Sign for the Lion and Swan

Image: © Jonathan Kington Taken: 15 Dec 2010

This is the sign attached to Image Although both the lion and the swan feature heavily in heraldry, the lion depicting strength and courage and the swan being a lover of poetry and music, they also have links with the Church in that the lion depicts the dignity of Christ with the swan standing for innocence; the Church and the inn have always been closely related with early monastic institutions often having a hostelry attached to them. In this case, however, the Lion and the Swan were two adjacent public houses that merged in the 18th century, so there are two separate interpretations of this name. But we mustn't forget, and this is very important, the spectre of the brown haired young lady who appears every new moon wearing nothing but a smile and a pair of clogs! On a more mundane, but equally as important note- there is a bench mark on the wall directly below this sign (Image).

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