WOOLAVINGTON WI MEETING REPORT FEBRUARY 2018
A good attendance for our second meeting of the year with the addition of three visitors.
Teresa reminded members of forthcoming events including County organised Road Shows and our own Soup and Puds, Friday and Sunday lunch clubs, knit and stitch and fun skittles.
Discussion followed concerning the application by Magna Healthcare to open a pharmacy in the old Co op shop before welcoming our speaker, Bob Musgrave who was returning for his third visit to entertain us with more fascinating facts behind inn signs. Bob is a member of the Inn Sign Society and is somewhat of an historical detective, pursuing his hobby of collecting and photographing inn signs whilst researching their origins.
The King Alfred at Burrowbridge, which purports to be the site of the famous cake burning episode, has an interesting past, being situated close to the point at which it was possible to walk across the River Parrett. This was the route the drovers used and the inn was built for them to rest in. Another inn sign of local interest was that of the Ring O' Roses at Holcombe. The nursery rhyme is said to have originated here. In 1348 the Black Death killed most of the villagers and subsequently the village itself was buried and a new village rebuilt some way away. Today the church still remains intact at the site of the original village of Holcombe and is open on a few occasions each year. Scott of the Antarctic's parents are buried in the churchyard.
One inn was called the No Sign and had its origins in the 14th century when in 1393 all inns were required to display a sign and pay a tax for the privilege!
Bob illustrated his talk with photographs he had taken and as many of these colourful signs are no longer in existence due to pubs closing Bob and his fellow members of the Society are helping to keep them on record.
A good attendance for our second meeting of the year with the addition of three visitors.
Teresa reminded members of forthcoming events including County organised Road Shows and our own Soup and Puds, Friday and Sunday lunch clubs, knit and stitch and fun skittles.
Discussion followed concerning the application by Magna Healthcare to open a pharmacy in the old Co op shop before welcoming our speaker, Bob Musgrave who was returning for his third visit to entertain us with more fascinating facts behind inn signs. Bob is a member of the Inn Sign Society and is somewhat of an historical detective, pursuing his hobby of collecting and photographing inn signs whilst researching their origins.
The King Alfred at Burrowbridge, which purports to be the site of the famous cake burning episode, has an interesting past, being situated close to the point at which it was possible to walk across the River Parrett. This was the route the drovers used and the inn was built for them to rest in. Another inn sign of local interest was that of the Ring O' Roses at Holcombe. The nursery rhyme is said to have originated here. In 1348 the Black Death killed most of the villagers and subsequently the village itself was buried and a new village rebuilt some way away. Today the church still remains intact at the site of the original village of Holcombe and is open on a few occasions each year. Scott of the Antarctic's parents are buried in the churchyard.
One inn was called the No Sign and had its origins in the 14th century when in 1393 all inns were required to display a sign and pay a tax for the privilege!
Bob illustrated his talk with photographs he had taken and as many of these colourful signs are no longer in existence due to pubs closing Bob and his fellow members of the Society are helping to keep them on record.