For hundreds of years, the public house in its many guises, from urban gin palace to wayside coaching inn, has been a charming and quintessential feature of British life, and hence the names and signs associated with pubs are a constant reminder of our history, cultural heritage, folklore and local identity. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Pub Names is a fascinating compilation containing nearly five thousand absorbing entries and can be dipped into for fun or consulted on a serious level for intriguing and amusing information not readily available elsewhere. The local pub is an institution unique to the British Isles, but since English literature abounds with references to hostelries past and present, real and imagined, and no tourist's itinerary is complete without a visit to one or several on their route, its virtues are celebrated worldwide and readers everywhere will enjoy an affectionate and, perhaps, nostalgic browse through the pages of this entertaining dictionary.
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 11 people found the following review helpful
By Potboy
Most of this book is simply the repetition of the very frequently inaccurate writings of previous authors on pub sign origins. The Fitzwarrens, for example, did NOT have the right to licence inns and alehouses, and this is therefore NOT why so many pubs are called the Chequers. John of Gaunt was one of the most unpopular men in England, and his use of a red lion is NOT why so many pubs are called the Red Lion ... and so on.
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
By Redactor
Amazon Verified Purchase
It's a thorough dictionary, definitely. The only thing I would have wished for would be a geographical grouping of the pubs, rather than simply an alphabetical one. But otherwise it's informative - just what you'd expect from the title.
7 of 9 people found the following review helpful
This book is large, and is simply done as a dictionary in A-Z style. There is no comments at the start or an introduction. Probably the best way to review is to take a sample at random and print it here as an example:
Cross Scytes: Totley, near Sheffield. Scythes were once made in this area.
The reference for the pub is followed by the location , and then a little description. Most of these are historical in nature- either something the area produced, or perhaps a previous function of the pub. Sometimes a little more information about the subject is give. For example he says that the Cyprus Pub was named at the time of the Island coming under British control.
He does not list sources, so I assume that the author has researched many of these pubs names himself, or perhaps is just drawing logical conclusions. For some entry he does say the name is debatable, and suggests some of the theories behind the current name. I actually found these references the most interesting!
Some of the references are shockingly out of date (despite claiming ot have been published in 2006.) He refers to "Riga" as a city with in the USSR! In some cases he mentions pubs such as the Grave Maurice in London that are now closed down. Occassional he also mentions pubs that had closed down at the time of writing.
This book would have benefitted from a map, or an index by region or town. This is a nice "pick up" book, and would be a good dift for EG an Uncle or Grandfather.
Cross Scytes: Totley, near Sheffield. Scythes were once made in this area.
The reference for the pub is followed by the location , and then a little description. Most of these are historical in nature- either something the area produced, or perhaps a previous function of the pub. Sometimes a little more information about the subject is give. For example he says that the Cyprus Pub was named at the time of the Island coming under British control.
He does not list sources, so I assume that the author has researched many of these pubs names himself, or perhaps is just drawing logical conclusions. For some entry he does say the name is debatable, and suggests some of the theories behind the current name. I actually found these references the most interesting!
Some of the references are shockingly out of date (despite claiming ot have been published in 2006.) He refers to "Riga" as a city with in the USSR! In some cases he mentions pubs such as the Grave Maurice in London that are now closed down. Occassional he also mentions pubs that had closed down at the time of writing.
This book would have benefitted from a map, or an index by region or town. This is a nice "pick up" book, and would be a good dift for EG an Uncle or Grandfather.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
3.0 out of 5 stars
Dictionary of Pub names
Exactly what i expected,but seem to be a lot of ommissions and could be more comprehensive - some more research needed
Published 5 months ago by Mrs V Graham
4.0 out of 5 stars
Good reference book
Although not all unusual names are included, and its always the one you want that is not included, this is an interesting book that can be taken in car when travelling.
Published 5 months ago by Kizzy
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Dictionary Of Pub Names
Definitely worth buying as a reference book. The information is very detailed and the author has taken a lot of time to ensure the accuracy of the information. Read more
Published 13 months ago by jonboy
4.0 out of 5 stars
Going down the pub.
Does what it says on the cover, the pubs are listed alphabetically, except the Dog and Badger, Maulden, and all the 'The' pubs are relocated by second name. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Mr. Matthew N. Woodhouse
4.0 out of 5 stars
The Dictionary of Pub Names
Very, very interesting. I can bore people no end, with all these facts. Thanks
Published on 28 Sep 2009 by Mrs. L. P. Boorman
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