“Thirty beds and stalls for four horses” That’s what the records say about the Saracen’s Head Inn in 1522. Right here on Snow Hill stood this bustling coaching inn. A place where emperors stayed and mail coaches stopped.
The Saracen’s Head Inn wasn’t just any inn. It held a significant place in London’s history. For centuries it served travelers heading to and from the City. Its location near Smithfield Market and the Old Bailey made it a key stop.
Imagine the scene. Carriers from Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire arrived daily. Others from Gloucester Leicester Oxford and Witney came on specific days. The Saracen’s Head Inn was a hub of activity. The Carriers’ Cosmographie of 1637 described its importance in detail.
The inn was more than just a place to rest. It was a place of meetings. Nicholas Nickleby and his uncle met the infamous schoolmaster Wackford Squeers there. Dickens immortalized the Saracen’s Head Inn in his novel. It’s a snapshot of a bygone era.
This wasn’t just a place for travelers. Famous figures like Samuel Pepys and Jonathan Swift are said to have visited. The Mohocks a notorious gang even used the inn for their escapades. They kidnapped elderly women. They rolled the women downhill in barrels towards Newgate Street.
In its heyday the Saracen’s Head Inn boasted a large gateway. A courtyard with galleries led to many bedrooms. Three signs with pictures of Saracens adorned the inn during the 19th century. By 1829 six mail coaches departed daily.
The Saracen’s Head Inn’s story ended in 1868. It was demolished to make way for the Holborn Viaduct. The demolition saddened Victorian historians. They saw it as a loss of a historical landmark.
Today only this plaque remains. It marks the site of the Saracen’s Head Inn. A reminder of its vibrant past. It serves as a silent witness to the changes that have swept through London. A testament to the inn’s significance in the city’s history. The Saracen’s Head Inn may be gone but its story lives on.