Swan - Bayswater Road, Paddington, London, UK.
N 51° 30.694 W 000° 10.608
30U E 695898 N 5710494
This is a fairly standard White Swan sign. There is a copy of the hanging sign painted onto the front wall of the pub too.
Waymark Code: WMD2DR
Location: London, United Kingdom
Date Posted: 11/09/2011
Views: 11
The Swan was a favourite motif of Henry VIII and Edward III so there is always a possibility that a pub sign featuring a swan was a nod in the direction of that particular royal. It is also featured in the arms of The Vintners' Company, the Poulters' Company, the Musicians' Company and the Earl of Essex too.
Alternatively, it could be simply be a tribute to the heaviest flying bird in the world.
The following is cut and pasted from Master Marriner's visit:-
'There is now an information board for the pub that reads:'
"The Swan
The Swan is the last relic of Flora Tea Gardens and Skittle Alley and stood on the site for over 300 years.
The first documented evidence of a licensed inn keeper is on a licensed victualler list for 1721.
As a coaching inn it is reputed to have been the final drinking place for victims of the gibbet at Tyburn Gallows which we now know as Marble Arch. Claude Duval the famous highwayman who was very active on the London to Edinburgh Road is alleged to have had his final drink here before being hanged at Tyburn in 1670."
Name of Artist: Not known.
Date of current sign: Not known.
Date of first pub on site: Not known.
|
Visit Instructions:
To log a visit, a photograph of yourself or your GPSr by the pub sign is required. Some description of your visit would be welcome.