Sam Wellers - Upper Borough Walls - Bath, Somerset - Literary Sites on Waymarking.com

"On arrival at Bath, Mr Pickwick and his friends: "respectfully retired to their private sitting rooms at the White Hart Hotel, opposite the great Pump Room"
This magnificent inn (now gone) was owned in Dickens’s time by one ‘Moses Pickwick’ who also ran a coaching business from here. In the story, Sam Weller receives an invitation from his fellow footmen to a social evening described as a "leg o’ mutton swarry" and:
"Sam at once beetook himself into the presence of Mr.Pickwick, and requested leave of absence for that evening, which was readily granted. With this permission, and the street-door key, Sam issued fourth a little before the appointed time, and strolled leisurley towards Queen Square, which he had no sooner gained than he had the satisfaction of beholding Mr John Smaulker".
The companions walked together from Queen Square towards High Street, turning down a side street along the way. Clues lead to this tavern which was either: "the small greengrocer’s shop” in whose parlour the Bath footmen held their social evenings. Or the public-house from which, we are told, drinks including “cold srub* and water, gin and sweet water and a large bowl of punch" were fetched for that dignified occasion.
Either way, this is an interesting and atmospheric city centre pub. It was obviously known (and most likely frequented by Dickens) as is stands obliquely across a narrow road junction from the prominent city landmark of the Royal National Hospital for Rheumatic Diseases established in 1739.
Now bright and welcoming, like the man himself, Sam Wellers was closed for nearly a year for refurbishing. They keep a good range of real ales and home cooked food to order is available all day.

*Srub (or Shrub) is a drink made from orange or lemon juice, sugar, and rum or brandy."

SOURCE - (visit link)

"Sam Weller is a fictional character in The Pickwick Papers, the first novel by Charles Dickens, and is the character that made Dickens famous. Weller first appeared in the tenth serialised episode. Previously the monthly parts of the book had been doing badly—the humour of the character transformed the book into a publishing phenomenon. Weller's way of quoting people has led to the wellerism, often a type of proverb.

In chapter 10 of the novel, the eponymous hero Mr. Pickwick meets Sam Weller working at the White Hart Inn in The Borough and soon takes him on as a personal servant and companion on his travels. The relationship between the idealistic and unworldly Pickwick and the astute cockney Weller has been likened to that between Don Quixote and Sancho Panza."

SOURCE - (visit link)

Short Description: Sam Wellers' public house in Bath, possibly identified in Dicken's 'Pickwick Papers' Book Title: The Pickwick Papers First Year Published: 1836 Author's Name: Charles Dickens Name of Waymarked Item: Sam Wellers' pub Location of Item: Upper Borough Walls, Bath Link to more information about the book or waymarked item.: [Web Link] More Information: Not listed Admission Price?: Not Listed

Visit Instructions:
Post a photo of yourself at/with the waymark and describe your experience. List any changes to the waymark since the original posting.

Recent Visits/Logs:

There are no logs for this waymark yet.