The story of charlie brown - the uncrowned king of limehouse

By Rob Virtue on March 13, 2008 9:00 AM |

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CHARLIE Brown could certainly be regarded as a popular man.

Known as the uncrowned king of Limehouse and the squire of West India Dock Road, about 16,000
people attended his funeral – London’s biggest of the 20th century until Winston Churchill died in 1965.

The story of the landlord of the Railway Tavern who died in 1932 is just one of the tales recounted in Ed Glinert’s new book, London’s Dead, released by Harper Collins this month, priced at £12.99.

It describes the Railway Tavern at the time as full of weird and wonderful antiques arriving via the docks from around the world, including a half-fish, half-mummy and a two-headed calf.

Brian Grover, from the Museum in Docklands on West India Quay, said Charlie Brown was a legendary figure on the Isle of Dogs because of his good nature.

“He was a very charitable man, a keep-fit fanatic and an ex-boxer,” said Brian. “And he was life governor of the London Hospital because of all he did for them.

“He had a stable of horses and used to ride up and down West India Dock Road on his horse.”

Charlie was 73 when he died in his pub in West India Dock Road and his body lay in state in the bar surrounded by his antiques. Thousands lined the streets as the funeral procession made its way to Bow Cemetary.

Other east London tales include a house in Barking Road in which the Kray twins hid Frank ‘The Mad Axeman’ Mitchell after breaking him out of Dartmoor Prison.

The twins wanted Mitchell to be a henchman for them but after the fugitive got ‘cabin fever’ they decided to bundle him into a van and shot him.

His body was believed to have been dumped somewhere in the sea off Newhaven.

We have three copies of the book to give away. For a chance to win one just answer the question: In what year did Charlie Brown die?

Send your answers with contact details by email to newsdesk@wharf.co.uk or by post to London’s Dead competition, The Wharf, Floor 19, One Canada Square, Canary Wharf, E14 5AP. Closing date is Thursday, March 20.

rob.virtue@wharf.co.uk