The story of this site begins in the 1600s, when a working windmill stood on the edge of Clapham Common. A miller named Thomas Crenshaw is recorded here, known not only for grinding grain but also for keeping an alehouse beside the mill, where locals gathered for bread and beer.
By the late 1700s, the area had become a natural stopping point for travelers. The old mill was replaced by a coaching inn, and around 1790 a Georgian building rose on the site, welcoming those crossing the Common. Through the 19th century, it remained a familiar landmark, serving as a place of rest and refreshment while London steadily grew around it.
Though the sails of the original mill are long gone, the ground it once occupied still carries the weight of its history — from humble milling days, to coaching routes, to the enduring role of a gathering place at the heart of Clapham.