The 17th Century Shop at 223 Bow Road
Sandwiched between two new blocks of flats overlooking the A11, no. 223 Bow Road is a surprising sight.
It looks like something left over from a film set, but I was delighted to discover that it was authentically historic!
History of 223 Bow Road
Although the ground floor shop front is a 19th century addition, the fabric of the rest of the building is late 17th century and Grade II listed.
The Royal Commission of the Historical Monuments of England calls it “an interesting survival” which seems a bit of an understatement…
Bow has some amazing buildings but only a few are pre-Victorian, so this building is a rare treat.
I was intrigued to know who lived and worked here after seeing an incredible picture.
It shows the frontage covered with writing; M. Howes Est. 1818 Corn & Flour Dealer – Hay, Straw & Clover – At Market Prices
Superb @whofalldifan Yes, its great that the old corn-chandler’s building is still there. Here are a couple of B & W photos of 223 Bow Road the first of which is from c.1900 & the second from 1937 both of which come from @LBTHArchives pic.twitter.com/fqb002ri8F
— EastLondonGroup (@EastLondonGroup) July 3, 2018
The first image in the tweet above was taken 19 November 1909 and the second is from the William Whiffin Photographic Collection, 1937 both are in the Tower Hamlets Local History Library & Archives.
The Family Tree
From howesfamilies.com (isn’t the internet wonderful?!) I’ve attempted to track a rough family tree of the occupants living at 223 Bow Road.
(Bit of a caveat, I’m not a genealogist so the below is what I’ve pieced together from scant data and I very much welcome any further info!)
The earliest record of a resident at 223 Bow Road is Mary Howes. Née Jackson and born c.1816, she is listed as a widow and head of the household in the 1881 census. Also living there are three other women. I assumed – given their ages – they were her daughter; Emily Beaumont Howes (27 years old), and two granddaughters; Emily and Anne Davidson (aged 6 and 7).
Emily Beaumont Howes is listed as resident at 223 Bow Road from 1881 until 1911, her occupation is a corn merchant.
From 1911 the next occupants are Daisy Louisa Townsend (b.1885) and Thomas Stanley Howes (b. 1882) who marry in 1906. Thomas’ occupation is listed as Corn Merchant Assitant from 1911 so presumably he’s taken over the business from Emily. From what I can work out he is Emily Beaumont Howes’s nephew.
Daisy and Thomas have a child called Doris Ethel Howes (b. 1907) who is registered as a waitress and living at 223 Bow Road on 29 September 1939.
From there the trail of the Howes goes cold.
However, there’s a later picture which shows the new owners J.Robson & Sons.
Recently-digitised 35mm slide: 223 #Bow Road, 1969, with Bow #Baptist church to the right. @EastLondonGroup pic.twitter.com/Mo8MtMkqcv
— Tower Hamlets Archives (@LBTHArchives) September 9, 2016
Bow Road by David Granick, 1969. The original image is held in the Tower Hamlets Local History Library and Archive.
223 Bow Road Today
The Tower Hamlets Archives have a photograph from 1976 with the description ‘Ye Olde Style Confectionery shop’. You can view the charming black and white picture here.
More recently it has been home to the Greenlight Youth Club, founded in 1976 and offering education, social and leisure activities for local young people.
For the time being it looks unused, though I’m not sure if that’s due to the current global pandemic.
I’m hoping that once the Tower Hamlets Archives reopens I can find out some concrete answers. Until then if anyone has anything to add, do let me know!
Charly Warner
I live right by here and always wanted to know about it. I had heard that it had something to do with the suffragettes but I don’t know if that was fact or just local speculation. It hasn’t been used as a youth centre for about a year I think.
Katie Wignall
Thanks Charley, I know the East London Suffragettes had their headquarters at 198 Bow Road which is almost opposite this site but the row of shops were all demolished in 1933 by the LCC! Today there’s a housing estate on the site.
Irene goddard
Great images. I love the fact you went so far to show who lived there. Keep up the Good work it all helps. When I came to London I took so many photos of different types of buildings. Even down to the different types of doors hinges extra. Bricks types. And so on .my back ground is interior design for 33yrs.
Look forward to your next project.
Katie Wignall
Thanks Irene, I was fascinated by the stories so I’m glad you enjoyed it. Yes we’re so lucky to have such a mix in London. Sometimes that means it might not be the most elegant of cities but I love its haphazard styles all bundled together! Given your expertise you must have loved all those details!
Patricia Lillian Taylor
I can’t tell you how much your Wednesday posting is appreciated and enjoyed. I can’t wait
to follow up on the places, buildings you talk about and when it’s possible meet you personally
on one of your walks. Thank you.
Katie Wignall
Thank you Patricia, I’m so glad you enjoy the posts and I’m excited to be able to run the normal walks again! I’m hoping to have lots of options available as soon as we’re allowed out again! All the best, Katie
chris savory
hi
very interesting katie- i was born in devons rd,close to here.
im sure philip mernick ELHS-see website- will be able to help you information wise.
best.
chris savory
Katie Wignall
Thanks Chris, I will get in touch with them!
Wendy Johnson
So interesting as always, Katie. I learn so much from you. I, too, have Howes ancestors, but from East Anglia.
Jill Bale
Thank you so much for all your very interesting posts. I love all types of history and yours is truly fascinating, my mums family all came from Hackney wick, and came to Northampton during the war, my nan also worked in munitions so if ever you come across anything from theses ereas it would be brilliant to. Thanks so much Jill Bale
Emma
How amazing. On my next walk I’m gonna try and find it.thank you for posting this .
Mark Mellor
Thanks Katie, sometimes the smaller buildings are just as, if not more interesting than the bigger, more famous ones!
Perhaps the trail goes cold on the Howes family as it appears the property was damaged during the War. Looking at the Tower Hamlets Planning Dept. web portal, there is an application granted in 1949 allowing £738 of expenditure to repair was damage – quite a lot of money in those days.
The planning application history also reveals that permission was granted for structural alterations to the rear elevation of the “shop, store and showroom premises” in 1957. In 1967 there was an application for conversion to use for “a students bed sitting room”, which I assume relates to the first floor, although no supporting documentation is scanned in for these older applications. The following year records two applications for use as a tailor’s shop and workroom, and one for shop and workroom for manufacture of confectionary. Perhaps the ground floor was split in two at that point?
Things go quiet until 1987 when there is an application for change from light industrial to community use – the beginning of the current or recent youth club?
Lastly, in 2007 there is an application relating to various repair and maintenance works, including replacement of the crittal windows,, these to perhaps replace pre-war, or maybe 1949 substitutes, following the war damage?
The 2007 has some poor quality external and internal photos, the latter suggesting the interior has been unsympathetically modified over the years.
As you say, the internet is wonderful!
ARABELLA SEYMOUR
My mother was born at 223 Bow Road in September 1919 when it was the White Horse pub, run by my grandfather David Lyon.
Katie Wignall
Thank you so much for that input Arabella! Do you mind if I add that into the post? If you have memories passed down from your Mother that would be amazing!
Milly Dunn
Fascinating. I saw it in panoramas of Lost London.
john chattaway
born in bow at bow bridge over the lea in the 1930s I shopped at 223 bow road when corn chandlers an elderly couple ran the shop selling horse fed a few groceries I would buy 4 oxo cubes for a penny, also opposite in bow road and the corn chandlers was a harness maker at the bottom of a lane that ran from rossis greengrocer yard to bow road there were several stable yards in bow will Barnes devons road josh bishops Bromley by bow tynes yard devons road i would ride the barge horses down to the lea and and three mills and fetch the tired horses back to the stable collect the waste vegatables along devons road stalls to feed the pigs kept at will barnes yard drive a pony and trap on a sunday morning to victorier park good old days , married at bow church to the land lords daughter of the bombay grab bow road , then became the land load of sevaral pubs in plaistow ans Stratford moving out to kent wher i was land load of sevral pubs and farmed in sessex the midlands and gloustershire untill i retied now live in the cotswolds all thanks to my being born in bow london E3
Ray Purdy
Hi Katie
If I could walk better I’d certainly come on some of your walks
but instead I follow your blog on a sort of virtual walk.
The story about 223 Bow Road is interesting.
I believe Thomas passed away aged 73 in 1955 and Daisy in 1962 aged 77.
But strangely enough I can’t trace Doris anywhere
Katie Wignall
Thanks Ray! Yes it would be nice to have a look in TH archives when they reopen.
Not sure if you’re aware but I’m actually currently offering virtual tours using videos and images via zoom. You can read more about them here if you’re interested. No walking required!
https://lookup.london/virtual-tours/
All the best,
Katie
Joyce Willis
Hi,
I remember going to the factory sweet shop when it was there during the 80s. My mum’s friend called Julie owned it and had a sweet stall down the Roman road market. Julie lived upstairs in this building. Such a lovely building and good memories, the toffee apples were my favourite.
Katie Wignall
What an amazing memory, thank you so much for sharing that Joyce 🙂
Jake Howes
I’m of the Howes family and these are my certified ancestors. I’m going to make sure I visit this place sometime. If you have any additional information regarding my Howes ancestors I’d be intrigued to head! Thank you for putting this post together