Crown and Treaty
A historic Grade II* listed building and pub on Oxford Road in Uxbridge, associated with the 1645 Treaty of Uxbridge negotiations.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
Crown and Treaty is a historic building on Oxford Road in Uxbridge, England. Constructed in 1576 as a residence for Sir John Bennett, it later became associated with hospitality and is now known primarily as a pub and heritage site. Its historical importance comes from the Treaty of Uxbridge negotiations, held there from 30 January to 22 February 1645 during the English Civil War. Representatives of King Charles I and his parliamentary opponents, including Oliver Cromwell, attempted to negotiate an end to the conflict, but the discussions failed. The two-storey red-brick building is notable for its surviving historic fabric and architectural details. Its south-eastern façade has five windows, including two full-height projecting bays, with brickwork laid in English bond. The building was originally substantially larger, but part of it was demolished when Oxford Road was widened in the eighteenth century to accommodate coaching traffic. It was later converted into a coaching inn under the auspices of architect Sir John Soane. Before returning to use as a pub, the premises operated as a Thai restaurant and a live-music venue. The building’s most famous interior feature was its elaborate Jacobean oak panelling, associated with the Treaty Room. The panelling was removed and sold in 1930 to New York antiques dealer Louis L. Allen, who intended to install it in his Madison Avenue gallery. In 1945, industrialist Armand Hammer acquired it and installed it in an office on the 78th floor of the Empire State Building, arranged as a reproduction of the historic room. Hammer presented the panelling, together with material from the smaller Presence Room, to Elizabeth II as a coronation gift in 1953. The Victoria and Albert Museum subsequently determined that the rooms should be returned to their original setting. The property received Grade II listed status on 8 May 1950 and is classified at the higher Grade II* level. Its identity therefore combines local hospitality with architectural and political history. The name has also entered popular culture: Mercury Prize-nominated band Sweet Billy Pilgrim used Crown and Treaty as the title of its third album. The pub became the subject of political humour after novelty candidate Count Binface repeatedly included a promise to relocate an awkwardly positioned men's-room hand dryer in his election manifestos. The episode led to a tongue-in-cheek agreement between the candidate and the pub, linking the building’s contemporary public profile to its long history as a site of negotiation and symbolic treaty-making.
History
Crown and Treaty was built in 1576 by and for Sir John Bennett as his residence. The property was known as Place House during its early history. After the death of the last Bennett in 1689, ownership passed to the Wentworth Gurney family. When the family’s properties were divided among heirs in 1724, the building passed to Charles Gosling. It later served as the residence of Sir Christopher Abdy, one of the Abdy baronets of Felix Hall, and subsequently of Dr. Thorold. The building’s greatest historical association dates from the English Civil War. From 30 January to 22 February 1645, it hosted negotiations between representatives of King Charles I and Parliament in an attempt to settle the conflict. Oliver Cromwell was among the parliamentary figures associated with the talks. The negotiations failed, but the event became known as the Treaty of Uxbridge and gave the building its modern name and enduring historical significance. Architecturally, the building is a two-storey red-brick structure with a five-window front, two projecting full-height bays, English-bond brickwork, and stone coping along the top of the walls. It was originally about two-thirds larger than the surviving structure. A section was demolished during the eighteenth century when Oxford Road was widened to handle coaching traffic. The premises were later converted into a coaching inn under the auspices of Sir John Soane. In more recent periods, the site was used as a Thai restaurant and a live-music venue before returning to pub use. The Treaty Room’s carved Jacobean oak panelling became the subject of an unusual international history. In 1930 it was sold to New York antiques dealer Louis L. Allen, who planned to install it at an art gallery on Madison Avenue. Armand Hammer purchased the panelling in 1945 and placed it in a private office on the 78th floor of the Empire State Building. The office was designed to resemble the original Treaty Room after the floor had been gutted following the crash of a B-25 bomber. In 1953 Hammer presented the panelling, together with panelling from the smaller Presence Room, to Elizabeth II as a coronation gift. The Victoria and Albert Museum ultimately decided that the historic interiors should be returned to their original location. Crown and Treaty was listed at Grade II on 8 May 1950 and is now recognised as a Grade II* listed building. Its contemporary cultural profile extends beyond heritage tourism and pub use. Sweet Billy Pilgrim named its third album Crown and Treaty after the venue. The building also became an internet meme after Count Binface made relocating the pub’s poorly positioned men's-room hand dryer a recurring election pledge. This modern episode echoed, in deliberately comic form, the building’s long association with negotiations and treaties.
- 2019
Count Binface hand-dryer pledge
[1]Count Binface included a pledge to move the pub’s men's-room hand dryer in his election manifesto, bringing the venue renewed online attention.
- 1953
Panelling gifted to Elizabeth II
[1]The panelling was presented as a coronation gift, after which the Victoria and Albert Museum decided it should be returned to its original setting.
- 1950
Listed building designation
[1]The building was listed on 8 May 1950 and is now classified as Grade II*.
- 1945
Panelling installed in the Empire State Building
[1]Armand Hammer acquired and installed the panelling in a recreated Treaty Room in his Empire State Building office.
- 1930
Jacobean panelling removed and sold
[1]The original oak panelling was sold to New York antiques dealer Louis L. Allen.
- 1724
Property passes to Charles Gosling
[1]Following the division of the Wentworth Gurney family properties, the building passed to Charles Gosling.
- 1645
Treaty of Uxbridge negotiations
[1]Negotiations between Charles I’s representatives and Parliament took place at the building from 30 January to 22 February in an unsuccessful attempt to end the English Civil War.
- 1576
Construction of the building
[1]A two-storey red-brick building was constructed on Oxford Road in Uxbridge for Sir John Bennett.
Products and positioning
A heritage-led pub and historic venue whose appeal combines traditional hospitality with a distinctive connection to the Treaty of Uxbridge and the English Civil War.
Hospitality
Pub services
The venue operates as a pub serving the local community and visitors to the historic building. The supplied references do not specify a current food menu, drinks range, pricing, or particular branded offerings.
Heritage venue
Historic venue and Treaty Room
The building’s heritage architecture and association with the 1645 Treaty of Uxbridge form its principal distinctive offering. The Treaty Room and its Jacobean interior history provide the venue with cultural and historical interest beyond ordinary pub use.
Entertainment
Live entertainment venue
Before returning to pub use, the premises operated as a live-music venue. The available references do not establish whether live entertainment remains part of the current operation.
Sources2 sources
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