Reading through eighteenth and nineteenth-century sources, a great deal of Deptford life seemed to take place in pubs. I don't mean in the Eastenders sense, although no doubt plenty of personal dramas were played out in the local bars. However, any number of organisations and societies also used hostelries for committee and subscriber meetings, political and residents' meetings, and even job interviews.
The Swan Hotel in the High Street was the venue for some of these meetings. A walk round the side of the building suggests that another group met there too, for alongside the name of the building are four Masonic symbols. (From left to right: the square and compasses; the plumb and level; the Temple of Solomon? and the hexagram.)
The Swan Hotel in the High Street was the venue for some of these meetings. A walk round the side of the building suggests that another group met there too, for alongside the name of the building are four Masonic symbols. (From left to right: the square and compasses; the plumb and level; the Temple of Solomon? and the hexagram.)
3 comments:
Intriguing. How observant you are. And wasn't it at an inn in Deptford that Christopher Marlowe met his death?
You're right, it was - probably the most exciting thing to happen in a Deptford pub!
As for being observant, I won't tell you how many times I walked past before I really noticed those symbols...
did you ever find out why the masonic symbols were on display being as how secretive the masons are, they are for craft and Royal Arch masonry,
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