Havering pubs with unusual names and where they came from

We have uncovered the history of four watering holes across the borough and tried to find how they came to get their titles.

The Crumpled Horn, Upminster

This pub is located in Corbets Tey Road and is believed to have been created in 2001. 

According to general manager Russ Crosbie, the name comes from The Crumpled Horn Dairy that used to exist in Upminster.

The Crumpled Horn, Corbets Tey Road (Image: Google Maps) He said: "It was converted from shops that used to exist (here). One was I think the electricity board or electricity retailer. So it took a couple of shops and they made it into one premise.

"It's quite a thing for pubs to take historical landmarks or areas to name themselves after. They took the name of a dairy that used to serve the area."

Crumpled Horn is also a reference that dates back to the 1800s in a poem by Ralph Caldecott about a cow with a crumpled horn.

The Good Intent, Hornchurch

The Good Intent in South End Road dates back to around 1818, where it is believed to have started from modest roots in a cottage. 

The pub lies close to the former Hornchurch Aerodrome and airfield, and is said to have been frequented by pilots during the Second World War. 

Greene King, a pub chain that now owns the site, claims that its boozer was "a favourite haunt" of the airmen. 

Lex Snooks, an employee, told the Recorder: "Apparently the pilots weren't allowed in the pub but I think they used to still come in here."

The Good Intent is said to have been favoured by pilots (Image: Google Maps) In the past, the airbase was claimed to be the only airbase in the country with a pub. 

Its history does not end there. Lex said that a visit to the local RAF Hornchurch Heritage Centre revealed more Second World War history to the pub's story. 

She said: "We actually had a German bomb underneath (the pub). It was only found in 1973 and they had to get the army to disarm it."

Whilst the origins of the name are unclear, the pub has a complex and interesting history for customers to enjoy. 

The Saxon King, Harold Hill

The Saxon King in Petersfield Avenue was built as the first of purpose-built public houses on the Harold Hill estate, according to Havering Libraries. 

The Saxon King in Petersfield Avenue (Image: Google Maps) Its name is believed to reflect the roots of the area, as Harold is the name of the last 'Saxon King' who once owned all of the land that makes up Harold Hill. 

Fatling Hornchurch

This pub in High Street has undergone several name changes. 

It was previously known as The Bull but was changed to The Fatling and Firkin in the 1990s according to Havering Libraries. 

In 2013, the pub had its name changed and simplified to just Fatling Hornchurch. 

The pub itself dates back to the 17th century. 

Fatling Hornchurch has had its name changed multiple times (Image: Google Maps) Sandy Castle, the pub's general manager, gave the Recorder an interesting insight into the name change. 

Its latest name still has ties to the names it previously went by, with customers still referring to the pub at The Bull or The Firkin.

Sandy said: "The church in Hornchurch has a large bull on the top of it, so the pub was also called The Bull. 

"Back in the 80s there was a brewing franchise called The Firkin chain and Firkin pubs popped up all over the place. 

"The pub changed from The Bull to The Fatling & Firkin. About ten years ago we dropped Firkin."

READ MORE: Hospital's car park fully reopens after 'essential improvement'

A firkin is a nine-gallon barrel of beer, and all Firkin pubs run by the chain are thought to have picked a name beginning with F to accompany this, hence The Fatling & Firkin. 

Sandy continued: "Theoretically your name, your 'F', had a tie to the original name."

As a fatling is an animal fattened for slaughter, the name ties to the pub's founding roots as The Bull.