The City Arms PH,  Bromley by Bow

Standing outside the “City Arms”, at 134 Devons Road, is mine host, William Zimmerman, his wife Caroline, daughter Connie and some of his customers.  This is about 1903.  The stone on top of the building reads “Holt and Co’s Entire”.  This is possibly the name of the public house’s brewer, Holts and Co, Marine Brewery, 52 Broad Street, Ratcliff and advertises the purity of their beers.  The “City Arms” stood outside the main entrance to St Andrew Hospital that is to the left and Reeves Road to the right.  The other shops along Devons Road are: 136 Chandlers, 138 Coffee Shop, 140 Cycle Maker and 142 Bootmaker.

In the 1901 census William Zimmerman, born in Germany, was 36 years old and mine host at the “Catherine Wheel” Public House, 50½ St Peters Road,  Mile End.  His wife, Caroline, born St George’s, Stepney was 37 years old and daughter Connie, born Mile End, was 5 years old.  They had moved to the “City Arms” around 1902.  By 1919, the family had moved.

During the Second World War the area was badly bombed and the public house was no longer there in 1946.  The site of the “City Arms” is now part of a housing estate and nothing remains of these houses and shops.

footnote: the message on the reverse of this postcard reads 'Dear Sir, Can you call here this evening about 9 o'clock, very important. Zimmerman' - it was posted at 3:30pm September 24th, 1903 to a Mr Hansman, Baker, Devons Road Bow.