Fancy an Old Speckled Hen?

What a great photo - the Morland Brewery, circa 1912. Just a wee bit before they started turning out Old Speckled Hen.

Interested in the old days in Abingdon, check out a great facebook page - click HERE. This is where this image came from, via Stephan Skurray - many thanks. Stop by - many fine historic images.

Got the Gout? Read On...

In the Parish of Godstone [in Surrey County, England], about three miles from the village, at the foot of Tilburstow-Hill, is a small ale-house called the Iron Pear Tree. A person residing there sunk a well in the garden, the water of which was found to be unfit for common use; but it was said to have cured a man who drank of it, of the gout.
Great quantities of this water were sent to London where it was sold at the rate of sixpence a quart.
(From the book "The History of Surrey" by John Britton, London, 1844)

So, there you go. Got the Gout - stop by the Iron Pear Tree pub for a couple of pints. Ale or water - your choice.
Cheers,
Dave

Cock Ale (hee, hee!)

Here's a craft beer for you - Cock Ale (oh, stop giggling)...

This recipe is from an ancient book on brewing techniques, published in England in 1744. This recipe consists of basically three steps:

1. Take a six-month old rooster, truss him up and throw him in a pot to boil. When done be sure to squeeze him well - apparently to get all the flavor!

2. Take the raisons, dates, nutmegs (sic), and mace, and infuse them in a quart of "Canary," which I think refers to red wine from the Canary Islands.

3. Now, take a 12-gallon cask of Ale, toss in the rooster juice and fruits, add some ale yeast, and let the whole thing work for a day or two, depending on the weather.

Tap the cask and enjoy a pint of Cock Ale, which according to the recipe: "Contributes much to the Invigorating of Nature." Why, yes indeed! Ask your local craft brewer to mix up a batch.

Cheers,

Dave

Hmmm? Now That's Strange....

Seems there is a pub in the UK that has been shuttered since 2011, but is still getting Trip Advisor reviews many years later. Folks reviewed such things as the Sunday roast, and noted the poor service. Hmmm?

Click HERE for the link to the BBC.

They Say This Is The Highest Pub In England

At 1,772 (540m), the Cat and Fiddle pub is said to be the highest pub in England. It is situated on a moor between Buxton, Derbyshire and Macclesfield, Cheshire. This photo shows the pub circa 1894. Supposedly, there is a pub in Yorkshire that claimed to a few feet higher.
Cheers,
Dave

What Was Your First .... British Car, That is?

Well, my first was a 1968 Sunbeam Alpine Mk V. I paid 600 bucks for it, which was quite a little bit of money for a teenaged kid who was sacking groceries part time for a living. It was just in Ok shape and was often a maintenance nightmare, but I loved every minute I owned that car. I totaled it a couple of years later.

When I tell people I had an Alpine many comment that it was “too bad it wasn’t a Tiger.” Well yes, I suppose so. But I have always thought that the Tiger was not quite the “Brit” car that an Alpine was, after all one must fiddle with a pair of Zenith Strombergs from time to time (Not a Holley 650 Double Pumper - or whatever the Ford V8 has on it. Driving a reasonably powered British roadster with spirit takes a bit more skill that having gobs of power under the hood.

Today, Tigers have become stupid expensive - stooopid expensive - no longer attainable by your average Joe or Jill. I find super expensive cars only semi-interesting. I look at them, and then move on to something that I could possibly attain.

Cheers All,

Dave

Sunbeam Alpine. I love that single spot light.