To most of us the pub has been a permanent feature of our landscape - many of us have navigated by using them as points of reference. They are a part of community history and often the pub, or its name on a variety of buildings has been in the town or village for a couple of centuries or more. The George Inn at Lacock (pictured below) has a 16^th century core and there was a George Inn here in 1361.

The George Inn at Lacock

A chequerboard can be found on the Methuen Arms at Corsham. This sign has ancient origins, being used by the Romans, but here it might have shown either that draughts or backgammon was played or that the innkeeper also acted as a money changer. This inn was known as the Red Lion when it was set up in the 17^th century it survived an early order for its suppression by magistrates.

Many of our pubs are closing or are under threat of closure. We are interested to hear of any stories or pictures you may have of pubs, existing or vanished, in Wiltshire that we can put on our web site or add to our archives. Please e-mail any that you have.

Rattlebone Inn at Sherston

The name of the pub may relate to the history of the area. The 17^th century Rattlebone Inn at Sherston (pictured above) is named after local man John Rattlebone who is said to have fought for Edmund Ironside against King Canute in 1016, having first negotiated a satisfactory return in property around Sherston. The Lion and Fiddle at Hilperton (pictured below with the old toll house opposite it) is the only pub with this name in the country. It may well have begun life as the Cat and Fiddle, a name taken from the nursery rhyme.

The Lion and Fiddle at Hilperton

There may be only a small reminder of a vanished pub. The Three Lions at Holt closed only about 30 years ago and this symbol (pictured below) remains on the wall of the building now converted to residential use. Other pubs still with us have given their name to a street or area. Hare and Hounds Street in Devizes took its name when the pub of that name was built. An old and long gone hostelry called the Cardinal's Hat in Trowbridge prompted the name Red Hat Lane.

The Three Lions at Holt

Some of our pubs are well known in literature. The Green Dragon at Alderbury (pictured below) was used by Charles Dickens in Martin Chuzzlewit, but he renamed it The Blue Dragon. The Beckhampton Inn on the Bath road (the A4), now the headquarters of racehorse training there, was the setting of the Bagman's Story in Pickwick Papers.

The Green Dragon at Alderbury

We've told you a few stories now its your turn to tell us some...

Michael Marshman, Local Studies