Inns, Taverns and Pubs

In the early Middle Ages, travellers usually found accommodation in monasteries, but later, because of the Crusades and the popularity of pilgrimages, lodging houses (inns) were built by monasteries, guilds, and private entrepreneurs.  By the late 16^th century there were about 6,000 inns. The English inns of the Middle Ages were sanctuaries of wayfaring strangers, cutthroats, thieves, and political malcontents. 

The tavern, the predecessor of the modern restaurant, originated the custom of providing a daily meal at a fixed time,  where alcoholic beverages are sold for consumption on the premises.  By the middle of the 16^th century the dining-out habit was well established and most taverns offered a good dinner for less than a shilling, with wine and ales as extras.  Tobacco was also sold after its introduction into England in 1565.  Taverns also offered companionship and some of the better ones became regular meeting places.

Early on, English law imposed social responsibilities for the well-being of travellers upon the inns and taverns, declaring them to be public houses which must receive all travellers in reasonable condition who were willing to pay the price for food, drink, and lodging. 

In Tudor England, selected innkeepers were required by a royal act to maintain stables and some acted as unofficial postmasters and kept stables for the royal post.  In the mid-1600s, some public houses even issued unofficial coins which the innkeepers guaranteed to redeem in the realm's currency.  By the 1800s, many of these establishments were divided internally to segregate the various classes of customers.   Public houses were considered socially superior to alehouses, beerhouses, and ginshops.

The early inns or taverns were identified by simple signs, such as lions, dolphins, or black swans.  Many colourful pub names (e.g., Bag o'Nails, Goat and Compass, and Elephant and Castle) are actually corrupted phrases and titles (e.g. "Bacchanals," "Great God Encompassing," and "Infanta de Castile").  

In the 18^th century, the word Arms was added to many pub names, indicating that the establishment was under the protection of a particular noble family, although some heraldic signs were references to the original ownership of the land on which the building stood.   Although public houses were traditionally owned and operated by licensed publicans, by the early part of the 20^th century many of them were owned or connected to a small number of brewery companies.

Dog and Partridge

The Vine - 
Ludgate St

Cross Keys - 
Burton St

Leopard – Monk St

New Inn - 
Ludgate St