The Original Dog & Duck
Famous Public House in Southwark
This icon of Lost London made its name by a) its sporting competitions and b) its health giving waters. The precious liquid was sold at 4d (old pence) a gallon and came with a recommendation from the great Dr. Johnson and his chum Mrs. Thrale. It was advertised in 1731 as being capable of curing 'rheumatism, stone, gravel, fistula, ulcers, cancers, eye sores and in all kinds of scorbutic cases whatever and the restoring of lost appetite'.
The other part of this pub's reputation was earned through its fabled sporting competition for example when it hosted a grinning match to musical accompaniment and where the combatants 'fought' over a gold-laced hat. Over time the Dog & Duck became bigger and included a bowling alley and an organ for regular concerts. However in contrast to nearby Vauxhall Gardens and its salubrious Pleasure Gardens it earned a poor reputation as being a magnet for local riff-raff and 'the scum of the town'.
It was well documented in the ballads and odes to the glory of numerous local highwaymen of the 18th century to such an extent that the it was refused a license until the Mayor of Southwark intervened. Again refused in 1796 it changed from being a pub to a vinters needing no licence and closed down entirely three years later. The pub was later pulled down and became the site for St. Bethlehem later moveing to Moorfield in 1811. A stone plaque depicted a duck bearing dog was incorporated into its walls but was later removed to the Cuming Museum (since closed).
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