According to a popular online search facility there are 632 pubs in the United Kingdom called the Red Lion. That is either an excess of patriotism or a deficit of imagination.
Another source consulted opined that it is probably the most common name for a pub in these isles and originates from the time of James I (James VI of Scotland), who came to the united thrones of England and Scotland in 1603. He ordered that the heraldic red lion of Scotland be displayed on all buildings of importance - including pubs.
The Red Lion at Chalton is certainly an old building. I haven't researched its history but it is timbered, whitewashed, jettied and thatched, has a garden that faces west and the setting sun, and serves excellent meals in the evenings.
Last Friday we visited for the first time in years and certainly the first time since our return from Greece. We did not sit outdoors (as showers threatened), but chose instead a table in one of small bars. The interior is a bit of a rabbit warren as you might expect of a building of significant age, with different floor and ceiling levels, and connecting doorways in strange places. Hidden away in a secluded corner indoors (like an embarrassing family member) I discovered this representation in gold and silver thread of the pub itself.
Excuse the reflections in glass - best I could achieve at the end of a dim corridor - but it is a most excellent likeness of the street view of the pub. Try to imagine the sun setting behind that view - the reflection almost achieves a sunset glow in one corner.
This sounds like the platonic original pub, complete with lintels to bump your head on. I find really old buildings seem to have very low doorways. People must have been shorter.
ReplyDeleteHari OM
ReplyDeleteThat's a lovely piece - such threadwork art was very popular during the 1970s (even did a couple myself). This really exudes the atmosphere you describe! YAM xx
I loved the old pubs in London. There’s one on nearly every corner lol
ReplyDeleteMy favourite was one literally ten steps from the thistle bloom hotel It was in an alley nest to the hotel and it had a row of different pubs and restaurants. It kinda looked like the leaky cauldron in Harry Potter. But it had the best fish in chips
There must have been hours of work in that threadwork - quite remarkable.
ReplyDeletethe art piece is gorgeous! and I am thinking the pub itself is magnificent, or would be to me, since i have never seen a thatched anything other than blogs and movies. very interesting the number of them with the same name. we are used to that here, because we see the same names every where we go, but they are all franchised from one place. unlike these. we have two candidates for president that would love to put their names all over important buildings.
ReplyDeleteI wish we had this sort of history with pubs and taverns, no chance with NZ still being a relatively new country. In answer to your questions about Hokitika, nope sadly every time there is an event on there I seem to be working. sigh. Hopefully over Summer I can get down there a bit more.
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