Regency London

by Michele Ann
It's been a while since we visited London, but I thought we might have a change of scene.

Inns in our period were very important places. The larger ones were not only watering holes, but they were meeting places, transportation terminals and hotels.

The Talbot pictured here in 1810. This inn which was established in 1307 on the east side of Borough High Street in Southwark. A principal route in and out of London.

(Originally called the Tabard after a short coat, either sleeveless, or with short sleeves or shoulder pieces, which was a common item of men's clothing in the middle ages.)

The Tabard appears in Chaucer's Cantebury Tales as the place where the pilgrims gathered prior to setting out on their journey.

It was renamed after a fire destroyed it and it was rebuilt 1669.

It became a posting house, and a place for visitors to London to stay on the other side of the Thames opposite the city.

The gallery which runs around the inside of the courtyard of many these inns always reminds me of a modern motel.

The Cock Inn Leadenhall Street.

This is a lesser known inn according to my source "Inns and Taverns of Old London" and was thought to be originally a boys charity school - the carvings of small boys holding up the over-hanging second story giving it away. You can also make out the cockerel sign below the bay window. It is a beautiful building and still in existence during our period. It is a tavern rather than a coaching inn and would have provided food as well as a favourite libation.

That's all from me. Until next time, happy rambles.