North Sedgemoor Local History Group is to hold special illustrated talk exploring the stories behind pub signs in the Burnham-On-Sea area.
The title of the talk, by Nigel Craik, will be ‘The Language of Inn Signs’ and will include several local examples.Nigel says: “We see inn signs around us every day, but how often do we stop and consider where they came from and how they might inform – or mislead – about our history?”
“Pub signs have been around at least since Roman times. Over the centuries they have multiplied and metamorphosed so that they are sometimes now barely recognisable for what they once were.”
“During recent times there has been a fashion for corporate uniformity and reliance on ‘text only’ signs.”
“However there are now some indications of a welcome revival of graphic and imaginative signage.”
His talk aims to show a sample of the wide variety of developments in inn signage over the centuries and “some of the associated history, fact, fiction, puzzlement and humour”.
The talk will be illustrated with examples of signs from around the country, but with a particular focus on our area, and including some of what we know about the inns and taverns of Burnham-On-Sea past and present. Visitors will be welcome at a charge of £2.
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