen Carter/Female Servant/20/Middlesex/Census
1841/Will Reading/Male Servant/15/../Census

1842/George McBlain/../../../Robson�s Directory **

Morning Advertiser 05 July 1847 - Transfers
Black Boy, Lower East Smithfield, Henry Watling to Eliza Morley

1851/James Marley/../../../Post Office Directory

August 1853/John Angus McLeod/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era

August 1853/William Brock/Incoming Licensee/../../Era

1856/William Brock/../../../Post Office Directory

1862/James Woollcott/../../../Post Office Directory

1864/James Woollcott, Black Boy, 88 Lower East Smithfield/../../Post Office Directory

7th July 1866/James Woolcott/Outgoing Licensee/../../East London Observer +

7th July 1866/Charles Chessell/Incoming Licensee/../../East London Observer +

1869/Charles Chessell/../../../Post Office Directory

March 1870/Robert Chesell, deceased/ Outgoing Licensee /../../East London Observer ***

March 1870/Rosanna Chessell, Widow of Robert Chesell, late occupier/ Incoming Licensee /../../East London Observer ***

1871/Rosanna Chessell/Licensed Victualler, Widow/39/Plymouth, Devonshire/Census
1871/Richard W G Walshe/Son/13/Aldgate, Middlesex/Census
1871/Sarah A G Chessell/Daughter/6/Wapping, Middlesex/Census
1871/Sarah Banks/General Servant/24/Bread Street, City/Census
1871/John Long/Lodger, Labourer/54/Ireland/Census
1871/Edward Webb/Lodger, Ship Worker/46/Falmouth, Cornwall/Census

1874/Rosianna Dow Chessell/../../../H.D. Miles London & Suburban Licensed Victuallers' Directory **



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** Provided By Stephen Harris

And Last updated on: Sunday, 01-Feb-2026 14:10:07 GMT