The Flask, Highgate
The Flask is a Grade II listed public house at 74–76 Highgate West Hill, Highgate, London. According to the 1936 Survey of London, a pub known as The Flask has stood on this spot since "at least as early as 1663".[1] The present buildings probably date from the early 18th century, and were partially rebuilt in about 1767 by William Carpenter.[2] A Manorial court met there in the eighteenth century. The Flask is currently owned and operated by the London-based Fuller's Brewery.
History
The pub is believed to have been named after the flasks of Hampstead mineral water that could be purchased here when Hampstead was popular for its wells in the 18th century,[3] and The Flask, Flask Walk, Hampstead, is another pub nearby.[4] Like all good pubs, The Flask has its own legends which may or may not be true. It is said that the highwayman Dick Turpin hid from the law in the stables there, that the artist William Hogarth drank at the bar and even that Karl Marx was a customer. For good measure, the pub is also said by some to have a female ghost.[5][6]
Interior
English Heritage note that in the original building (the unexpanded pub), the lower bars, named the "Snug" and "Committee Room" respectively contain 1930s fireplaces and matchboard panelling, and that between these two areas lies a central bar, which is enclosed by sliding sashes with glazing bars, and are "perhaps a mixture of late C18 and 1930s work". Behind this lies a circa 1700 dog-leg stairway "with turned balusters on a closed string".[2]
"Swearing on the horns"
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The Flask[7] is one of those that still participates[8] in the old ritual of "The Swearing on the Horns" which involves visitors swearing to drink only strong beer, eat only white bread and not brown, and not to kiss the maid if they could kiss the mistress, unless they preferred the maid or could kiss both. Having so sworn they must kiss a pair of horns, or a pretty girl if they saw one, and were then free of Highgate.[9] The ritual is said to have been the source of the expression that a man was "Sworn at Highgate", meaning that he was a man of the world. Lord Byron took the oath, though not necessarily at The Flask, and devoted a verse of Childe Harold's Pilgrimage to it.[10] The Flask was one of the pubs that used a pair of ram's horns, but other pubs in Highgate used either stag's or bullock's horns.[7]
In its modern incarnation, the ritual has been performed at The Flask by Hornsey Round Table for 40 years (as of 2010) to raise money for charity.[8]
See also
References
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
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- ↑ Duncan, Andrew. (2006) Andrew Duncan's favourite London walks. London: New Holland Publishers, p. 80. ISBN 9781845374549
- ↑ The Flask, Hampstead. Retrieved 1 March 2014.
- ↑ Richard, Jones. (2007) Walking haunted London. London: New Holland Publishers, p. 43. ISBN 9781845378981
- ↑ Hibbert, Christopher. et al. (2008) "FLASK" The London encyclopaedia. 3rd edition. London: Macmillan, p. 296. ISBN 9780230738782
- ↑ 7.0 7.1 Walford, E. (1892) Old and new London: A narrative of its history, its people, and its places. Vol. V The western and northern suburbs. London: Cassell, pp. 416–418.
- ↑ 8.0 8.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Brewers dictionary of phrase & fable. 16th edition. London: Cassell, 1999, p. 1143. ISBN 0304350966
- ↑ Tucker, David. (2009) London walks: London stories Random House, p. 74. ISBN 9780753520093
External links
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- Buildings and structures in Camden
- Grade II listed pubs in London
- Reportedly haunted locations in London
- Evening Standard Pub of the Year winners
- Highgate
- Pubs in the London Borough of Camden
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