Powys Arms Wetley Rocks

Many moons ago, I wrote to the then licencee of The Powys Arms, Wetley Rocks, pointing out that the coat of arms on their pub sign was not the arms of the Powys, Lords of the Manor of Wetley Rocks, but, most incorrectly, the coat of arms of Powys County Council! My efforts to persuade them to correct the mistake did resulted in the removel of the old, faded, incorrect pub sign but, sadly, it was replaced with a sign that was not the arms of Powys but was simply a sign with the words The Powys Arms written upon it. Perhaps this was cheaper, or easier, than painting the actual, correct arms. 

The former, now replaced Inn sign at the Powys Arms, Wetley Rocks showing the coat of arms of Powys County Council (Wales). Which has absolutely nothing  to do with the arms of Powys of Westwood, Lords of the Manor of Wetley Rocks.

It saddens me that an incresing number of pubs with "Arms" names are forgetting that their name origins stem, litterally, from coats of Arms with local histories, and are replacing their signs with just words. The Powys Arms are a prime example. 

Today, a repost appeared on the Facebook page of the Staffordshire Sentinel/Leek Post and Times reposrting that, after a facelift, the pub has re-opend under the management of Julie, a new publican. Whilst I realise that the loss of true armorial pub signs is likely a result of tightening budgets, I can't help but wonder if Julie might be open to a suggestion that reinstating the proper Powys Arms on the pub sign might restore some link to the pubs past.

I never thought I'd mention Football on this weblog!

I never thought I'd mention football on this weblog but I suppose it had to happen. Scanning through the photographs of Inn signs, given to me by the late Alan Fennely, I came across one for The Lion of Vienna, a Samuel Smith pub, in Bolton, still open as I write this entry.

The football connection is obvious as the pub sign is entirely devoted to commemorating one particular football match, the 1952 friendly between England and Austria, and one player especially. It is described as "An impressive detached pub in a part of town historically short on licensed premises. The pub is named in honour of Bolton Wanderers legendary striker Nat Lofthouse who earned the nickname Lion of Vienna for his die-hard performance for England in a game in Austria in 1952". I am rather fond of the "crest" of the English Lion kicking a football, a pun if ever there was one, for the man who became known as "The Lion of Vienna".

The Lion of Vienna,158 Chorley New Road, Bolton, BL1 4PE

The sign displays the shield of England's National Football Team along with the 1950s emblem used by Österreichischer Fußball-Bund, the Austrian Football Association, and the motto scroll proclaims "England v. Austria 1952.  If you are an ardent football fan and have a thirst for match information, there is a web page dedicated to the statistics and facts of the match here: England V Austria 1952.

There is a  British Pathé newsreel report of the match available on YouTube (British Pathé newsreels were shown to British cinema audiences).

Arms of France-Hayhurst

France-Hayhurst of Bostock Hall

This wonderful image of the France-Hayhurst arms can be found on the Twitter page of the Hayhurst Arms village pub which describes itself as "A classic village pub which sits in the heart of Bostock where you'll find log fires burning, a well stocked bar and a fantastic menu."

Quarterly, 1st & 4th Hayhurst, Per chevron Sable and Or in chief two crosses pattee fitchee and in base a pair of wings conjoined and elevated counterchanged; 2nd & 3rd, France, Argent on a mount in base a hurst Proper, on a chief wavy Azure three fleurs-de-lis Or.

Crests - 1st Hayhurst, A cubit arm proper holding in the hand a cross pattee fitchee Or between two wings sable each charged with an annulet Gold; 2nd France, A mount thereon a hurst as in the arms from the centre tree pendant by a strap Azure a shield Gules charged with a fleur-de-lis Or.

Motto: Virtus Semper Viridis

The Tayleur Arms

My reader may well recall that way back in January 2014 I wrote about the Inn sign at the Tayleur Arms at London-on-Tern (the old armorial sign had, at some point in time, been replaced with one of a clipper called the Tayleur) and I then went on to have a very pleasant conversation with Lawrence, the landlord, who was very receptive to looking into changing the sign back to an armorial one at some point in time. Unfortunately, a few short months later the business was ravaged by fire and totally destroyed.

https://weblog.heraldryaddict.uk/2014/03/tayleur-arms-ravaged-by-fire.html

Well, I am very pleased to report that the rebuild is virtually completed and although the pub sign has yet to make an appearance, the business has reinstated its heraldic origins with a pleasing relish.

The newly commissioned  Tayleur Arms coat of arms, and the way it looks on the new menu boards.

An advertisement for staff -the arms proudly displayed.

The template for the arms.

Needless to say that I am delighted (not sure about the use of mantling when the helm is not present but hey, it's progress).