CAMPAIGN FOR REAL ALE

ESSEX - Aveley, Old Ship

National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors Part One

58 High Street, Aveley, RM15 4AD

Tel: 01708 865647

Public Transport: Bus: 373

Listed Status: Not listed

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Old brick-built pub which retains almost intact a 1930s refurbishment of four rooms. The splendid set of windows with stained glass are virtually intact and protected by exterior plastic sheeting. The left-hand 'Saloon Bar' is separated from the 'Private Bar' in the street corner by a full-height screen with stained glass in the upper part. The partition that once created a separate off-sales was removed, possibly in the 1960s, as was the wording from the door! On the counter of the saloon bar are remains of the shutters which have been converted into a pot shelf. There is a splendid Victorian-style fireplace with tile surround on left and right with the motifs being an elegant lady on each side and 1960s fixed seating. The rear door has an etched 'Club Room' window - upstairs there is a room with a full-sized snooker table, but it is no longer in use. The hatch/door to the servery in the passage to the toilets was for use by Club Room customers.

All the rooms surrounding the servery retain their 1930s counter. In the Private Bar is an old bench which still has the maker's label 'Charles Pateman & Co., 118 Curtain Road, London EC2'. The Public Bar at the rear has a mirrored 1930s bar back fitting, 1930s brick fireplace and an old fixed bench; the bar counter has some 1960s nautical decoration added. A fourth (pool) room at the rear was originally the landlord's living room and has an attractive 1930s brick fireplace, c.1960 ply panelled walls, and an old bench presumably moved from elsewhere in the pub.