Tuesday, February 16, 2010

Postcard Of The Week : The Black Lion, Ireby


This week seems to have turned into "News From Nowhere Pub Week". This was not my intention : however if there is one thing I have discovered in my years of blogging it is to go where the current takes you. At the moment the current is sweeping me towards the pub and I am not prepared to swim against that particular current. My vintage postcard for this week features a photograph of the main street of the township of Ireby in Cumbria. I have never visited Ireby, but from what I have read it is a charming spot with a 12th century church and fine views towards the Lake District mountains. According to what records I have been able to find, Ireby used to have two pubs : the Sun and the Black Lion. In keeping with the sad trend I seem to be highlighting this week, the Sun closed down a few years ago, but the Black Lion is still going strong  - although it has now been renamed "The Lion". I am not sure why it was thought necessary to change the name : the Black Lion is not an uncommon name for British pubs and relates to the heraldic sign of Philippa of Hainault, wife of King Edward III (1312 - 1377). Name changes aside, the Lion has a good reputation these days and gains an coveted entry in the annual Good Beer Guide published by the Campaign For Real Ale (CAMRA).

The postcard is from the collection put together by my Great Uncle Fowler. It was published by the firm of Beaty's of Carlisle in the first decade of the twentieth century. It was postally used in January 1907. It does look like a nice little place and a grand little pub. It is still snowing here at the moment, but in a month or twos time, when Spring is on a promise, maybe I will just take a trip up to Cumbria and pay both place and pub a visit.

22 comments:

  1. Anonymous1:15 PM

    Sounds like cause for a nice spring-time drive, yes...

    Not sure if there are any pubs but I've come across an old postal card an auntie of mine sent, when she was at Leeds University ( back round 1974 )..The card shows a picture of "Mickelgate Bar" in York (or so it alludes on the card back )...

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  2. Subby : Mickelgate Bar in York still very much exists and there are a fair few decent pubs within walking distance of it.

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  3. Anonymous1:45 PM

    Alan, ta! I did a google search and WOW! Wondering where my auntie may have stopped in for a pint...I'll have to make enquiries, I will...

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  4. I have a fair idea where she might have called in for a pint. I will return to the subject later in the week.

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  5. Anonymous1:57 PM

    Very good, sir!

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  6. It looks like a tinted card. It is a wonderful scene. I remember tinted cards over here but usually they left more black and white.

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  7. Yes, Larry, it is tinted. I'm not sure what type of process was used but I assume it was machine printed from a hand-tinted original.

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  8. Anonymous2:52 PM

    Alan, a hand-tinted old photo is next for the latest Sepia post ;)

    Grandma had a lot of those tinted postal cards( emphasis on...had... )Dunno where they got to...

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  9. What a delightful postcard. If you do visit the (Black) Lion, please give us a report!

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  10. ow there's a holiday to contemplate - a UK-wide pub crawl using your bus pass for free travel.

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  11. John : I will go and I will report back.
    CB : The bus pass is a good idea but, the way things are going, the pub would have closed down by the time I got there.

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  12. That hand-tinted card is beautiful! Our family has several old photos that are hand tinted...some better quality than others! LOL! I don't have any in my possession...too bad..they would be great for Sepia Saturday!

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  13. There's a pub that you haven't visited??? Goodness Me, you need to put that one straight!
    Nice postcard - fancy a visit myself

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  14. It looks so odd to see streets without verandahs on the shops or houses to protect them from the elements.

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  15. Nothing like a pub visit to get you through the rest of the day. I do so love pubs. There are precious few I've found in the states that are real pubs (not just glorified bars with greasy food). Sadly, none of them exist nearby. Hmmm, sounds like an excuse for a trip to me!

    Happy Tuesday,
    Jen

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  16. This is a beautiful pc. Your Uncle Fowler would be proud, showing it to all of us around the world!

    Super new puzzle header, Alan. I like.

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  17. Alan, if I ever find myself on your side of the pond and join you in a pub... in a few hours you may hear me singing this:

    Just a wee deoch an' doris,
    Just a wee drap, that's a'.
    Just a wee deoch an' doris,
    Before we gang awa'.
    There's a wee wifey waiting,
    And a wee but in vain.
    If you can say "It's a braw, bricht,
    Moonlicht nicht,"
    Well you're a' richt, d'ye ken!

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  18. I think we should arrange for the next meeting of the World Congress of Bloggers to take place in a good British pub. RSVP.

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  19. This is a great post and I agree we all should meet at a pub...

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  20. Anonymous2:00 AM

    Great postcard! I enlarged the photo and the detail is very nice.
    Stay warm : )

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  21. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/south_yorkshire/8518682.stm

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  22. With all of the interesting bar talk I am looking forward to a 'pub crawl' on you Island. and I don't drink! (hardly) -J

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