| Ye Olde Salutation Inn - Interior |
|
|
|
|
|
Article by Richard Studeny, Notts CAMRA supremo
Originally called the 聭Salutation聮 聳 but known in my
apprentice drinking days (circa mid / late 70聮s) as 聭the
Sal聮.
Brewed its own ales in its early days 聳
long ago these names were painted on the wall outside.
聭1240 AD聮 is displayed on the apex
wall but apparently the first building on the site then belonged to
a 聭tanner聮 (someone who made animal skins into leather).
Their workshops were on the ground floor, with living accommodation
above for both the 聭tanner聮 and his workers 聳 a true
聭cottage聮 style industry 聳 few and far between today!
1440 聳 borough records recorded this date
as having a private dwelling on the site, belonging to a man named
John Alastre.
1649-1659 聳 Puritans came to power and
formed the Commonwealth Government and were not very happy with the
religious implications suggested by the 聭then聮 pub sign
聳 the Archangel Gabriel saluting the Virgin Mary 聳 so the
landlord was ordered to take it down or re-paint it! Not wishing to
totally change the sign, nor wanting to lose his license, the then
landlord renamed the pub: 聭Soldier and Citizen聮.
1660 聳 Restoration of the Monarchy 聳 the
old innkeeper brought back the old name 聭Salutation聮, but
let the pub-sign of the 聭Soldier and Citizen聮 remain until
it fell apart then the 聭greeting graphic聮 was replaced by
picture of a handshake.
1937 聳 Following an investigation by the
Thoroton Excavation Society, it was thought that the 9th century caves
beneath the pub were lived in by the local Saxon folk - the ghost
of a young four year old girl is rumoured to haunt the caves. Five
year聮s ago, the landlord, who now has a pub in Chesterfield Market
Place, told me some weird goings on re hauntings of the pub 聳
one was concerning his keys disappearing from the bar and then just
reappearing 聳 after he聮d been upstairs to check if he聮d
left them up there聟and no one else was in the building at the
time聟and he聮d not had a drink either! His wife would not
go down the deep cellar聟she聮d only been down there once
and refused to go down there again following 聭an experience聮,
but she became upset when I asked her to tell me more!
1966 聳 Extensions to the pub led to a
wrought iron hand being put up outside, but this was unfortunately
stolen on the same night it was put up! (no CCTV in them there day聮s
and I haven聮t got it聟 honest!).
1992 聳 Nottingham University聮s Department
of Archaeology聮s tree dating labs put a date of the oldest timber
(the inner ring) in the pub as being circa 1360 聳 apparently
in those days timber was not left to season so that date is probably
an accurate estimate as to when the pub we know today was actually
built, and not 1240 as is stated on the apex wall (that was probably
the date of the first building on the site!).
1976-1981 聳 regularly frequented by bikers and
the heavy-rock fraternity.
There have been two major refits since the early 70聮s 聳
The latter being the introduction of a second public staircase allowing
access to the upstairs bar 聳 it聮s a shame the windows on
Houndsgate have been blocked out by the upstairs bar聟 but there
again who wants to relax and enjoy a pint whist at the same time having
to stare at the 聭city loop聮 buses travelling down Maid Marian
Way at a snails pace during the rush-hour!
Within the last two year聮s Tony Robinson and the Channel Four
Time Team programme tried to date all three pubs (the Bell, the Trip,
and the Sal) 聳 can聮t remember the outcome聟 but I think
the Bell was declared the oldest!)
Plaque near the Maid Marian Way entrances
states:
聯The present house was built c. 1240 on the site of the 13th
century Ale House known as 聭The Archangel Gabriel Salutes the
Virgin Mary.聮 During the first Civil War 1642-1646 part of the
house was used as Recruiting Rooms for both Factions. The original
still existing Cave Systems was probably Saxon Farm, latter used for
Servants Accommodation and Brewing聰. |
|
|
|
|
|
