A historic English pub linked to Samuel Pepys and Daniel Defoe was almost destroyed by fire, leaving its future and Tilbury’s naval heritage uncertain

The historic World’s End pub in Tilbury, Essex, was almost destroyed by a fire on 23 September 2026, prompting concern over the loss of a landmark associated with Samuel Pepys and Daniel Defoe. The Grade II listed building was included in Thurrock’s recently launched heritage trails and was recognised for its connection to the town’s naval history. According to Essex Police, officers were called to the former pub on Fort Road shortly after 4.40 pm and arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of arson. Thurrock Council expressed sadness over the damage, while the police investigation continued.What happened to the historic World’s End pub in TilburyOfficers were called shortly after 4.40 pm on Wednesday, 23 September 2026, following a fire at the former World’s End pub on Fort Road in Tilbury. Police attended the scene and arrested a man in his 20s on suspicion of arson. The force said the man remained in custody for questioning as the investigation continued. Police also appealed for information, including CCTV footage, dashcam recordings and other material that could help establish the circumstances surrounding the fire.In an official statement Thurrock Council issued the following day, the fire had destroyed the pub, describing the damage as extensive. In its statement published on 24 September, the council said local councillors had expressed their sadness over the loss of the historic building. Essex Police asked anyone with relevant information to quote incident 918 of 23 September when contacting the force. The investigation was ongoing at the time of the statements, and the arrest did not establish the cause of the fire or determine responsibility for it.How was the World’s End pub linked to Samuel Pepys and Daniel DefoeThe World’s End pub had historical associations with two notable English figures: Samuel Pepys, the diarist whose writings document aspects of seventeenth-century life, and Daniel Defoe, the author known for works including Robinson Crusoe and Moll Flanders. Thurrock Council’s Cabinet Member for Veterans, Enforcement and Environment, Councillor Russell Cherry, referred to these connections in his response to the fire.Cherry said the pub had been frequented by Defoe and visited by Pepys, who recorded his visit in his diary. These historical links made the building a recognisable part of Tilbury’s heritage. The council also highlighted the pub’s connection to the town’s naval past, placing it among the sites that visitors could explore through the borough’s heritage trails. The building therefore featured not only as a local pub but also as a site associated with the area’s historical development and notable visitors.Why was the World’s End pub important to Tilbury’s heritage trailsThe World’s End pub was a Grade II listed building that had stood for centuries, according to Tilbury St Chads ward councillor Bailey Scott. Its location and historical associations connected it with Tilbury’s wider heritage, including the area’s naval history. Thurrock Council described the building as a tangible link to the town’s past and noted that it had recently been included in the borough’s heritage trails.The heritage trails were launched in the week before the fire, according to Cherry’s statement. Their inclusion of the World’s End pub meant that the building had been identified as one of the places through which visitors could learn about the borough’s history. The fire consequently damaged a site that had been recognised as part of the area’s heritage offering. However, the council’s statements did not provide a detailed assessment of the damage to the building’s historic fabric or specify which original features, if any, remained after the blaze.How did local councillors react to the loss of Tilbury’s historic pubCherry expressed his sadness over the damage and thanked the firefighters who had tackled the blaze. In his statement, he said: “Thurrock has an incredible heritage and the World’s End is an important part of that, so I was terribly sorry to learn of the fire which has all but destroyed it.” He also referred to the pub’s place in the newly launched heritage trails and its historical associations with Defoe and Pepys.Cherry said he hoped the site would recover from the fire and that another pub would be built there. He noted that the building had been destroyed by fire previously and subsequently recovered. His comments set out the council’s hope for the site’s future, although the statement did not confirm that a rebuilding plan had been approved or that restoration work would begin.Scott also expressed sadness at the destruction of the historic pub, highlighting its importance to local residents. He described the Grade II listed building as a place that had held generations of memories for people in Tilbury. Scott thanked Essex County Fire and Rescue Service and other emergency services for their efforts in tackling the fire. He also acknowledged the Port of Tilbury Police for their response and assistance in keeping the public safe.What do police know about the fire at the historic World’s End pubEssex Police confirmed that a man in his 20s had been arrested on suspicion of arson and that he remained in custody for questioning when the force issued its statement on 24 September 2026. The police investigation was continuing, and officers appealed for anyone with relevant footage or information to come forward. Thurrock Council also stated that it understood Essex County Fire and Rescue Service was investigating the cause of the blaze.The council expressed hope that the World’s End site would recover and that a new pub could eventually be built there. However, the statements issued after the fire did not confirm a redevelopment decision, a restoration timetable or the final condition of the listed building. Scott said the community would await further updates from the relevant authorities as investigations continued.The fire left the future of the historic World’s End pub uncertain. Its documented associations with Samuel Pepys and Daniel Defoe, its Grade II listed status and its inclusion in Thurrock’s heritage trails were among the details highlighted by local officials following the incident. Further information about the cause of the blaze and the future of the site remained dependent on updates from the authorities.You use AI every day. Now get your AI Quotient. Take the AIQ test.