Preston Pub Sign Study Ye Olde Original Withy Trees
@arthurchappell (44998)
Preston, England
October 29, 2016 12:43pm CST
Withy is just short for willow, and this Bamber Bridge area pub takes its name from the areas Willow Trees, as did a leading calico paper mill in the area. The pub was originally a farm house and its original pub name remained Withy Farm House for many years. The mill burnt down in 1859.
Willow withy branches are commonly used in basket making.
The emphasis on ‘Ye Olde’ is often used on new pubs to help create the delusion they are older and more traditional than they actually are but in this case the Ye Olde and the word original are due to another pub, the Irish Top House, cheekily changing its name to the Withy Trees though it later altered the name to the Withy Arms (WA) still staying close to the original to capitalize on the older bar’s popularity. The pubs are directly within sight of one another.
The tree looks rather woeful and fittingly weepy for a willow.
Arthur Chappell
6 people like this
7 responses
@41CombedaleRoad (5952)
• Greece
29 Oct 16
I am fascinated with pub names, I like to think they have some historical connections.
5 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
29 Oct 16
many do @41CombedaleRoad though more recent pubs just have meaningless randomly chosen names
1 person likes this
@JohnRoberts (109846)
• Los Angeles, California
29 Oct 16
This is certainly an unusual name. Had no clue was withy meant until your explanation.
4 people like this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
2 Nov 16
Weeping willow - that's a sad sounding name. I bet there are a lot of patrons in the pub that end up like weeping willows after a couple of pints.
1 person likes this
@allen0187 (58582)
• Philippines
5 Nov 16
@arthurchappell not a Harry Potter fan but I'm aware of those magical trees. Kinda wish that those trees were true so that the trees can protect themselves from those that recklessly cut them down and abuse the forests.
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
5 Nov 16
@allen0187 it would be great if they could defend themselves
1 person likes this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
2 Nov 16
I like the Womping Willow in the Harry Potter stories - an angry tree that beats up anyone getting near its branches @allen0187
1 person likes this
@Jessicalynnt (50523)
• Centralia, Missouri
31 Oct 16
I didnt know withy was willow, had heard the word, just thought it was a type I wasn't familiar with
2 people like this
@arthurchappell (44998)
• Preston, England
30 Oct 16
@Fleura it started out as specifically for willow branches suitable for basket making, but it has come to apply to willows in general for many people
2 people like this
@jennyjoy (1957)
• Bangalore, India
30 Oct 16
The weeping willow is a pretty tree,one of my favourites. The names and the designs are interesting information,more so since you give us a little background to it.
