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BEHIND THE BAR IS AN INDIAN SCOUT MOTORCYCLE FROM 1920 - THIS WAS THE FIRST YEAR OF PRODUCTION FOR THE BIKE THAT EVENTUALLY EVOLVED INTO THE CHIEF - WITH REVOLUTIONARY ENGINEERING - THIS BIKE WAS FAR AHEAD OF ITS TIME - IT BECAME THE OBSESSION OF BURT MUNROE WHO EVENTUALLY BROKE THE LAND SPEED RECORD AT 200 MPH - AFTER MUCH TINKERING
1488 - CASTLE LAND DEED FROM NORTHERN FRANCE
- THE PART THAT ENGLAND ONCE OCCUPIED, WRITTEN IN OLD FRENCH ON PARCHMENT -No longer valid,I think ?>
16TH CENTURY TAVERN TABLE - IN CONTINUOUS USE FOR OVER 400 YEARS, FROM A ROYAL CASTLE - I bet a lot of good ale, victuals, and lively chatter have been absorbed by that oak
AN UNUSUAL PAMPHLET FROM PARLIAMENT 1649
- Lord Fairfax, as commander of the army, declaring loyalty to parliament, just after King Charles I was deposed, during the climax of the civil war. This broadside would have been placed in town squares and important taverns for all to read.
1840 PUB SIGN - from the original White Horse pub - Mayfair, London, well ingrained with Victorian fog
DOCUMENT WITH ORIGINAL SEAL SIGNED BY WILLIAM CLOPTON THE XXI DAY OF JANUARY IN THE 41ST YEAR OF THE REIGN OF OUR SOVREIGN LADY ELIZABETH BY THE GRACE OF GOD OF ENGLAND FRANCE AND IRELAND QUEEN DEFENDER OF THE FAITH 1599 - from one of the noblest families in the land, he had a politically arranged marriage to his cousin Anne in 1586 (he was 12 and she 9) eventually inherited all estates, lived in Stratford upon Avon, where in 1597, he rented the house next to him, called new place to his good friend William Shakespeare, who subsequently purchased it in 1599. Records indicate this was the second biggest house in town, Clopton retaining the biggest. Must have had great dinner conversations when his friends came over. Shakespeare it is said based the character of Ophelia from Hamlet, after a Clopton personal incident also Juliet was similarly inspired by the very colorful Clopton family..
ELIZABETHAN CHEST - geometric shapes fashionable on furniture through the sixteenth century - old hard oak with ancient worm holes - I can only imagine the changing fashions and items those drawers have seen for over 400 years, and now it is a time to hold your menus ..
1597 MANUSCRIPT WITH THE GREAT SEAL OF QUEEN ELIZABETH 1 - One of only a handful in existence, as carved by Nicholas Hilliard, and used exclusively by the Queen on matters of great importance.- scholarship rights had to be granted to the British Museum - Her Majestys Goverment did insist after all - perhaps the scholars can enjoy a pint of old speckled hen and a signature burger, whilst at their studies.
HORSE BRASSES - Used since medieval times and even mentioned by Chaucer, some of these are up to 200 years old. They were used to decorate the bridles and harnesses of the Shire Horses. With designs both personal and also symbolic of the villages or counties. Similar to customizing or decorating a truck today, in fact as trucks started to replace these beautiful and massive shire horses, the decorative brasses were often placed on the beams, in the village pub. A tradition that continues...
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