Ever wondered why a pub is named The Crooked Billet? It’s a question that pulls us into the heart of Wimbledon’s past. The Crooked Billet isn’t just a pub. It is a landmark steeped in local history.
We’re standing in front of The Crooked Billet now. Imagine it in the early 1700s. This building dates back to that time. By the 1750s, it had already become The Crooked Billet. Some even say the surrounding Wimbledon district took its name from this very pub.
Let’s step back a little further. The first mention of a brewery and inn here was in 1509. However, the first authenticated date of an alehouse is 1776. The name “Crooked Billet” itself is interesting. It refers to a bent staff or branch.
In 1888, Young’s Brewery leased The Crooked Billet. They later bought it outright in 1928. Young’s expanded their presence in the area. They purchased the nearby Hand in Hand pub in 1974. Both pubs were enlarged and refurbished. But in 2006, they were sold.
Consider the deliveries of old. Ale was once delivered to The Crooked Billet via Wright’s Alley. Shire horses pulled brewer’s drays. The Crooked Billet faces a small triangular green alongside the Hand in Hand. King’s College School is also nearby.
Interestingly, The Crooked Billet has a ghostly resident. The cellars are said to be haunted by the ghost of an Irish woman.
The Crooked Billet also has connections to Crystal Palace Football Club. A field behind the pub served as their home ground for two seasons. This was from 1864 to 1866. The team recorded their only victory at that venue on a sloping pitch. It was a 2-1 win over Clapham in 1865.
Imagine the players enjoying a post-match ale here. The landlady during the mid-1860s was Mrs. Maria Matthew. She ran The Crooked Billet for over a decade. She likely served the team luncheon. The players would probably still be caked in mud from the often dreadful playing surface.
The historic Crooked Billet was built in 1827. It was rebuilt in 1840. Then it was extended in 1925. Its history goes back even further to 1600. After being badly damaged during the Second World War the Crooked Billet was reconstructed one story lower. The original hall to the rear remains intact.
So, as you stand here, remember The Crooked Billet. It’s more than just a pub. It’s a piece of Wimbledon’s living history. A place where stories linger in the air. A place where you can almost hear the echoes of brewers’ drays and the cheers of early footballers.