Ever heard of a pub with a century-old bun tradition? This is The Widow’s Son. Right here in front of us stands a Grade II* listed pub at 75 Devons Road Bromley-by-Bow East London. Built possibly in 1848 it’s more than just a place for a pint.
The Widow’s Son is steeped in history and legend. It’s supposedly built on the site of an old widow’s cottage. That widow’s son a sailor never returned from sea. His mother kept a hot cross bun for him every Good Friday. After her death countless buns were found in a net hanging in her cottage.
This unusual custom started a remarkable tradition. Every Good Friday a new hot cross bun is added to the net above the bar. A Royal Navy sailor usually performs the honour. Mr Bunn from Mr Bunn’s Bakery in Chadwell Heath has baked the special bun for many years. Even remnants from a 1980s pub fire remain in the net. A local man Patrick Hines visited every Good Friday for almost 70 years. It’s a local legend a heartwarming tale of a mother’s unwavering hope.
The story of the widow and her son is perhaps more than a tale. It reflects a widespread 18th and 19th-century belief in Good Friday bread’s healing powers. The hardened buns were grated into food for digestive issues. The Widow’s Son pub continues this unique tradition. It’s a testament to enduring customs.
The pub faced potential redevelopment in 2012. Plans to build flats and houses were thankfully refused. It closed briefly from 2015 to 2017. In 2016 the bun ceremony moved to the Queen’s Head in Limehouse. It reopened in early 2017 and continues to serve its community and keep the Widow’s Bun tradition alive. The Widow’s Son isn’t just a pub. It’s a living monument a blend of history legend and a remarkably delicious tradition.