A historical site about early London coffee houses and taverns and will also link to my current pub history site and also the London street directory
THE ROBIN HOOD.
Mr. Akerman describes a Token of the Robin Hood Tavern : — " iohn thomlinson at
the. An archer fitting an arrow to his bow ; a small figure behind, holding an
arrow. — ft. in chiswell street, 1667. In the centre, his halfe penny, and i. s.
t. Mr. Akerman continues :
" It is easy to perceive what is intended by the representation on the obverse
of this token. Though ' Little John/ we are told, stood upwards of six good
English feet without his shoes, he is here depicted to suit the popular humour —
a dwarf in size, compared with his friend and leader, the bold outlaw. The
proximity of Chiswell-street to Finsbury-fields may have led to the adoption of
the sign, which was doubtless at a time when archery was considered an elegant
as well as an indispensable accomplishment of an English gentleman. It is far
from obsolete now, as several low public-houses and beer-shops in the vicinity
of London testify. One of them exhibits Robin Hood and his companion dressed in
the most approved style of ' Astley's/ and underneath the group is the following
irresistible invitation to slake your thirst : —
" Ye archers bold and yeomen good,
Stop and drink with Robin Hood :
If Robin Hood is not at home,
Stop and drink with little John."
" Our London readers could doubtless supply the variorum copies of this elegant
distich, which, as this is an age for i Family Shakspeares/ modernized Chaucers,
and new versions of ' Robin Hood's Garland' we recommend to the notice of the
next editor of the ballads in
praise of the Sherwood freebooter."
References :
Lots of references are made to two sources on the
internet archive
:
Edward Callows, Old London Taverns &
John Timbs, Club life of London Volume 2
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London pubs history rebuilding.