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  Book Review of the "Shropshire Inn Signs - By: Alan Rose" From the "Salopian Recorder " No. 57 (Winter 2007) Page 10 Review: Spare a thought for Alan Rose whose onerous duty it has been to travel around the pubs and inns of Shropshire in his quest to delve into the fascinating history of the county’s hostelries and in particular their inn signs – research can be hell. In fact it is unlikely that anyone is better qualified to compile this new book. Alan is the Secretary of the Inn Sign Society whose members have been recording such information nationally. He clearly has an encyclopaedic knowledge of the stories lying behind the names and brings a national perspective to bear on the subject. However, Alan doesn’t approach the subject in a purely generic manner. Each alphabetically listed entry is specific to that particular inn and frequently reflects a local understanding of the inn name. The Dolphin Inn, St. Michaels Street, Shrewsbury, exemplifies this approach. The choice of name, given the inn’s distance from the sea, may seem somewhat inappropriate. But Alan explains that it’s likely origin is in the dolphins that appear on the arms of the Watermen’s Company, London. The inn was a favourite watering hole of those working and travelling on the nearby Shrewsbury and Newport canal. A more obvious link to that canal is the Canal Tavern a few hundred yards away in Castlefields. The book is littered with such fascinating insights. “Shropshire Inn Signs”, despite its references to earlier names of pubs and some recent disappearances, is essentially a reference book about existing establishments, unlike say LC Lloyd’s “Inns of Shrewsbury” which remains the standard work for those researchers needing to know about the many others long gone from the county town. Alan’s book is however completely up to date, as far as that is possible in the ever-changing world of pub names and is well illustrated with examples of the signs described. A book then to be savoured over a pint at the Rose & Crown, and to be carried on the reader’s person rather than left on the bookshelf, and a fine excuse, if one was needed, for exploring Shropshire’s magnificent heritage of inns and pubs. Reviewed by: Phil Scoggins - Acton Scott Heritage Project Officer Publisher: Tempus Publishing Ltd Price (UK): £12.99 ISBN: 0-7524-3843-3 The book is available directly from the publishers at: Tempus Publishing Ltd The Mill Brimscombe Port Stroud Gloucestershire (United Kingdom) GL5 2QG Tel: 01453-883300 E-mail:  |
