The Saracens Head
Do you know that feeling of going somewhere every day and being so familiar with it that you don’t see something special or obvious – and then feeling delighted when you notice it? That’s what I want to do with my art.
I’ve been sketching Newton Abbot in an attempt to notice some of the historic features of the town and have a fabulous time along the way while doing it. Today was a trip down a side street to visit The Saracens Head. Tripadvisor has reviews of this pub saying “…the best Sunday lunch I have ever had in Newton Abbot”, “They sell Haribo as well as crisps!”, “I can’t give it more than 4 stars though because of the price of the bitter — £3.70.” (from 2008). I particularly liked the reviews which mentioned, “Wendy’s baps delicious!” and “My partner loved the Proper Job”, which may well confuse any of my readers outside the UK. I’m not sure that Wendy’s baps are still for sale as the food now appears to be Marie’s Homemade Devonshire pasties. The most recent review says “…something akin to a morgue or a hospital for infectious diseases”. I’ll definitely be popping in there this weekend.
Here’s the pub sign showing a bearded man’s head on the frontage from 1846.
The name Saracen means Muslim and the name Saracens Head is given to celebrate the killing of Muslims and Turks in the religious wars of the Crusades between 1100 and 1300. It’s traditional in England to name things after enemies we have killed in battle. Nelson’s Column in Trafalgar Square in London was built in the 1840s to celebrate our killing of many French and Spanish people in 1805. Our country’s full of such historic celebrations.
The name has taken an interesting twist recently due to convicted terrorist, Khalid Baqa, launching legal action, threatening pubs with a £2,000 compensation claim because he feels the name is racist, incites violence, and he is offended by it. Khalid Baqa, was jailed for four years in 2018 for preparing terrorist propaganda. Personally, I’m offended by him. Can I have compensation?
I hope you’ll enjoy noticing along with me.
Part of my Postcards from Newton Abbot series of postcard-sized ink and watercolour sketches.
Ink: Platinum brun sepia pigmented ink
Pen: Sailor Fude de Mannen fountain pen
Watercolour: Derwent Graphitint watercolours
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