“Champion of England lived here”. Those words on the Tom Cribb Blue plaque immortalize a legend. Tom Cribb. A name synonymous with courage. A name linked with fortitude. A name that resonated throughout England. Especially during the Napoleonic Wars.
This Tom Cribb Blue plaque marks the spot of the former Union Arms pub. Tom Cribb ran this pub. It was on Panton Street. Now it is the Tom Cribb pub at 36 Panton Street.
Tom Cribb was not just any landlord. He was a bare-knuckle boxing champion. Born in Gloucestershire in 1781, he lost only one contest. He then gained recognition as the Champion of England.
But Tom Cribb’s fame soared even higher. It was all thanks to his two victories against Tom Molineaux. Molineaux was a former slave from America. These fights in 1810 and 1811 were historic. They were arguably the first significant international sporting contests.
Tom Cribb became a national hero. His image appeared everywhere. Prints. Pottery. Poems and songs celebrated his name. People saw Tom Cribb as a symbol of English strength.
Imagine Napoleon facing Tom Cribb. A poem declared Cribb would beat him like a drum. It would make his carcass sound. This shows how much people admired Cribb.
After retiring from boxing, Tom Cribb became a coal merchant. He also trained boxers part-time. Later, he became the landlord of the Union Arms. This pub was close to Haymarket.
In 1839, Tom Cribb moved to Woolwich. He lived there until his death in 1848 at age 66. A monument of a lion stands at his tomb in St Mary’s Garden, Woolwich. It commemorates the bare-knuckle boxing champion.
Today, the Tom Cribb pub stands as a reminder of his legacy. In 2023, Shepherd Neame renovated this centuries-old pub. The pub continues to inspire stories of sport and courage.
So next time you raise a glass, remember Tom Cribb. He was more than a boxer. He was a symbol of English pride. This Tom Cribb Blue plaque serves as a lasting tribute to this sporting legend. He lived and triumphed right here.