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White Hart Inn Murals


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According to R G Kitton, a series of wall murals were uncovered at the White Hart Inn in 1901. From the description given by Kitton below, these "heraldic" wall decorations do not sound like the Venus and Adonis mural revealed in 1985. It's difficult to tell which part of the interior of the inn he is referring to. A section of the 1901 mural depicting an eagle was cut from the wall and taken to the Hertfordshire County Museum, now the St Albans Museum and Gallery. I wonder if they still have it hidden in the basement, or on show?

 

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Edited by Eric Roberts
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Hi Eric,

This is extraordinary - have never heard of these murals before but we think we know the exact room that they are describing and can confirm there is certainly no trace of any murals today, so a mystery as to what happened to them - let's hope they were not just whitewashed over.😞 The Venus and Adonis murals are located in the pottery shop on the ground floor, whereas the murals discovered in 1901 are almost certainly the room on the first floor. I have attached current pics of the interior of the meeting room (copyright of Jono Freeman). As a Unicorn is mentioned, we think the eagle could potentially be a Phoenix!. It's incredible that there is still so much to be discovered about Francis Bacon and his times. Great work Eric.

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2 hours ago, A Phoenix said:

Hi Eric,

This is extraordinary - have never heard of these murals before but we think we know the exact room that they are describing and can confirm there is certainly no trace of any murals today, so a mystery as to what happened to them - let's hope they were not just whitewashed over.😞 The Venus and Adonis murals are located in the pottery shop on the ground floor, whereas the murals discovered in 1901 are almost certainly the room on the first floor. I have attached current pics of the interior of the meeting room (copyright of Jono Freeman). As a Unicorn is mentioned, we think the eagle could potentially be a Phoenix!. It's incredible that there is still so much to be discovered about Francis Bacon and his times. Great work Eric.

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Hi A.P. Very exciting that you could identify the room which was once decorated with exotic birds and animals. AND you have pictures courtesy of Mr Freeman! I've written to St Albans Museum/Gallery to ask about the piece of wall with the eagle/phoenix that they apparently possess. They must have records of the 1901 discovery...

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To visit and experience being there! Oh my!

Bacon was in there with a few friends. We don't have that in the New Atlantis, as far as we know anyway. And even if so, not a place where he met to have discussions and a good time.

 

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On 1/20/2023 at 8:49 PM, A Phoenix said:

Hi Eric,

This is extraordinary - have never heard of these murals before but we think we know the exact room that they are describing and can confirm there is certainly no trace of any murals today, so a mystery as to what happened to them - let's hope they were not just whitewashed over.😞 The Venus and Adonis murals are located in the pottery shop on the ground floor, whereas the murals discovered in 1901 are almost certainly the room on the first floor. I have attached current pics of the interior of the meeting room (copyright of Jono Freeman). As a Unicorn is mentioned, we think the eagle could potentially be a Phoenix!. It's incredible that there is still so much to be discovered about Francis Bacon and his times. Great work Eric.

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Hi A. Phoenix

I've just heard back from the St Albans Museum regarding the section of wall removed from the White Hart Inn in 1901.

 

Dear Eric,

Thank you for your email. We do indeed have the eagle wall painting in our collection and I’ve attached a picture of it. This was taken a little while ago so I hope it is a good enough image for you. Please note this image is for personal use/research only and if you are interested in using the image for publication in any form there may be a charge.

Best wishes,

Sarah Keeling

Curator of Collections (Post Medieval to Contemporary)

St Albans Museum + Gallery |Town Hall | St Peter’s Street |St Albans | AL1 3DH

Verulamium Museum | St Michael’s Street | St Albans | AL3 4SW

www.stalbansmuseums.org.uk

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This only remaining piece of the lost wall paintings in the upstairs room at the White Hart looks as if it might have been painted by a local artisan, whereas the "Venus and Adonis" murals downstairs are much more ambitious artistically speaking. 

 

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Hi Eric, great work and good they got back so quickly. Agree with Rob, almost certainly a Phoenix. Sad that this is the only survivor of what would have been another very interesting mural at a very special place. Wonder what happened to the rest of the mural? Thanks Eric!

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17 minutes ago, A Phoenix said:

Hi Eric, great work and good they got back so quickly. Agree with Rob, almost certainly a Phoenix. Sad that this is the only survivor of what would have been another very interesting mural at a very special place. Wonder what happened to the rest of the mural? Thanks Eric!

Have written to Sarah again to ask for any further information. Will keep you posted.

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