Tonight, we popped in for a quick curry at our favourite restaurant for tea, so this gave me the opportunity to capture today's shot.
The answer to the question "how did this pub get its name?" lies in the date painted on the wall in this photograph, 1189AD. This was the year of ascension to the throne of King Richard the First, also known as Richard the Lionheart. One of his first acts as King was to crusade against the Saracens who at that time occupied the Holy Land. Nottingham Castle was a stronghold favoured by the King and legend has it that the brave Knights and men at arms who rallied to his call to fight in this Third Crusade, gathered at the Castle to rest before journeying to Jerusalem.
The pub is located at the bottom of the rocky outcrop that Nottingham Castle stood on then, and still does to this day. In fact many of the pub's rooms and cellars are hollowed out of the rock itself.
On the last thursday of every month, there are storytellers in one of the rooms of the castle, and in summer, Robin Hood walking tours start from the pub.
With Robin Hood traditionally thought to have been a supporter of King Richard, who fought to defend the King's name whilst he was away at the Crusades, it is not beyond imagination to think that he drank in this very pub.
Today, the pub has it's own eponymous ale, which us "locals" call Trip. It's a cracking pint!
I love these old pubs in your country, Sean. So much history and they are so well preserved and looked after. To think that Robin Hood once may have frequented this particular one makes me want to be able to step back in time (as long as I can come back of course ..).
