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16 Newcastle pubs signs – past and present – from the Three Bulls Head, to the Tap and Spile, to the Duke of Wellington. How many have you visited?
We return with the third and final part of our focus on Newcastle pub signs – past and present.
The photographs in our three features have been kindly shared with ChronicleLive by local historian Steve Ellwood.
He says: “Pub signs are perhaps an art form that isn’t always appreciated.
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“I’ve attempted to record them since the 2000s and a large number of them have subsequently changed owing to pubs being renamed.
“Pub names and their signs provide a unique link with history, often being associated with trade in the area, notable characters and historic events.”
So, in this selection of images, for example, we see the pub sign of The Hotspur on Newcastle’s Percy Street, named after the 14th century Northumberland-born knight, Sir Henry Percy (aka Harry Hotspur) while, across the city, Orchard Street’s The Telegraph reflects the immediate local area’s historic link with the Royal Mail.
Check out part one and part two of our pub sign features.
Steve Ellwood hails from Westerhope in Newcastle. He is a local historian, photographer, Newcastle City Guide, and member of the Society of Antiquaries of Newcastle. His three books – River Tyne; Newcastle in 50 Buildings; and 50 Gems of Northumberland – are published by Amberley. You can follow Steve on Twitter here.
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