Town Of Ramsgate, London

This 18th century pub retains a number of inter-war features from a 1937 fitting by Hoare & Co.

This three-storey pub still has attractive claret coloured tiles on the exterior dado. Inside it's now one long narrow room, but was originally three small rooms judging by the doors down the right hand side. However, the interior fittings have barely changed since 1937. The unusual name relates to the fishermen of Ramsgate who would land their catch at the Wapping Old Stairs next to the pub to avoid river taxes at Billingsgate. Judge Jeffreys was reputedly captured at this inn.

The small front area is the oldest surviving part of the interior, no doubt pre-dating the 1937 re-fitting, with its full height panelling on the walls painted dark green, and the diagonally-laid panellng on the ceiling. Also in here is a large wood-framed mirror with a delightful central etched panel entitled “Ramsgate Harbour” with narrow plain panels either side.

Running down the left hand side is the cream coloured inter-war bar counter with vertical panels at the front and with fielded panelling further down. There are also some simple art deco features on all the dividing pilasters. The long bar- back fitting has large mirrored sections with Tudor-style tops, but with some modern shelving added relatively recently. At the rear of the room, the right hand wall has fielded panelling to picture-frame height, and also on the right two short part glazed partitions have survived.