The Prospect of Whitby in Wapping, London, was once a notorious meeting place for smugglers, pirates, and criminals.
Originally named ‘The Pelican’, the pub has been a fixture on the site since the 1500s. Its riverside location made it an ideal spot for smugglers and pirates, as well as local thieves targeting the boats moored nearby.
In its early years, the pub earned the nickname ‘Devil’s Tavern’ due to its unsavoury reputation. While it was certainly a hit with the criminal community, the adjacent riverbank often served as a final resting place for some.
During the 17th century, numerous criminals met their end at the gallows along the riverside, a grim piece of history now marked by a noose and gallows outside the pub.
However, the history of the Pelican isn’t all dark and dreary. It was also the location where the first fuschia plant in the UK was sold.
The fortunes of the Pelican improved in the 19th century. After a fire ravaged the property, it was rebuilt and renamed.
The new name, The Prospect of Whitby, was inspired by a cargo ship that regularly docked on the riverside and was registered in Whitby.
The Prospect of Whitby is said to be haunted by several infamous ghosts, including Judge John Jeffreys, known as ‘the Hanging Judge’ for his harshness and apparent eagerness to sentence people to hang.
He gained notoriety after overseeing the Bloody Assizes, which resulted in 144 hangings and the transportation of between 800 and 850 individuals to the West Indies. Many others died from ‘gaol fever’ before they could stand trial.
Elizabeth Gaunt suffered a particularly horrific fate, being burned alive. She has since been remembered as the last woman to be executed for a political crime.
Judge John Jeffreys met his end in the Tower of London in 1689, following his arrest after the Glorious Revolution. It is said that his spirit now haunts the Prospect of Whitby.
Another famous spectre believed to haunt the pub is Mary Frith, also known as Moll Cutpurse, a notorious pickpocket and madame from the 17th century.
Source: express.co.uk