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====== Kings Head Street ======

Kings Head Street was once the principle street in Harwich, stretching from the river down to the churchyard, it was lined with the grandest houses built by wealthy merchants.

Successive redevelopment means that the oldest buildings we see today date from C15 but there is evidence of building and habitation going right back to the C12 and the origins of the town.

At the end of the medieval period the street was known as both East Street and High Street and its waterfront was some 25m back from the current quayside. The present square at the junction of St. Austins lane was also built-up and the street crossed the market place at the junction of Market Street and continued all the way up to the Church.

In 1561 the area near the junction of St. Austins Lane was occupied by the “great house” of Thomas Moore (from “The Harwich Story” by Len Weaver and based on the tax paid in 1603 being the highest in Harwich) and it was probably here that Queen Elizabeth I stayed when she visited Harwich that year.

At some point in late C16 or early C17 the former Moore residence became an inn called the Kings Head and at some point after that the street assumed the same name.

During the C19 Kings Head Street becomes more commercial with shops, inns and the old mansions subdivided for occupation by multiple families.

Prior to 1852 there was no road on the waterfront and each street, including Kings Head Street, had private quays and stairs leading down to the water. The steps at the end of Kings Head Street were called the Lambard Steps after a notable C16 resident and these had to be kept in good repair by the properties at the riverside end of the street. In 1852, with the railway coming, the quay was rebuilt and Kings Head Street joined to the new public quay.

By the C20 Kings Head Street was becoming somewhat run down and had the nickname “dirty street”, possibly due to the coal merchant's yard that once stood at the end near the quay.

Today Kings Head Street retains a definite flavour of the Harwich of old and the restoration of its surviving old buildings has given us a fascinating glimpse into its past.

===== Buildings =====

  * [[old_swan_house|Old Swan House (14 Kings Head Street)]]
  * [[24_25_26_kings Head_street|24/25/26 Kings Head Street]]
  * [[24_25_26_kings_head_street|Alma Inn]]
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