The Royal - Marine Parade, Tankerton, Whitstable, Kent, UK - Pictorial Pub Signs on Waymarking.com

Illustrated on the pub sign is The Royal ship. There are many derivations of this name used in the Royal Navy including Royal Arthur, Royal Charles, Royal Charlotte, Royal Eagle, Royal George, Royal James, Royal Oak, Royal Scotsman, Royal Sovereign, Royal Ulsterman, Royal William and Royalist. The Royal Galleys of Spain were used by Christopher Columbus as he explored the world. According to Wikipedia there is a pub name 'Ark Royal: the name of five ships of the Royal Navy from 1587, from the time of the Spanish Armada, through the Dardanelles Campaign and the hunt for the Bismarck with the current ship in service since 1981.'

We must presume that this pub sign is a reference to the Galley Ships of the Spanish Armada as her sails bellow and she sails across the seas on her adventures.

There are other references to Royal associations here in Whitstable including to the Royal Native Whitstable oyster for which the town is renown.

Shepherd Neame describes the history behind the pub:visit link

'The Royal began life as a small hospital for recuperating soldiers during the First World War before becoming a hotel and then the popular pub and restaurant of today.'

Andrew Davidson is the artist behind the iconic pen-and-ink pub signs for Shepherd Neame. visit link

Name of Artist: Andrew Davidson Date of current sign: Mid-2000s Date of first pub on site: After the First World War - Post 1918

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Recent Visits/Logs:

Date Logged Log   06/01/2012 MeerRescue visited it