PUBLIC HOUSES
This is a poem by H Wilkes depicts the number of public houses in Skipton in and around 1909
A Run Across the Signs
THERE’s my ‘Black Horse’
he’ll face the ‘Lion,
And make the ‘Bay Horse’ fly;
He’ll turn the ‘Wheat Sheaf’ upside down,
And drink the ‘Fountain’ dry.
He’ll leave a mark upon the ‘Fleece’,
Take shine out the ‘Star’,
And make ‘King William’ sue for peace
Before the ‘Castle Bar’.
He’ll crush the ‘Midland’
on his tour,
And make the 'Shepherd' scream;
Despatch ‘Commercials’ any
hour
To ‘Devonshire’ for cream.
He’ll twist the ’Cross Keys’
out of shape,
And fill the ’Nag’ with dread;
The ’Albion’ shall not escape;
The ’Hart’ must lose its head.
He’ll make the ’New Ship’ spring a
leak,
Give ’Craven Arms’ a jerk,
And make the ’King’s’ afraid to speak,
When ’Joiners’ are at
work.
He’ll straighten up the
’Rose and Crown’,
The ’Royal Oak’ must fall,
He’ll knock the ’Cock and Bottle’
down,
And close the ’Hole i’nt Wall’.
He’ll slip the ’Thanet’s ’ down
a nick,
And make the ’Heifer’ grin;
Then canter off and throw the ’Brick’
Beyond the ‘Railway Inn’.
He’ll make the ’Craven’
look forlorn,
And strain ’Old George’s’ hip,
Destroy that boasting ’Unicorn’,
And then upset the ’Ship’.
Skipton 1909
H Wilkes.