Croxley Green History - George and Dragon - Croxley Green History Project

The George and Dragon - Scots Hill

The George & Dragon on Scots Hill was the home of a well- loved character called Nabby (Harry) Sear and his family. When he was a boy he went to work at Parrotts farm just off The Green. His mother bought him a horse and as a young man he began buying fruit and vegetables including apples, cherries and potatoes that enabled him to start a small business selling them on at the Watford market. As a married man he lived in a farmhouse on The Green, now known as Lovatts.

During the latter part of the 1800's is is believed there was a small farm behind the George & Dragon called Smokey Hall where Mr Blackwell had a business preserving meat. His widow Granny Blackwell is recorded as having a straw plaiting school here taking children from as early as three years of age. They would be taught a very basic education as well as learning the art of plaiting straw for onward selling to the Luton straw hat makers. Her reputation for strictness and good behaviour by her pupils is said to have been achieved by the long hazel stick she owned. No records exist that it was used!

In 1898 a fire destroyed much of the farm and its possible the remaining buildings were those used by Nabby Sears

This pub was also demolished in the 1970's to accommodate Scots Hill conversion to a dual carriageway when a new upside was created.

The George & Dragon is on the left

RICKMANSWORTH
A Woman Burnt to Death – On Friday an inquest was held at the George & Dragon, Scot’s Hill in the parish of Rickmansworth, on the body of a woman 75 years of age, named Elizabeth Bail, who kept a beer-house on Scot’s Hill, who was burnt to death on the previous evening. Mr William Moles a neighbour of the deceased deposed as follows:- About half past ten the last evening, I heard a groaning and screaming in Mrs Bails house, which was closed. I saw no light in the front, but got in at the front window, and after opening the middle door of the house, I saw the deceased in flames and at the bottom of some stairs communicating with the place that she used as a beer cellar. The deceased did not speak or make any noise after I got into the house. There was an upright candlestick without any candle in it, standing on the second or third stair from the bottom. The stairs had no rail s on either side. Mr Warren Edgar assistant to Mr Codd surgeon of Rickmansworth said he saw the deceased about a quarter past eleven o’clock. She died about two hours after the accident from the effects of it. The jury returned a verdict of accidental death.

The George & Dragon

1861 Census
John Owen - Male aged 55 - Head - b1806 Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
Latitia Owen - Female aged 50 - Wife - b1811 Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
Harriet Owen- Female aged 17 - Daughter - b1844 Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire
Robert Wild - Male aged 7 - Grandson - b1854 Rickmansworth, Hertfordshire

1878 August the licensee was James Coles

1881 Census
John Rowland - 40 years born Harlow Essex - Publican
Jane Rowland - 30 years born Amersham Buckinghamshire - Wife

1891 census
Frederick Hedges - 28 years born Mill Hill Middx Publican
Mary E Hedges - 28 years born Mill Hill Middx wife
Arthur F J Hedges - 5 years born Willesden son
Ernest E - 2 years born Willesden son
Leonard T Hedges born Willesden son

1894 April
At Petty Sessions the license was transferred to Albert Whitbread

1901 Census
Eleanor A Parsons - 65 years born Bermondsey Middx Publican
Alfred Stevens - 36 years born Pembroke Wales Drapers Assistant Son-in-law
Eleanor E Stevens - 35 years born Bolney Sussex Daughter

1909 (Watford Observer)
The landlord was James Petley as mentioned in January

1911 census
Charles Edwin Dean 59 years born St Pancras London Licensed Victualler
Elizabeth Ann Dean 51 years born Chelsea London (wife)