Salisbury Civic Society and the Salisbury and South Wilts branch of CAMRA will be collaborating on a themed programme, entitled Salisbury’s Historic Pubs and Inns, for the Heritage Open Days in September.
Heritage Open Days is England’s largest festival of history and culture. It’s a chance for the public to see hidden places and try out new experiences.
The Salisbury events will be a great opportunity to learn more about Salisbury’s fascinating pubs, history and architecture. All events are free, although you must book the tours as numbers are limited.
The events
The Wyndham Arms: first home of Salisbury’s Hop Back Brewery
Hop Back brewery, whose beers include Summer Lightning, one of the UK’s most awarded beers, started life 30 years ago at the Wyndham Arms. As part of a series of events to mark the 30th anniversary of the brewery, the Wyndham Arms and the Hop Back Brewery will have an exhibition, in the upstairs function room of the pub. There is also more to see on the history of the pub and the brewery throughout the downstairs area, plus the full range of Hop Back beers (including Summer Lightning) to taste. The Wyndham Arms is the local CAMRA branch pub of the year 2017.
Exhibition dates: September 7-10
Salisbury Pub Heritage Walks
The centre of Salisbury once had more than 70 pubs and there are more than 300 pub names associated with its historic buildings. The walks will be led by Ed Garman, of CAMRA, and will include a refreshment stop en route.
Tours: Friday, September 8, 5.30pm-7pm, and Saturday, September 9, 5.30pm-7pm. Places are limited to 14 per tour and must be booked via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/salisbury-pub-heritage-walks-tickets-34879397216
Lost and Found: An Exhibition of Salisbury’s Historic Pubs and Inns
With the startling demise of many pubs, local artist Fred Fieber decided, after years of aimless specialist research in darkened bars, to capture Salisbury’s pubs in his drawings. Fred has now completed more than 80 drawings of Salisbury’s lost and existing pubs. The Public Library, the venue for the exhibition, is on the site of one of Salisbury’s lost inns — the Maidenhead — but parts of its 15th century roof and fireplace can still be found. Copies of Fred’s drawings will be available for sale from the library.
Exhibition dates: September 2-9, ground floor, Salisbury Public Library.
The Rai d’Or: unveiling by Phil Harding of a blue plaque commemorating Agnes Bottenham
At 12.15pm, on Thursday September 7, local archaeologist Phil Harding will be unveiling a Salisbury Civic Society blue plaque outside the Rai D’Or pub and restaurant, dedicated to Agnes Bottenham, 14th century publican and founder of nearby Trinity Hospital. Phil is well known for his appearances in Time Team and his support for heritage and beer. The Rai D’Or is a listed 16th century building (on the site of an earlier pub owned by Agnes Bottenham). In the medieval period the area was the red-light district, with Love Lane, around the corner, the centre of the trade. The name Rai d’Or, meaning ray of golden light, was anglicised to Rydedorre, which was its name in the time of Agnes. Its current name is a reversion to the most original form of the pub name.
In search of Romano-British beer: a Heritage Open Day lecture at Salisbury Rugby Club
The origins of our national drink discussed on Thursday, September 7, 7pm for a 7.30pm start, at Salisbury Rugby Club, the local CAMRA club of the year. The bar will be open for refreshments. Alison Freezer will be talking about the evidence we have for beer in the Romano-British period.
The Haunch of Venison pub tours
This mid-15th century building is one of Salisbury’s most historic and atmospheric pubs, and is listed in CAMRA’s National Inventory of Historic Pub Interiors. Hidden away behind the upstairs restaurant and not normally accessible to the public, is the Churchill Bar, or Cloisters Bar and Grill, where it is said Winston Churchill and Ike Eisenhower took refreshment when staying at Wilton House and planning the invasion of Europe during the Second World War. Visitors will be able to visit this bar only during these tours.
Tours: Thursday, September 7, 4.30pm-5pm; Friday, September 8, 4.30pm-5 pm. Places are limited to 12 per tour and must be booked via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tours-of-the-haunch-of-venison-pub-salisbury-tickets-34880736221
The Former Three Crowns Inn, Harnham
This former pub is now a family-run guest house and was a winner of a 2016 conservation award from the Salisbury Civic Society. This partly 18th century listed grade II building had been derelict for some years before its restoration. What made the conservation work stand out was the rescue of some remarkable and elaborate 18th century plasterwork within the building’s main room, now the guest house dining room. This plasterwork will be viewed during the tours.
Tours: Thursday, September 7, 1pm and 2pm; Friday, September 8, noon, 1pm and 2pm. laces are limited to 12 per tour and must be booked via https://www.eventbrite.com/e/tours-of-the-former-three-crowns-inn-tickets-34111095204
