The Inns and Taverns of "Pickwick": With Some Observations on Their Other AssociationsMatz, B. W. (Bertram Waldrom)
History
The Inns and Taverns of "Pickwick": With Some Observations on Their Other Associations
Matz, B. W. (Bertram Waldrom)
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870. Pickwick papers; Taverns (Inns) -- England
His grandson, Moses, became even more famous during the coaching era
than his foundling antecedent, and at the time Pickwick was written
he was the actual proprietor of the White Hart Hotel, as well as of
the coaches which ran to and from it. He became, also, the most
popular owner in the trade, and retired to the village of Upper
Swanswick a rich man. We believe the name is still perpetuated in
the neighbourhood.
Now it is known as a fact that Dickens took the name Pickwick from
the said Moses Pickwick the proprietor of the "White Hart," whose
coaches he had seen and ridden in a year or two previously. So that
apart from the brief references to the inn in The Pickwick Papers
its history is very much associated with the book.
Unfortunately, Dickens does not give us any minute description of
it, as he does of other inns. Although it was the most important
coaching house in the city, it could not be spoken of as particularly
attractive in appearance. It looked more like a barracks than an
hotel, indeed, we believe it was used for such a purpose in its
degenerate days before it was finally demolished in 1867.
During its prosperous era, it was the resort of all the distinguished
visitors who flocked to Bath during those gay and festive times.
There is still a relic of it in existence. The gracefully carved
effigy of a white hart, which decorated the front of the building,
now serves a similar purpose on an inn with the same name in the
suburb of Widcombe, near by. On the site of the old house now
stands the Grand Pump Room Hotel.
The Royal Hotel to which Mr. Winkle resorted, after his adventure
with the valorous Dowler, for the purpose of escape to Bristol by
the branch coach, probably never existed--at any rate, by that name.
Dickens may have had the "York House" in his mind, for he stayed
there himself on one occasion, and it was one of those ornate
hotels, accustomed to receiving royal and distinguished visitors,
suggesting such a title as Dickens gave it.
There is, however, a tavern in Bath which claimed--or was made to
claim--a Pickwickian association, and that is the Beaufort Arms.
The story in connection with it is that before it was a tavern it
was originally "the small greengrocer's shop" over which the Bath
footmen held their social evenings, and was, therefore, the scene of
the memorable "leg o' mutton swarry," given in honour of Sam Weller.
This may be so; we prefer to think that it was more likely to have
been the public-house from which, as we are told, drinks were
fetched for that dignified function.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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