The Gate at Bournheath (2) - sign, 36 Dodford Road, Bournheath

Image: © P L Chadwick Taken: 10 Mar 2012

Throughout the 19th century and much of the 20th the pub was known as The Gate. Around the middle of the 20th century the brewery which then owned it renamed it The Gate Hangs Well. Possibly because this name is quite common in the Midlands, and also sometimes found as The Hanging Gate and The Gate Hangs High. It is thought to be connected to a pub's proximity to a church gate, toll gate or town gate, so perhaps there was a toll gate around here in the past. The sign in rural areas is sometimes a miniature five barred gate. On some signs there is also a verse, usually "The gate hangs well, and hinders none. Refresh and pay, and travel on". Originally the none was non and presumably the old pronunciation meant it rhymed with on. However, in the case of this pub, the verse was different, and ran: "The gate hangs well, To no man's sorrow, Pay today, And trust tomorrow". This verse could be seen on the sign at one time, but that disappeared twenty five years or more ago. In 1976 the pub was acquired by the present owners who took the decision to revert to the earlier name of The Gate. Image

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