Hot Cross Buns at the Widow's Son Pub, East London
The landlady of the Widow's Son Pub at 75 Devons Road, Bromley-by-Bow, East London, adding one more hot cross bun to a bunch hanging from the ceiling. This custom originated in the cottage where this pub now stands. In the early 19th century a widow lived in the cottage with her only son, a sailor. The son was away at sea, but was expected home on Good Friday and asked his mother to bake him some hot cross buns, traditional on that date. The sailor never returned home, but every Good Friday the widow baked hot cross buns, and each year added a new bun to the ones she kept for her son. When she died, all the buns were found hanging from a beam in her cottage. When the cottage was replaced by a pub in 1848, the various landlords kept up the tradition, adding a new bun every Good Friday. Sailors from all around Britain go to the Widow's Son Pub to pay their respects to the widow - they hold a religious service, then sing, drink and celebrate
