Pubs worth celebrating

Post by **tyke bhoy** » Tue 17 Jul, 2007 10:35 pm

There is a swan with two nEcks on Westgate in wakefield (part of the westgate run)

JanCee · Post by **JanCee** » Tue 17 Jul, 2007 10:39 pm

Wikipedia subscribes to the theory that the Vintners spotted an opportunity for punning when awarded swan ownership rights and it was then they started using the name. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pub_namesSwan With Two Necks: In the United Kingdom, Swans have traditionally been the property of the reigning Monarch. However, in the 16th century, Queen Elizabeth I granted the right to ownership of some swans to the Worshipful Company of Vintners. In order to be able to tell which Swan belonged to whom, it was decided that Vintners' swans should have their beaks marked with two notches, or nicks. In those days, 'neck' was another form of 'nick' and so the Vintners spotted that a Swan With Two Necks could afford them a rather clever pun, and a striking pub sign.

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Tue 17 Jul, 2007 11:00 pm

Being unable to post pics on Secret Leeds at present I've put apicture of the 'Swan with 2 necks' and its sign on my Flicker page - click the link below.I think the creator of the sign (which I dont think is very old - 1960s/70s maybe) subscribes to the 'nicks ' view. The swan certainly only has one neck - and what are those chevrons supposed to be? nicks??.(I'll post pics on here as and when..)

Scandy Bramley · Post by **Scandy Bramley** » Tue 17 Jul, 2007 11:10 pm

Here's your pic from flickR, Drapesy

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Tue 17 Jul, 2007 11:14 pm

Wish I could do that...I tried putting square brackets around the link i'd copied from Flickr but no good - what am I doing wrong?

Scandy Bramley · Post by **Scandy Bramley** » Wed 18 Jul, 2007 2:30 am

No IDEA, mate! :S I just typed [img]yourflickrpic'surl[/img]

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Wed 18 Jul, 2007 8:31 am

Thanks scandy - but it looks like the old system's been fixed anyway now.Here's the Swan with Two Necks

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Wed 18 Jul, 2007 2:54 pm

Now that the photo uploading system works again my picture of 'The Primrose' is on page 2 of this thread

arry_awk · Post by **arry_awk** » Wed 18 Jul, 2007 3:52 pm

Nick-Nick!Thanks for all the input folks. The pic of the Swan is not as I remember it from the early 70's.(What IS!?) It seemed a much shorter frontage and was up a rough cobbled street .The sign was red and gold with the swan in white. Probably had several facelifts since1970 and the frontage extended. Well it is over 30 yrs ago!Re the chevrons on the new sign,the swan was probably promoted corporal! (Sorry Simon,I mean 'Bombardier'!) Mebbe the 2nd neck was a 'lance-bomb'!. Must catch a coupla buses up there some dayand see what they've done to it!

drapesy · Post by **drapesy** » Mon 23 Jul, 2007 4:36 pm

The wonderful Eagle on North Street - for many years an oasis of real ale in a desert of keg - it belonged to Camra at one stage I believe. Its a very old building - pre victorian. and now stands alone when once it was surrounded by houses and shops.According to Leodis it became a pub in 1832 Originally it was called the Builder's Arms, then the Ordnance Arms, then the Golden Eagle then the Eagle.