The tavern (the successor of an older building) was pulled down in 1853, and the present public-house—No. 89, Regent’s Park Road—was built. The open fields which formerly led from this site to the slopes of Primrose Hill are now covered by houses at the back and front of the present building, and the row of tall houses in Primrose Hill Road would effectively shut out the view, even if the tavern had still preserved its garden. A water-colour drawing of about 1830 shows Chalk Farm without any building intervening between itself and its grassy mount. One side of the tavern is provided with many windows, and a veranda looks towards the hill, and close by is the flower-garden. At the back of the house are fields and a road leading to the lower slopes. [Authorities in Palmer’s _St. Pancras_, p. 287; _Picture __of London_, 1802–1846; Miller’s _St. Pancras_, p. 201; Walford, _Old and New London_, v. 289 _f._; newspapers. Views: Water-colour, _circa_ 1830, showing Primrose Hill and the tavern (W.); drawing by Matthews, 1834, Crace Cat., p. 671, No. 89; drawing by T. H. Shepherd, 1853, _ibid._, p. 569; Partington’s _Views of London_, ii. 181; a view in Dugdale’s _England and Wales_, and water-colour drawings from this.] THE EEL-PIE (OR SLUICE) HOUSE, HIGHBURY THIS tavern on the New River, between Highbury and Hornsey Wood House, was well known to Cockney visitors from early in the nineteenth century till its demolition about 1867. {42} It was famous for its tea and hot rolls, but still more for its excellent pies made of eels, which were popularly supposed to be natives of Hugh Myddelton’s stream, though they came in reality from the coast of Holland. Unambitious anglers of the Sadler’s Wells type frequented the river near here, and on popular holidays in the twenties and thirties ‘the lower order of citizens’ (as an Islington historian politely calls them) had breakfast at the Eel-Pie House on their way to gather ‘palms’ in Hornsey Wood or more distant regions. The house had a pleasant garden till its latest days, but little in the way of gala nights or ballooning. In the strenuous era of prize-fighting even this quiet place was not without its excitements. Thus, we read that on one day in January, 1826, a wrestling-match was announced between Ned Savage and another. Savage’s opponent (Mr. Pigg) was not forthcoming, and the ‘fancy coves,’ not to be disappointed, retired to a large room in the Sluice House, and soon formed a temporary ring with the forms and tables. A dog-fight and a rat-killing match were then exhibited, and, something ‘of a more manly character’ being called for, a purse was collected, and Bill Webb of Newport Market and (an unnamed) Jack Tar were soon engaged. ‘About twenty rounds were fought; both men received heavy punishment, and both showed fair game qualities.’ The sailor’s courage was particularly admired, but he, alas! had to strike his colours, and Bill Webb ‘pocketed the blunt.’