Three Tuns City of London | WW2 Photos

The Three Tuns was a pub that stood in Viscount Street, Bridgewater Square, in the City of London. It was a historic and popular venue that hosted meetings of cabmen and Presbyterians, among others. But its fate was sealed by the devastating Blitz that rained fire and bombs on London during World War Two.

First damaged in September, 1940, the Three Tuns, in Viscount Street, Bridgewater Square, disappeared when Hitler laid waste with fire-bombs to the wholesale hosiery, drapery, and millinery area of the City of London in December, 1940.

Three Tuns City of London
Three Tuns City of London

The pub was first damaged in September 1940, when Nazi Germany launched its aerial campaign against Britain. The City of London was a prime target for its economic and symbolic importance. The Three Tuns suffered from the explosions and fires that engulfed the area of wholesale hosiery, drapery, and millinery.

But it was not completely destroyed until December 1940, when Hitler unleashed his most ferocious attack on London. On the night of December 29th, more than 100,000 incendiary bombs were dropped on the city, creating a firestorm that consumed buildings and streets. The Three Tuns was among them.

The pub’s owner, Mrs Motteram, who had presided over it since 1910, kept her windows bright until the end. She witnessed how her neighbours also fell victim to the flames: Osborne Folkes and Company’s packing warehouse across the street; and the New Jewin Welsh Chapel opposite her pub.

The chapel was especially significant for being the mother church of London Presbyterians. It had been built in 1701 by Welsh immigrants who wanted to worship in their own language. It had survived several fires before but not this one.

Three Tuns, City of London WW2
Three Tuns, City of London WW2

Today, nothing remains of these buildings or their history. The area where they stood is now part of The Barbican development: a modern complex of residential towers and cultural venues that rose from the ashes of war.

But we can still remember them through photos and stories that capture their spirit and legacy. They are part of London’s rich and diverse heritage that deserves to be honoured and preserved.

A neighbour was the tall packing warehouse of Osborne Folkes and Company, carrying on elsewhere; and opposite stood the New Jewin Welsh Chapel, mother church of London Presbyterians, also destroyed.

Mrs. Motteram, who had presided at the Three Tuns since 1910 (the union of hansom and four-wheeler cabmen used to meet here), kept her windows bright. The arches of the Welsh chapel can be seen reflected in them.

These photos of WW2 bomb damage in London are from a collection of newspaper and magazine articles published in England just after the end World War Two. My late grandfather gave these to me as he knew I was interested in London history.

2 thoughts on “Three Tuns City of London | WW2 Photos”

  1. That’s so interesting, Thankyou for posting. As a modern day resident of Bridgewater Sq, no older buildings or indeed residents exist to tell stories of the area.
    Angela Kilmartin, Bridgewater House.

    Reply

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