The surrounding fields were the site of the Foubert Military Academy, a school that trained in the military arts, and was renown for their horsemanship skills. Major Foubert was a fencing master in Paris before fleeing the persecution of the Huguenots arriving in London in 1679. The Academy survived until 1820 when the area was redeveloped.
This included the now famous Carnaby street, which was originally a street market, until the designers, mods, and hippies arrived in the 1960's.
If the walls of the Shakespeare's Head could talk, what tales it could tell. It is reputed the missing hands of the bust leaning out of the window were lost as a result of a bomb that dropped nearby during WWII.
9 comments:
A dramatic history then!
My husband would love this pub! Quite an awesome history too.
Looks like a very interesting place to pop by and enjoy a pint in!
Pubs always have such fascinating stories to tell :)
I love learning the history of this place.
losing his hands would have made it tricky to hold a pint.
Great story behind this shot.
You tell us an absorbing tale today, Mo. Double Will Shakespeares.
Have not seen this but could well have passed by before I was a blogger and did not notice!!!
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