Galleries

Gallery

Who (or what) is Ranelagh?

(Click on the gallery to see the captions)

Time to tackle the big question: Why is The Ranelagh called The Ranelagh?
Time to tackle the big question: Why is The Ranelagh called The Ranelagh?
At first glance, we were spoilt for choice
At first glance, we were spoilt for choice
The pub doesn't appear in "A Dictionary of Pub Names" ...
The pub doesn’t appear in “A Dictionary of Pub Names” …
... or in "An Introduction to Inn Signs". We decided to start with London's most famous Ranelagh -
… or in “An Introduction to Inn Signs”. We decided to start with London’s most famous Ranelagh –
Richard Jones, the 1st Earl of Ranelagh. Turns out, he's not such a stand up guy - he actually embezzled the equivalent of £70.5 million of public funds. So maybe not someone you would name a pub after.
Richard Jones, the 1st Earl of Ranelagh. Turns out, he’s not such a stand up guy – he actually embezzled the equivalent of £70.5 million of public funds. So maybe not someone you would name a pub after.
This picture of the pub from the 1970s shows a different sign to the current one.
This picture of the pub from the 1970s shows a different sign to the current one.
The picture on the sign is ... Thomas Heron Jones, the 7th Viscount Ranelagh.
The picture on the sign is … Thomas Heron Jones, the 7th Viscount Ranelagh.
Thomas Heron Jones was a cool guy, as you tell by this picture. He was the chief advocate of a volunteer "People's Army" in Middlesex at the time the pub opened.
Thomas Heron Jones was a cool guy, as you tell by this picture. He was the chief advocate of a volunteer “People’s Army” in Middlesex at the time the pub opened.