The Crown and Treaty

Negotiations, intrigue, and a royal rendezvous. Right here at The Crown and Treaty, history whispers from the very walls. This unassuming pub in Uxbridge holds a pivotal piece of England’s story. The Crown and Treaty wasn’t always a place for pints and pub fare. Originally known as Place House, it was a grand residence belonging to the Bennet family in the 1630s. It was here, in the midst of the English Civil War, that King Charles I and his Parliamentary adversaries met for the Treaty of Uxbridge in 1645. The Crown and Treaty became the stage for a high-stakes political drama. Imagine the tension, the whispers, the weight of a nation’s future hanging in the balance. Uxbridge, located strategically between the King’s base in Oxford and Parliament’s seat in Westminster, played host to this crucial meeting. From January 30th to February 22nd, 1645, the discussions raged within these very walls. The Treaty of Uxbridge aimed to bridge the chasm between the King and Parliament. They debated control of the army, religious reforms, and the conflict in Ireland. The heart of the matter was a power struggle. Who would hold the reins of England? The negotiators filled Uxbridge, Royalists south of the High Street and Parliamentarians to the north. History tells us the treaty ultimately failed. The constraints of time and the unyielding stances on both sides led to a stalemate. The Crown and Treaty witnessed the unraveling of hopes for a peaceful resolution. The following year, a series of defeats for the King culminated in his surrender. The Crown and Treaty has seen many transformations over the centuries. A portion of the original Place House was demolished in the 18th century when Oxford Road was widened. The building even briefly lost its historic wood paneling. In 1924, the paneling was removed and installed in the Empire State Building. Remarkably, it was returned as a coronation gift to Queen Elizabeth II and reinstalled, restoring a piece of the pub’s soul. The Crown and Treaty stands today as a testament to its storied past. It invites you to raise a glass, not just to good company, but to the echoes of kings, parliaments, and the turning points of history.