Inns and public houses are a rich part of Britain’s heritage. Their signs provide us with an abundantly illustrated guide to both our history and our cultural heritage. Currently there are about 50,000 pubs in the UK with an extraordinary 17,000 different names, but why are there so many pubs called the ‘Red Lion’, the ‘Crown’ or ‘White Hart’? In this colourful and entertaining lecture John shows some of the most interesting and distinctive signs and explores the fascinating stories behind the origins of some of their peculiar names. Who could fail to be intrigued by the stories behind the ‘Bucket of Blood’, the ‘Blazing Donkey’, the ‘Cow and Snuffers’ or even the ‘Eager Poet’- and who on earth was ‘Blind Jack’?
An illustrated talk by John Ericson, a NADFAS speaker, at the Grosvenor Museum at 7:30 PM on 15th February.