Half Moon, Herne Hill
[5] In 2015, The Half Moon Public House was listed by Southwark Council as an Asset of Community Value,[6] and is described by Nikolaus Pevsner as, "a cheerful corner pub of 1896".
[9] A letter to the Editor of the Monthly Magazine in March 1808, records the death of a boy chimney sweep at the Half Moon on 12 February of that same year, having been taken in suffering from fatigue and cold on "Dulwich Lane", after a great quantity of snow fell.
In 1844, Edward Alleyn's original tombstone, removed many years before from the College of God's Gift Chapel, was 're-discovered' in the skittle ground of the Half Moon,[11] where it was believed to be serving as a cover or break-water for a parish sewer.
[15] John Webb of the Half Moon Public House, Dulwich is also shown in Old Bailey records from 1833, providing a reference of good character for a prisoner named William Patten, aged 22, who was found guilty of stealing 2 live pigs and sentenced to be "Transported for Seven Years".
[17] In 1853, William John Webb, is shown as giving evidence in the Old Bailey in the case of Daniel Allen, aged 32, feloniously uttering a forged ten shilling Bank of England note, with intent to defraud.
[19] In 1878, the area of Dulwich is described as being "a favourite resort for the working men of London, for the purpose of holding their annual gatherings at one or other of its taverns, the chief of which are the "Greyhound," the "Half Moon," and the "Crown.
While cleaning the shoes, the gentleman told the stableman that he had just lost £1,800 on the Grand National, and was later seen in the act of committing suicide on the track near Herne Hill railway station.
[20] 19th century English author, poet and artist John Ruskin refers to walking "between the hostelry of the Half-moon at the bottom of Herne Hill, and the secluded college of Dulwich".
[25] The Half Moon is also mentioned as being the location of a strategic "line of defence" in William Le Queux's fictional account of an invasion led by France and Russia, The Great War in England in 1897, published in 1895.
"[29] Writing in May 1896, Alfred Allison, describes the new development, "The picturesque old Half Moon at Herne Hill, with its low ceilings and quaint gables, was recently given over to the wreckers.
"[30] In August 1898, the International Brewers' Journal reported that the new owner of the Half Moon, Thomas Cason, appeared in court claiming that he was induced by misrepresentation as to the takings of the public house when entering into a contract of purchase to buy it for the agreed sum of £64,000 in 1897.
[33] In September 1907, a barman named Joseph Kemp, going upstairs to his bedroom at the Half Moon Public House, fell over the banisters, and died from his injuries a few seconds after being picked up.
[37] The incident took place on Whit Monday, and involved fighting between rival supporters of Dublin and Cork hurling teams, who played each other at Herne Hill Velodrome.
In the subsequent court case, Lambeth magistrates heard evidence from Detective-Sergeant Moyer, who said that when he arrived on the scene he saw a small body of police with their backs to the wall and truncheons drawn, surrounded by a mob of 500 hooligans.
[39][40][41] The Historic England listing for the Half Moon Public House states that, "The proliferation of ornament across the surface of this building gives the whole a sense of vital unity through their sheer number.
The snug bar (referred to as a "Billiard Room" in CAMRA's 1988 South East London Pub Guide[43]) contains six back-painted mirrors depicting birds and signed by the renowned 'W.
[3][49] London Welsh Rugby Football Club had their home at the nearby Herne Hill Velodrome for over 40 years after World War I, where "alcohol was not permitted by the Dulwich College landlords".
"[51] On 5 May 1969, The Daily Mirror reported the story of builder Alec Graham, 40, who got into a fight with a drinking pal just before closing time at the Half Moon, which resulted in his ear being entirely severed.
[61] In the early to mid 1960s, The Half Moon hosted one of the premier folk clubs in South London, drawing large numbers of people every Tuesday night.
Pearce was the floor singer and guests included Dave and Toni Arthur, Bert Jansch, Cliff Aungier, Gerry Lockran, Diz Disley, Pete and Marian Gray, The Hickory Nuts, and The Bruce Turner Jump Band.
[62] The Half Moon was a significant South London venue on the 1970s pub rock circuit,[63] hosting performances by Dr. Feelgood, Meal Ticket, Nine Below Zero, and Eddie and the Hot Rods.
[67][68] The Half Moon in Herne Hill also has a notable place in rock history as being the venue where Chris Blackwell, the founder of Island Records, first met the members of U2 and watched them perform.
[73][74] A review of the gig by Bill Graham for Hot Press states, "for the encore Bono leaps off the stage to serenade the audience from the raised enclosure where the mixing desk and us flunkies are located.
"[90] Writing in The Guardian in 1981, Robin Denselow states, "The Half Moon, Herne Hill, South London, is established as a testing ground for bands who often move on to greater things.
"[91] The Half Moon was also a venue for more well-known acts going back to their roots, hosting gigs by Steve Marriott in 1984,[92] and Grammy Award winner Albert Lee in 1990.
[95] More recent acts at the Half Moon during the tenancy of Robert Harrison from 2006 to 2013, include Paloma Faith, Kae Tempest (with their band Sound of Rum in 2009), Rumer, The Beat, The Handsome Family, The Wonderstuff, The Coal Porters, Wilko Johnson, and Turin Brakes.
[citation needed] As well as music, the Half Moon has hosted regular comedy, with acts including Mark Lamarr, Eddie Izzard and Omid Djalili.
[119][120] English writer and poet Richard Church recalls stopping for lunch at The Half Moon Tavern to "rest the horses", when moving home from Battersea to Herne Hill as a child in Edwardian era London.
"[121] In 1988, the public bar of the Half Moon featured in an advert for Red Rock Cider, directed by John Lloyd and starring Leslie Nielsen.
[135] A community campaign to save the music venue at the rear of the pub received backing from local celebrities including Jo Brand, La Roux, and even the Mayor of London,[108][136][137] but suffered a setback in April 2016 when Southwark Council approved plans to remove the stage and replace it with a new kitchen and dining area.
