The UK is currently witnessing the closure of 57 pubs each month. You can see this reflected in the number of pubs that have bitten the dust in Barrow and Dalton over the past year.
Pubs have a fascinating social history, not least the names that they were originally given - 'The Strawberry'? 'The Ambrose'? 'Robin Hood'? - what was the motivation behind these names?
COMPETITION! (with a prize!)
Briefly explain the historical origins of the following popular pub names, all of them in Barrow.
- The Cross Keys
- The White Lion
- The Crystal Palace
- The Sheffield (currently closed)
- King's Head
Best pub names of all time? 'Help the Poor Struggler' (Oldham) - Albert Pierrepoint, the last official UK executioner, was the landlord. 'Trip to Jerusalem' (Nottingham) - oldest pub in England. 'Peveril of the Peak' (Manchester) - named after a Walter Scott novel.
Longest pub name - The Old Thirteenth Cheshire Astley Volunteer Rifleman Corps Inn (Stalybridge)Most popular pub name? 'The Crown'.
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1 comment:
No matter how quaint the Olde Worlde inn is, the pub's name is probably the most historic thing about the place.
Pub signs are a pictorial record of our history - from Roman times, through the Crusades and the Dissolution of the monasteries to the present day. They've been inspired by religion, royalty, lust, pride, murder, heroes and scandals but, in the rush to get to the bar, few of us take time to notice the pub's name.
It's worth doing a bit of research on these and other locals - they may have an illustrious or very dark past!
Elaine Saunders
Author : A Book About Pub Names
www.completetext.com
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