Pub's name's are always accompanied with a picture or icon to help you find your way there. This was particularly useful a couple of centuries ago when many of the patron's could not read. The Shakespeare's Head was built in 1735.
The surrounding fields were the site of the Foubert Military Academy, a school that trained in the military arts, and was renown for their horsemanship skills. Major Foubert was a fencing master in Paris before fleeing the persecution of the Huguenots arriving in London in 1679. The Academy survived until 1820 when the area was redeveloped.
This included the now famous Carnaby street, which was originally a street market, until the designers, mods, and hippies arrived in the 1960's.
If the walls of the Shakespeare's Head could talk, what tales it could tell. It is reputed the missing hands of the bust leaning out of the window were lost as a result of a bomb that dropped nearby during WWII.
A dramatic history then!
ReplyDeleteMy husband would love this pub! Quite an awesome history too.
ReplyDeleteLooks like a very interesting place to pop by and enjoy a pint in!
ReplyDeletePubs always have such fascinating stories to tell :)
ReplyDeleteI love learning the history of this place.
ReplyDeletelosing his hands would have made it tricky to hold a pint.
ReplyDeleteGreat story behind this shot.
ReplyDeleteYou tell us an absorbing tale today, Mo. Double Will Shakespeares.
ReplyDeleteHave not seen this but could well have passed by before I was a blogger and did not notice!!!
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