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Article by Richard Studeny, Notts CAMRA supremo
Originally called the Salutation but known in my
apprentice drinking days (circa mid / late 70s) as the
Sal.
Brewed its own ales in its early days
long ago these names were painted on the wall outside.
1240 AD is displayed on the apex
wall but apparently the first building on the site then belonged to
a tanner (someone who made animal skins into leather).
Their workshops were on the ground floor, with living accommodation
above for both the tanner and his workers a true
cottage style industry few and far between today!
1440 borough records recorded this date
as having a private dwelling on the site, belonging to a man named
John Alastre.
1649-1659 Puritans came to power and
formed the Commonwealth Government and were not very happy with the
religious implications suggested by the then pub sign
the Archangel Gabriel saluting the Virgin Mary so the
landlord was ordered to take it down or re-paint it! Not wishing to
totally change the sign, nor wanting to lose his license, the then
landlord renamed the pub: Soldier and Citizen.
1660 Restoration of the Monarchy the
old innkeeper brought back the old name Salutation, but
let the pub-sign of the Soldier and Citizen remain until
it fell apart then the greeting graphic was replaced by
picture of a handshake.
1937 Following an investigation by the
Thoroton Excavation Society, it was thought that the 9th century caves
beneath the pub were lived in by the local Saxon folk - the ghost
of a young four year old girl is rumoured to haunt the caves. Five
years ago, the landlord, who now has a pub in Chesterfield Market
Place, told me some weird goings on re hauntings of the pub
one was concerning his keys disappearing from the bar and then just
reappearing after hed been upstairs to check if hed
left them up there
and no one else was in the building at the
time
and hed not had a drink either! His wife would not
go down the deep cellar
shed only been down there once
and refused to go down there again following an experience,
but she became upset when I asked her to tell me more!
1966 Extensions to the pub led to a
wrought iron hand being put up outside, but this was unfortunately
stolen on the same night it was put up! (no CCTV in them there days
and I havent got it
honest!).
1992 Nottingham Universitys Department
of Archaeologys tree dating labs put a date of the oldest timber
(the inner ring) in the pub as being circa 1360 apparently
in those days timber was not left to season so that date is probably
an accurate estimate as to when the pub we know today was actually
built, and not 1240 as is stated on the apex wall (that was probably
the date of the first building on the site!).
1976-1981 regularly frequented by bikers and
the heavy-rock fraternity.
There have been two major refits since the early 70s
The latter being the introduction of a second public staircase allowing
access to the upstairs bar its a shame the windows on
Houndsgate have been blocked out by the upstairs bar
but there
again who wants to relax and enjoy a pint whist at the same time having
to stare at the city loop buses travelling down Maid Marian
Way at a snails pace during the rush-hour!
Within the last two years Tony Robinson and the Channel Four
Time Team programme tried to date all three pubs (the Bell, the Trip,
and the Sal) cant remember the outcome
but I think
the Bell was declared the oldest!)
Plaque near the Maid Marian Way entrances
states:
The present house was built c. 1240 on the site of the 13th
century Ale House known as The Archangel Gabriel Salutes the
Virgin Mary. During the first Civil War 1642-1646 part of the
house was used as Recruiting Rooms for both Factions. The original
still existing Cave Systems was probably Saxon Farm, latter used for
Servants Accommodation and Brewing. |
