The history of the Ye Old Trip To Jerusalem Pub.
Its painted sign states that it was established in 1189 AD, however there is no documentation to verify this date, and the main building, built on the foundations of earlier constructions, is about three hundred years old. The pub is located at the foot of Castle Rock in Nottingham's City Centre and much of the fabric of the building is carved out from the living rock on which the castle above stands.
According to local legend it takes its name from the 12th Century Crusades to the Holy Land. Legend has it that knights who answered the calls of King Richard I to join the crusades stopped off at this watering hole for a pint on their way to Jerusalem. It is even claimed that Richard himself frequented the pub although this is probably merely legend as the king spent little time in the country. However, the word "trip" in the pub's name does not mean an entire journey; it derives from an older meaning of the word: a stop during a journey (i.e. "break in the journey to the Holy Land").
Famous for its caves, it is carved out of the soft sandstone rock against which the building is set. The larger ground level caverns are now used as the pub's rear drinking rooms. There is also a network of caves beneath the building, originally used as a brewery. They do seem to date from around the time of the construction of the castle (1068 AD).
(Fig 1)
Curses
The cursed galleon is a small wooden model of a ship in the Rock Lounge in the pub. It is claimed that people who have cleaned it have all met a mysterious death. Landlords have refused to allow anyone to dust the ship over the years, allowing inches of thick grime to build up on it. The galleon is now encased in glass. According to the landlady the last three people who have cleaned it are said to have died mysterious and unexpected deaths within 12 months of doing so.
Its painted sign states that it was established in 1189 AD, however there is no documentation to verify this date, and the main building, built on the foundations of earlier constructions, is about three hundred years old. The pub is located at the foot of Castle Rock in Nottingham's City Centre and much of the fabric of the building is carved out from the living rock on which the castle above stands.
According to local legend it takes its name from the 12th Century Crusades to the Holy Land. Legend has it that knights who answered the calls of King Richard I to join the crusades stopped off at this watering hole for a pint on their way to Jerusalem. It is even claimed that Richard himself frequented the pub although this is probably merely legend as the king spent little time in the country. However, the word "trip" in the pub's name does not mean an entire journey; it derives from an older meaning of the word: a stop during a journey (i.e. "break in the journey to the Holy Land").
Famous for its caves, it is carved out of the soft sandstone rock against which the building is set. The larger ground level caverns are now used as the pub's rear drinking rooms. There is also a network of caves beneath the building, originally used as a brewery. They do seem to date from around the time of the construction of the castle (1068 AD).
(Fig 1)
Curses
The cursed galleon is a small wooden model of a ship in the Rock Lounge in the pub. It is claimed that people who have cleaned it have all met a mysterious death. Landlords have refused to allow anyone to dust the ship over the years, allowing inches of thick grime to build up on it. The galleon is now encased in glass. According to the landlady the last three people who have cleaned it are said to have died mysterious and unexpected deaths within 12 months of doing so.
Model ships are said to be parting gifts from sailors who had made them to pass the time at sea, like the scrimshaw of the whalers [drawings on whale teeth and bones]. Nottingham was once a busy inland port; the River Trent is navigable for quite large vessels all the way to the Humber and the North Sea. The maker of this particular model is unknown but it is completely shrouded in dust thickened cobwebs. There is also no name visible on the galleon's side, and it would be a daring soul that would wipe away the dust to find one.
Strange happenings and Haunted Caves
The Rock Lounge in particular seems to be a focal point for odd happenings. Things such as keys disappear only to turn up later in odd places. Glasses and bottles have been known to fly off the shelves and smash, when no one is nearby. Staff have heard the sound of breaking glass coming from the bar, but when they've gone with a dust pan and brush to clear it up, they simply can't find any. Sometimes a waft of perfume fills the air, which the landlady describes as old fashion scent, like lavender or rose water.
The Rock Lounge in particular seems to be a focal point for odd happenings. Things such as keys disappear only to turn up later in odd places. Glasses and bottles have been known to fly off the shelves and smash, when no one is nearby. Staff have heard the sound of breaking glass coming from the bar, but when they've gone with a dust pan and brush to clear it up, they simply can't find any. Sometimes a waft of perfume fills the air, which the landlady describes as old fashion scent, like lavender or rose water.
Carved out from the soft rock, the cellars of the Trip to Jerusalem are like interconnecting caves.
They have been in use at least since the Norman conquest and probably longer. A narrow shaft pierces the rock above all the way up to the castle. It is believed this was a "shouting hole" to allow those in the castle to call for more ale from the cellars bellow. In one chamber in the cellars a horseshoe shaped bench has been cut into the rock around the walls; this was a cock-fighting pit.
They have been in use at least since the Norman conquest and probably longer. A narrow shaft pierces the rock above all the way up to the castle. It is believed this was a "shouting hole" to allow those in the castle to call for more ale from the cellars bellow. In one chamber in the cellars a horseshoe shaped bench has been cut into the rock around the walls; this was a cock-fighting pit.