A Pub with a Captain Cook Connection

at Springfield Green, near Chelmsford, Essex

Recently, I stopped at the Endeavour at Springfield Green, near Chelmsford, Essex. It is a pub on a traffic island, with only a footpath around it. There is no car park.

The ship Endeavour

It smells (reeks) of stale beer and tobacco and keeps to its 18th century origins. The sign has a ship on one side and the space shuttle on the other. While taking pictures I spotted the landlord emerging from his cellar in the path! He has various mementos and pictures, including one signed by the crew of the shuttle. I told him that I would go in if he had one signed by the crew of the ship.

The space shuttle Endeavour

There is quite a history to the place. He says that it was named after Cook's ship and has kept the name ever since. In the 1770's the jail and the hanging green were near that part of the road. He suggested that the pub offered the last drink to many felons, and was popular with the warders.

I have tried to check a few records at home. In the 1881 census I found the Endeavour, with George Dodd, gardener and licensed beer retailer. Strangely the next property is the Rose & Crown, with Henry Willsher as beer retailer.

My thanks to Ian Boreham for the additional photos.

Ken Hermon

Originally published in Cook's Log, page 16, volume 27, number 1 (2004).