Take a look at the George and Pelican Inn on your right - or what’s left of one of the most legendary pit stops along the old London to Bath road. Back in the seventeenth century, this place was the “last chance saloon” for tired travelers, hungry riders, and anyone in need of a good story or a strong drink.
It actually started as two competing inns: The George and The Pelican. Think of them as neighbors who never quite decided which fence was whose. Eventually, they joined forces, though each kept its own flavor: maybe one specialized in ale, the other in hearty pies - a sort of early British drive-thru if you like.
In 1784, King George the Third himself dropped in - the kind of guest who didn’t exactly blend in. The place would have been buzzing, with locals craning their necks to catch a royal glimpse. A few decades later, radical William Cobbett attracted over 200 people for a meeting that spilled right out into the street, likely cutting into the inn’s profits on ale but raising a fair few voices for reform.
Alright, ready to stroll again
