The Good Old British Pub

There has been for many years a debate over which is the oldest pub in Dover, of the one's in Dover at present there are three possibilities, The White Horse, The Bull Inn and the Cherry Tree. Whilst the first two look the part the Cherry Tree looks to modern, but there are early records of this pub being used for Cock Fighting matches.

British pubs are as much a part of England as 'fish & chips' or 'boiled beef and carrots' imitated world wide but how many pub customers realize the history behind both the pub and the sign which hangs outside. The Romans introduced pub signs to Great Britain, three Pub signs can be traced back to them; Taberna, a branch of greenery tied to a pole and placed outside a building would identify it as a taberna the sign called an alestake or a bush. Chequers, meaning that this was a alehouse where games like chess and draughts could be played. Vintner, a vintner was advertised using a picture of two slaves carrying an amphora of wine suspended on a pole between them.

The tradition carried on for over a thousand years naming inns, alehouses and taverns by the 12th century it was common place. In 1393 King Richard II decreed that pubs must have signs.  "Whosoever shall brew ale in the town (London) with the intention of selling it must hang out a sign; otherwise he shall forfeit his ale".

In the 12th and 13th century most of the population were illiterate so came the picture with the name.

An untrue old Dover saying is that Dover at one time had a pub for every day of the year, it still has plenty to this day the old ones are disappearing fast. One of the popular Roman names for a pub was the Chequers , there are two pubs with this name just outside Dover both on Roman Roads, one at Guston the other at Hougham, there is a great deal of history that can be traced using pub signs and names.