The Estate - Bevendean History Project
White Admiral Public House continued
In October 2000 following very heavy rain the shops in Leybourne Parade and the White Admiral were flooded.
The White Admiral after closure with the doors and windows boarded up.
Permission to demolish the pub was given on 27 March 2003 with outline permission to replace the building with flats.
Demolition of the White Admiral commenced on August 16th 2005.
Redevelopment of the site into new homes managed by Downland Housing Association took around 18 months.
The block of flats which replaced the White Admiral seen in 2013.
A Sunday Lower Bevendean football team from the White Admiral in the late 1970s which was run Doug Raynsford.
Only Fools and Horses
In 1992 an episode of Only Fools and Horses was filmed using the outside of the White Admiral as the Nags Head. The episode was titled "Mother Natures Son".
Story line
It's Christmas once again in Peckham, but Del and Rodney are strapped for cash. Grandad's allotment has become a health hazard and he has to clear it. While clearing the allotment, Del discovers several barrels of yellow liquid which he disposes of during the night.
It is reported that the allotments used for filming were those behind Southall Avenue.
At the allotment they notice a mysterious water source - which Del calls spring water. Finally Del decides to bottle tap water and sell it as Peckham Spring Water.
Back in the money, both couples enjoy a romantic weekend in Brighton.
At the end they see a news flash about a major water contamination, caused by Del's barrels.
People’s Memories of the White Admiral
Doris Hill:
“We used to go down to the White Admiral, some evenings, just for a break. But on Sundays my son, and his wife used to come for Sunday dinner, and Charley and him used to go down the pub. They always had cockles and whelks and nuts and things like that. Adrian liked to have some of the fish bits and one Sunday he went to pick one up and he thought, ‘That looks like it’s been chewed’. Then he saw an elderly man who was picking up the fish bits, eating all the soft parts and putting the rest back, he couldn’t believe it. Adrian said, ‘I’m not eating that food any more, I wonder how many have I eaten that have been chewed’. They used to have some good turns there, bands and, music and frivolities, it used to be a very lively little pub it really did, and it was missed by a lot of people”.
Robert Brown:
“There was the saloon bar and the public bar. I always went in the saloon bar because of the language and the fighting, well not fighting but, if you wanted to get drunk you went to the public bar and if you wanted to sit down and have a chat you went in the saloon bar and just had a chat. I remember when I was thirteen up to about sixteen I used to go round to the pub after Evensong with the vicar from about quarter to eight to about ten. When you bought a round he’d have a whisky, and when it was his round you’d get a shandy, he’d say you’re too young for alcohol, you know”.
Information at Bevendean Arts Festival at Holy Nativity 2015
David Jason (real name David White), of Only Fools and Horse fame had a brother, Arthur White who lived above the hairdressers shop run by Joy Beaumont at the top of the Avenue.
David Jason and his brother Arthur White both appeared in the program A Touch of Frost where David played Detective Inspector Jack Frost. Arthur played the occasional role of police archivist Ernie Trigg.
Only Fools and Horses
In 1992 an episode of Only Fools and Horses was filmed using the outside of the White Admiral as the Nags Head. The episode was titled "Mother Natures Son".
Story line
It's Christmas once again in Peckham, but Del and Rodney are strapped for cash. Grandad's allotment has become a health hazard and he has to clear it. While clearing the allotment, Del discovers several barrels of yellow liquid which he disposes of during the night.
It is reported that the allotments used for filming were those behind Southall Avenue.
At the allotment they notice a mysterious water source - which Del calls spring water. Finally Del decides to bottle tap water and sell it as Peckham Spring Water.
Back in the money, both couples enjoy a romantic weekend in Brighton.
At the end they see a news flash about a major water contamination, caused by Del's barrels.
People’s Memories of the White Admiral
Doris Hill:
“We used to go down to the White Admiral, some evenings, just for a break. But on Sundays my son, and his wife used to come for Sunday dinner, and Charley and him used to go down the pub. They always had cockles and whelks and nuts and things like that. Adrian liked to have some of the fish bits and one Sunday he went to pick one up and he thought, ‘That looks like it’s been chewed’. Then he saw an elderly man who was picking up the fish bits, eating all the soft parts and putting the rest back, he couldn’t believe it. Adrian said, ‘I’m not eating that food any more, I wonder how many have I eaten that have been chewed’. They used to have some good turns there, bands and, music and frivolities, it used to be a very lively little pub it really did, and it was missed by a lot of people”.
Robert Brown:
“There was the saloon bar and the public bar. I always went in the saloon bar because of the language and the fighting, well not fighting but, if you wanted to get drunk you went to the public bar and if you wanted to sit down and have a chat you went in the saloon bar and just had a chat. I remember when I was thirteen up to about sixteen I used to go round to the pub after Evensong with the vicar from about quarter to eight to about ten. When you bought a round he’d have a whisky, and when it was his round you’d get a shandy, he’d say you’re too young for alcohol, you know”.
Information at Bevendean Arts Festival at Holy Nativity 2015
David Jason (real name David White), of Only Fools and Horse fame had a brother, Arthur White who lived above the hairdressers shop run by Joy Beaumont at the top of the Avenue.
David Jason and his brother Arthur White both appeared in the program A Touch of Frost where David played Detective Inspector Jack Frost. Arthur played the occasional role of police archivist Ernie Trigg.
Please contact the website if you have memories of the White Admiral.
Photos of the White Admiral
Photos from Mr Byrne the first landlord of the White Admiral
