Full rig
The Ship is a pub of the 1880s in a brick and stucco Italianate style that fits well with the look of late-Victorian and turn-of-the-century London. But, in true public house fashion it stands out from the crowd with ornate pilasters, capitals, pediments, scrolls, and other details that make the building shine.
And, as a business that was part of the massive construction boom that hit the capital in the late-19th century, a pub certainly needed to stand out to attract custom. What above all helps this building achieve this is the plaster sign, showing the ship in almost full sail, slicing its way across the waves in front of a pale but grimy sky. It’s carefully framed by the architecture, vigorously modelled, and an eye-catching alternative to the conventional hanging pub sign. Splice the mainbrace!
8 comments:
Ooh I do like this. And those other plaques and lanterns, although this is the first time I've heard of Wenlock Ales. Hopefully drunk by Housman and Vaughan Williams.
Peter: An entry on the Beer in the Evening website says that the Wenlock brewery was taken over by Charingtons in 1961.
It was based in Shoreditch. I'm not sure if there is much - if any - connection with Shropshire (Wenlock Edge, Much Wenlock, and, via the Wenlock Olympian Games, the 2012 Oympic mascot!).
I think the brewery was on Wenlock Road, just off the City Road, about half way between the Angel and Old Street tube stations. There is still a Wenlock Arms nearby. It was acquired by Bass in 1961 (who had been supplying it with beer for several years), and it stopped brewing in 1962. Bass merged with Charrington a bit later.
Anon: Thanks for clearing that up. Sounds as if it was named after the road, rather than directly after Much Wenlock in Salop.
I take it you imbibed therein? How could one not be seduced by such signage. I agree with Mr.A that the Bass lanterns and plaques give such a 'come on' - booze and conviviality advertising at its finest - please don't tell me that the building is now an optician's/burger bar/mobile phone shop and not a pub!
Jon: It's still a pub all right, but wasn't open when I passed - it seems to be closed at weekends, oddly. However, I'm sure I'll pass it again as it's not too far from some of my usual London stomping grounds.
Pub closes for the weekends. They always have, my friend inherited from his father when he passed about 13 yrs ago. There is not really enough weekend business to keep it open as they told me, all i remeber is that they would come down at the weekends and we d hang out.
Anon: Thanks for that. I guess the pub's main clientele is people working in local offices etc.
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