“A smaller version,” John Farrer mused, sketching furiously. The Three Compasses pub stands before you a testament to Hornsey’s vibrant history. This public house has been a landmark on the High Street since Georgian times.
The Three Compasses has quenched thirsts and offered respite to travelers for centuries. Its rural setting beside the New River made it a popular destination. Londoners sought a day in the country. They fished. They played cricket. They enjoyed the pub’s refreshments.
In 1896 Mr. Spicer, the proprietor, decided to rebuild The Three Compasses. He hired John Farrer to design it. Chessum and Sons were the builders. The rebuilding marked Hornsey village’s urbanization. The plans included the pub and Mr. Spicer’s accommodation. It also included stables, a coach house, and a forge in the rear. Horses still dominated road transportation at the turn of the century.
Interestingly The Three Compasses bears resemblance to another Farrer design. Two years later, Farrer designed a much larger public house in south London. It was the Elephant and Castle. The lighthouse atop The Three Compasses is a Victorian novelty. It seemed to guide thirsty patrons inside.
Farrer’s design for the Elephant and Castle was ambitious. Algernon Meekins commissioned Farrer to design buildings for a central location. This location was between the Old Kent Road and Newington Butts. The Elephant and Castle Hotel boasted forty rooms. These rooms included banqueting halls, meeting rooms, a restaurant, and a grill room. Its bars were the longest in the country in 1898.
The Royal Institute of British Architects described Farrer’s design as a masterpiece. It exploited an important site. Its bulbous dome dominated the scene. The Elephant and Castle pub suffered during the Second World War. It lost its dome and cupolas. It survived until March 1959. It was then demolished as part of a redevelopment scheme.
The Three Compasses faced its own changes over time. There have been at least three different buildings on this site. The current one dates back to 1896. It was originally a coaching inn. The New River once flowed through its grounds.
In November it reopened after a joint refurbishment. The makeover restored and redecorated the outside of the pub.
Once, The Three Compasses had three separate drinking areas. One area was a former billiard room. Despite its changes, The Three Compasses remains a beloved Hornsey institution. It is a place where history and community intertwine. So raise a glass to The Three Compasses. It’s a place where stories continue to unfold.