Misplaced Pages

#108891

40-554: The Chequer Inn is a historic 15th Century coaching house (believed to date from around 1440) in the Conservation Area of the old market town of Steyning , in the Horsham District of West Sussex , United Kingdom . English Heritage has listed the building at Grade II for its architectural and historical importance. The Chequer Inn is timber-framed . The western half is a Crown post cross wing. The heavy sooting, seen on

80-457: A waterman . His occupation was one deemed unpopular by the literary elite of London. Watermen were known to be drunkards, and often gossips and liars, who attempted to cheat patrons into a higher wage for their service. This occupation would be crafted into an image for Taylor later in his career. After his waterman apprenticeship he served (1596) in the fleet of the Earl of Essex , and participated in

120-663: A book, ask for contributors, and write it when he had enough subscribers to undertake the printing costs. He had more than sixteen hundred subscribers to The Pennylesse Pilgrimage; or, the Moneylesse Perambulation of John Taylor, alias the Kings Magesties Water-Poet; How He TRAVAILED on Foot from London to Edenborough in Scotland, Not Carrying any Money To or Fro, Neither Begging, Borrowing, or Asking Meate, Drinke, or Lodging , published in 1618. Those who defaulted on

160-453: A chequer board indicated that a bar also provided banking services. The checked board was used as an aid to counting and is the origin of the word exchequer. In the 17th-century, ale houses and inns were required to hang out lanterns to help illuminate the street. In Steyning the hook at the end of the Chequer sign bracket was used to support the town lamp. The lamp was missing for many years but

200-428: A cock and bull story. However, there is no evidence to suggest that this is where the phrase originated. The phrase, first recorded in 1621, may instead be an allusion to Aesop's fables , with their incredible talking animals. John Taylor (poet) John Taylor was born in the parish of St. Ewen's, near South Gate, Gloucester on 24 August 1578. His parentage is unknown, as the parish registers did not survive

240-485: A merry Greek; At Primifisto , Post and Payre , Primero , Maw , Whip-her ginney, he's a lib'ral hero; At My-sow-pigged : but (reader never doubt ye) He's skilled in all games except Looke about ye. Bowles, Shove groat , Tennis , no game comes amiss, His purse a nurse for anybody is; Caroches, Coaches and Tobacconists, All sorts of people freely from his fists, His vaine expenses daily suck and soake, And he himself sucks only drink and smoake. And thus

280-557: A plastered division within the roof is often an indication of a mediaeval open hall. Some decorative, combed plasterwork can also be seen. This part of the building was probably built in the 15th century, or possibly a little earlier. Over the years, apart from supplying accommodation and a change of horses for passenger or mail coaches, the Chequer Inn also acted as a court house, gaol, auction room, post office, coroner's inquest office, trading post and an important local meeting place. In

320-417: A poet now survives Or else their lines had perish'd with their lives. Old Chaucer, Gower, and Sir Thomas More, Sir Philip Sidney, who the laurel wore, Spenser, and Shakespeare did in art excell, Sir Edward Dyer, Greene, Nash, Daniel. Sylvester, Beaumont, Sir John Harrington, Forgetfulness their works would over run But that in paper they immortally Do live in spite of death, and cannot die. He

360-407: A sign, otherwise he shall forfeit his ale." This was to make alehouses easily visible to passing inspectors, borough ale tasters, who would decide the quality of the ale they provided. The signs were illustrated so as to be identifiable to the mostly illiterate population. The name "The Checkers" or "The Chequers" originated from the design on the pub's sign; the design originated in ancient Rome, where

400-582: A week ; But now I think a man may daily see, More than the wherrys on the Thames can be. When Queen Elizabeth came to the crown, A coach in England then was scarcely known, Then 'twas as rare to see one, as to spy A Tradesman that had never told a lie. Taylor was also the first poet to mention the deaths of William Shakespeare and Francis Beaumont in print, in his 1620 poem, "The Praise of Hemp-seed". Both had died four years earlier. In paper, many

440-566: Is now central London . The only remaining one with the galleries to the bedrooms above is The George Inn, Southwark , owned by the National Trust and still run as a pub. Many have been demolished and plaques mark their location. The Nomura building close to the Museum of London on London Wall commemorates the "Bull and Mouth" Inn. The Golden Cross House, opposite St Martin's in the Fields recalls

SECTION 10

#1732872790109

480-618: Is probably the oldest Welsh coaching inn. Other historic inns in Wales include the Black Boy Inn (built 1522) and the Groes Inn (1573). The Bear, Oxford , was founded in 1774 as 'The Jolly Trooper' from the house of the stableman to the coaching inn 'The Bear Inn', on High Street . It acquired the name The Bear, and the history of the coaching inn, when The Bear Inn was converted into a private house in 1801. There were many coaching inns in what

520-484: Is supported by circular timber columns, built off a large Horsham stone step. Evenly spaced sash windows and a parapet complete the main frontage. Behind the parapet is a wide back gutter serving the large hipped roof of plain tiles, and two brick chimneys. To the rear there are three pitched roof wings, connected at their bases by wide valley boards. The building is an example of a triple bay oak timber-framed building having “ daub and wattle ” interior walling fitted within

560-704: The Capture of Cádiz in that year, and in a voyage to the island of Flores in the Azores in 1597. He spent much of his life as a Thames waterman , a member of the guild of boatmen that ferried passengers across the River Thames in London , in the days when the London Bridge was the only passage between the banks. His occupation was his gateway into the literary society of London, as he ferried patrons, actors, and playwrights across

600-574: The Civil War . He did, however, attend elementary school and grammar school there. His grammar school education may have taken place at the Crypt School in Gloucester, however Taylor never finished his formal education due to difficulties with his Latin studies. In the early 1590s, after his attempt at grammar school he moved from his home to south London, probably Southwark , to begin an apprenticeship as

640-503: The 1500s, solidified his career and public image, and his travels were often funded through bets made by the public as to whether he would complete his journey. He entertained no gout, no ache he felt, The air was good and temperate where he dwelt; While mavisses and sweet-tongued nightingales Did chant him roundelays and madrigals. Thus living within bounds of nature's laws, Of his long-lasting life may be some cause. [REDACTED]   This article incorporates text from

680-577: The 19th Century, the Inn had eight bedchambers, ranging from gentlemen's rooms with curtained four-post beds to the drovers' quarters containing straw beds or palliasses. About six servants also lived in the inn. There was a 25-foot mahogany dining table in the first floor dining room where meals of mutton, beef, pigeon, and pheasant were served. The Chequer Inn has a white painted frontage comprising two splayed bays, which are timber framed and faced with mathematical tiles. The timbered, flat roofed main entrance canopy

720-536: The Golden Cross, Charing Cross coaching inn. A pair of coaching inns along Watling Street in Stony Stratford are claimed to have given rise to the term " cock and bull stories ". The claim is that stories by coach passengers would be further embellished as they passed between the two hostelries, "The Cock" and "The Bull", fuelled by ale and an interested audience. Hence any suspiciously elaborate tale would become

760-465: The Most-at-thrice. At Irish , Tick tackle , Doublets , Draughts , or Cheese , He flings his money free with carelessnesse: At Novum, Mainchance, Mischance (chuse ye which), At One-and-Thirty , or at Poor-and-Rich, Ruffe , Slam , Trump , Whisk , Hole, Sant , New Cut. Unto the keeping of four knaves he'll put His whole estate at Loadum or at Gleeke , At Tickle-me-quickly, he's

800-523: The Prodigall himself alone Gives sucke to thousands and himself sucks non. He achieved notoriety by a series of eccentric journeys: for example, he travelled from London to Queenborough in a paper boat with two stockfish tied to canes for oars, described in "The Praise of Hemp-Seed", which was re-enacted in 2006. From his journey to Scotland in 1618, on which he took no money, Taylor published his Pennyless Pilgrimage . ( Ben Jonson walked to Scotland in

840-456: The Thames to the Bankside theatres. In 1620, Taylor claimed almost 20,000 men lived by this trade, including dependents and servants, and in 1641, he believed there were over 40,000 in the company itself. He became a member of the ruling oligarchy of the guild, serving as its clerk; it is mainly through his writings that history is familiar with the watermen's disputes of 1641–42, in which an attempt

SECTION 20

#1732872790109

880-582: The Watermen's Suit Concerning Players (written in 1613 or 1614). The move of theatres from the south bank to the north took a huge toll on Taylor's income, and despite at that time being in the company of the King's Watermen, he could not sway the king to prevent the move. He also addresses the coachmen, in his tract An Arrant Thief (1622); recent development of horse-drawn carriages with spring suspension, and use of them for hire on land, had taken much trade away from

920-686: The Younger, a Steyning brewer, was presented at the Manor Court of Charlton for contravention of local planning laws, in that he "made an encroachment on the High Street… Causing the Checker Inn, which hath in a great measure been rebuilt, to be brought considerably forward into the High Street." He was fined six shillings and eight pence (6s 8d) for this misdemeanor, but got away with the rebuilding. By

960-430: The educated elite and the urban working class, bridging a gap in early modern readership that valued quality over quantity. This "cultural amphibian" of a poet struggled with his own cultural identity, remaining on the sidelines of the educated elite, but firmly tied to his occupation as a waterman, which defined his career in literature. This struggle highlights for scholars the gap in readership and literary culture between

1000-424: The elite and working classes in early modern London. Despite his poor grasp of Latin, John Taylor aspired to be like his idols Thomas Nashe and Ben Jonson, and was heavily criticised by Jonson throughout his career for his lack of grace in his language. Despite failing to enter fully into the world of London's literary elite, Taylor developed a sense of authorial personality which survives his work, and may have been

1040-430: The end of the 18th century a Saloon was added; this was a room where for an admission fee or a higher price of drinks, singing, dancing, drama or comedy was performed and drinks would be served at the table. The stable yard is now a car park; at one time the town fire engine was housed there. In 1393 King Richard II created a law stating that "Whosoever shall brew ale in the town with intention of selling it must hang out

1080-535: The genesis of the "celebrity" of author, as he carefully crafted his public image throughout his career, beginning with his reworking of his otherwise frowned-upon occupation as a waterman into a name for himself as the King's "Water-Poet". Taylor provided a style of writing that was not bound by the constructs of classical learning, as most poets of the time would have been products of their grammar school education, whether they intended it or not. John Taylor's development of travel literature, which came into popularity in

1120-453: The oak timber frame. Only the North wing (Saloon Bar and Dining Room) of the building still retains the oak framing and original features on the ground floor. Many of the older timber-framed walls are visible upstairs. A carriage entrance was created, probably in the 17th century, by removing the north-west ground floor of room 39 and raising the first floor. This was needed because the Chequer Inn

1160-591: The public riding stagecoaches between one town and another, and (in England at least) the mail coach . Just as with roadhouses in other countries, although many survive, and some still offer overnight accommodation, in general coaching inns have lost their original function and now operate as ordinary pubs . Coaching inns stabled teams of horses for stagecoaches and mail coaches and replaced tired teams with fresh teams. In America, stage stations performed these functions. Traditionally English coaching inns were seven miles (11 km) apart but this depended very much on

1200-411: The same year.) He is one of the few credited early authors of a palindrome : in 1614, he wrote "Lewd did I live, & evil I did dwel". He wrote a poem about Thomas Parr , a man who supposedly lived to the age of 152 and died visiting London in 1635. He was also the author of a constructed language called Barmoodan . Many of Taylor's works were published by subscription ; i.e., he would propose

1240-520: The subscription were chided the following year in a scathing brochure entitled A Kicksey Winsey, or, A Lerry Come-Twang , which he issued in the following year. By wondrous accident perchance one may Grope out a needle in a load of hay; And though a white crow be exceeding rare, A blind man may (by fortune) catch a hare. — A Kicksey Winsey , part VII Taylor died in London in December 1653 aged 75. He

Chequer Inn - Misplaced Pages Continue

1280-555: The terrain. Some English towns had as many as ten such inns and rivalry between them was intense, not only for the income from the stagecoach operators but for the revenue for food and drink supplied to the passengers. Barnet , Hertfordshire still has an unusually high number of historic pubs along its high street due to its former position on the Great North Road from London to Scotland. The Black Lion in Cardigan (established 1105)

1320-801: The watermen. An Arrant Thief says: All sorts of men, work all the means they can, To make a Thief of every waterman : And as it were in one consent they join, To trot by land i' th' dirt, and save their coin. Carroaches, coaches , jades , and Flanders mares, Do rob us of our shares, our wares, our fares : Against the ground, we stand and knock our heels, Whilst all our profit runs away on wheels ; And, whosoever but observes and notes, The great increase of coaches and of boats, Shall find their number more than e'er they were, By half and more, within these thirty years. Then watermen at sea had service still, And those that staid at home had work at will : Then upstart Hell-cart-coaches were to seek, A man could scarce see twenty in

1360-445: Was a coaching inn and posting house with stabling for about a dozen horses, and there would have been a busy traffic in and out of this entrance. A separate Ostlers Cottage and a horse stable block stand at the back of the Inn. The Inn's timber-framed street frontage was destroyed when the Inn was enlarged in 1799. The addition provided extra rooms, and a brick front in keeping with 18th century fashion. The then tenant, John Stoveld

1400-658: Was a prolific poet, with over one hundred and fifty publications in his lifetime. Many were gathered into the compilation All the Workes of John Taylor the Water Poet (London, 1630; facsimile reprint Scholar Press, Menston, Yorkshire, 1973); augmented by the Spenser Society's edition of the Works of John Taylor ... not included in the Folio edition of 1630 (5 volumes, 1870–78). Although his work

1440-412: Was a vital part of Europe's inland transport infrastructure until the development of the railway , providing a resting point ( layover ) for people and horses. The inn served the needs of travellers, for food, drink, and rest. The attached stables, staffed by hostlers , cared for the horses, including changing a tired team for a fresh one. Coaching inns were used by private travellers in their coaches ,

1480-678: Was buried on 5 December at the church of St Martin-in-the-Fields . His widow, Alice, died in January 1658. Despite having been one of the most widely read poets in Stuart England, there is a disparity between Taylor's contemporary acclaim and his modern obscurity. His volume of work was immense, resulting in almost 220 titles by 1642. The reach of his work had been broad, due to its use of the vernacular and his many genres, including satires, moral essays, funeral elegies (including an elegy for James I), and travel literature. Taylor ferried himself between

1520-567: Was found & restored by the then landlord, Colin Garlic. A few years ago, before the Steyning bypass was built, the lamp was smashed by an over-laden timber lorry passing through the High Street. Local resident Alan Rogerson refurbished the lamp and it was restored to its rightful place. In 1653 the poet, John Taylor , who had travelled from Petworth to Steyning, wrote: Coaching house The coaching inn (also coaching house or staging inn )

1560-679: Was made to democratize the leadership of the Company. He details the uprisings in the pamphlets John Taylors Manifestation ... and To the Right Honorable Assembly ... (Commons Petition) , and in John Taylors Last Voyage and Adventure of 1641. Taylor discusses the watermen's disputes with the theatre companies (who moved the theatres from the south bank to the north in 1612, depriving the ferries of traffic) in The True Cause of

1600-470: Was not sophisticated, he was a keen observer of people and styles in the seventeenth century, and his work is often studied by social historians. An example is his 1621 work Taylor's Motto , which included a list of then-current card games and diversions: The prodigall's estate, like to a flux, The Mercer, Draper, and the Silkman sucks: The Tailor, Millainer, Dogs, Drabs, and Dice, Trey-trip, or Passage, or

#108891