|
The Dewdrop Inn, Wick - replacing a treasured piece of history The Dewdrop Inn in the coastal town of Wick in West Sussex
wanted to replace their old double sided, hand painted inn sign that had been battered by salt spray from the sea over many years. Not only did the sign hold much sentimental value for the pub's owner Steve Morrell
(it had been up for longer than he'd been running the pub) but it was also a significant slice of local history in itself. It was painted by Ralph Ellis, an Arundel based artist, whose reputation travels way
beyond the South Coast of England. Associated with various breweries as a sign writer, he first started painting after the First World War, and painted hundreds of pictorial inn signs over the years. So rare are his pub signs now -
especially after the decimation of so many original features by large pub chains concerned more with profit than preservation - that Arundel Museum
only had one on display, despite their best efforts to source more. Most have been destroyed as they were replaced, so it was a real pleasure to meet a landlord with the sense of forethought and responsibility that lies on us all to preserve items like this, not only for future generations but for us, today. It is today (29.07.05) that
Nick Hallard was told that the original Dewdrop Inn sign will be joining the only other Ralph Ellis inn sign on display at Arundel Museum. Nick Hallard
was tasked with recreating the image on both sides, on a new piece of wood (the original is on metal, which has sadly added to its deterioration), to fit the original frame. The results are below. |
|
