DOVER KENT ARCHIVES
Return PUBLIC HOUSES Paul Skelton
UNKNOWN PUB 17

Can anyone identify this pub please?

From an Email received on 11 October, 2012.

Greetings from Charleston, South Carolina here on the southeast coast of America!

I've attached a photo of an interesting sign that I've seen, but I can't find any information online about it. It measures 31 inches by 45 inches and weighs about 40 pounds. I have to opportunity to buy it but am cautious until I can find out any information.

Can you tell just by looking at it if it is an original sign? It does look old to me. Might you know the timeframe that it's from?

I'd be very appreciative of any information you can provide.

Sincerely,

John Lewis

Bridge House Fremlins signBridge House Fremlins sign

 

That wasn't the only email I received regarding the same signs, I received this one as well.

 

Sir,

Good afternoon from the US!

I am the proud owner of what I believe is an English Pub sign promoting Fremlin's Ale and the "Bridge House". I acquired the sign a number of years ago from an antique dealer in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. The sign is approximately 45" high, 31" wide and weighs approximately 40 pounds (US). It is a two sided sign.

The "best side" is in what I consider to be in relatively good shape. There is definitely some peeling of the paint but not in areas that really obscure the print or colors on the sign. The "poorer side" has significant paint damage. However, since I have been displaying the sign on a wall, the damage was of no real concern to me.

I happened upon your web site while I was attempting to learn more about Fremlin's Ale. I am sending you photos of the sign in hopes of learning more about Fremlin's (your web site has already been a great deal of help!) and on the off chance that you might be familiar with the "Bridge House" although I assume that is probably a fairly common pub name. If you have an estimate of the signs age that too would be appreciated.

Any information you are able to provide would be of great interest to me. Additionally, any estimate of the signs value would be helpful since I have not ruled out placing the sign up for sale.

With warmest regards,

Robert Neely

Fayetteville, North Carolina, USA.

 

 

Well, it certainly looks original to me, but how it got to travel to South Carolina I have no idea.

If anyone knows where the pub used to be or indeed the years that it may have been hung outside the pub please get back to me and I'll post the answer here.

Paul Skelton.

 

From an email received 19 October, 2012.

I have one possibility that it may have been at Gillingham, Kent – sometime prior to 1974.

Regards,

Brian Curtis. (Inn Sign Society).

 

 

Further research, which actually comes from this web site, gives a "Bridge House Tavern" in Canterbury, which is certainly in the right area for Fremlins. The pub itself nearly burnt down in 1968 but was rebuilt and reopened as the "Phoenix" and is still operating today. However, I do not yet know whether this house was ever supplied by Fremlins, but at least the research continues. I will say that Whitbread bought out Gardeners brewery in 1968 and the "Bridge House Tavern" was a Gardeners pub. Whitbread had also bought out Fremlins in 1967 but continued to use their name.

 

If anyone should have any further information, or indeed any pictures or photographs of the above licensed premises, please email:-
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