Old Inn Threatened

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 79, Issue 283, 3 December 1935, Page 10

Old Inn Threatened

PIRATES’ LAST BRINK One of the most historic landmarks of Thames-side, the “Turk’s Head,” of Wapping High Street, is threatened. The -100-year-old license of the hostelry is being referred for arbitration under the Redundancy Act. The ‘‘Turk’s Head” is one of the few remaining riverside inns with steps backing un to the river, for although these steps have been built over they can still be seen at low water. Alongside the ‘‘lurk’s Head” is the passage along which the pirates used tu walk tu Execution Bock. The house was licensed originally to supply one quart of ale to condemned pirates who were taking their last walk. A quart pewter pot bearing the date 17-11, which tradition says was handed to the pirates, and lhe original inn sign uf a '1 urk ’s head in stained glass, are in the possession of the present licensee, Captain James Love, a retired master mariner. Captain Love has the distinction of having survived seven shipwrecks. Just over SOU years ago the ‘‘Turk’s Head” was kept by one Henry Prydc, himself a notorious pirate, who established himself with his loot. “I am very annoyed that you have put down my little boy as illiterate,” wrote an angry woman to a schoolmaster. “That is a lie, as 1 married his father before he was born.” “When did you first notice your wife had fallen out of the car?” “Everything seemed so quiet.”