Finally finished

The Black Swan Back Story

Records dating to 1789 posted on the web. The pub sits on the line between North Creake and South Creake and divides the pub in two. It was a known Pirate hang out and had a tunnel going out to the sea at Brancaster. In the UK there is a saying for Credit, “Put it on the Slate” The Black Swan is in the Norfolk history books as the origin of that saying. In one of the rooms was a large piece of Slate on the wall behind the double doors and that is where they wrote what the customer owed and daily specials, hence “put it on the slate”
In the Middle Ages, ale would have been brewed on the premises from which it was sold. Alewives would put out an ale-wand to show when their beer was ready.

Maureen (my wife) lived in the pub, nicknamed locally “the Mucky duck”, with her parents from 1940 to 1953.
During the War on one side of the pub was the Land army girls who took care of the farmland. On the same side was an RAF base (Raynham) and on the opposite side of the pub was an American Air Base (Sculthorpe). All three came to the pub for recreation? Maureen and her two sisters bedrooms were upstairs in the back. Pretty soon everyone would go out back to the Bowling green and a large fight would begin over the land army girls until the MP's carted them all off. The girls would watch out of their bedroom windows. They would then get up real early the following morning and run out back and pick up all of the money that had fallen out of the guys pockets. That was there pocket money for the war years?????

Her fathers name is Frederick King and is listed last but one on the list of caretakers of the pub. Pub closed 1965 and is now a private residence. See photo with plaque below from 2016

There are three rats hidden on the premises. The Bar girl is converted from a “scale 75” figure and adapted to the scene. (Ale Wife?)

Taken 2016

I think the final result turned out OK and is now a part of our family history.

All comments are welcome and encouraged. I have and extra lamp and wonder if that would be better than the frying pan over the bar by the girl.

Thanks for looking.

Cheers

John

Very nice John, exceptional work on the Tavern and the figures all superbly painted. Like it

Wonderful work with a cracking back story.
It's not often we see work that enters into the history of our own families.
Well done John.
Cheers
Derek

Great story, great modelling and great painting... Great!!!!

Fantastic work (and a lot of it) John! Your barmaid conversion worked out very well. Everything else, including your family history, is just great and I love all the freehand work (and the rats).

My "Irish" father grew up in a small , predominantly Irish Catholic, coal mining town called Locust Gap in Pennsylvania and lived in an old converted 1800's Stagecoach inn/pub with his Mom, Dad and many brothers and sisters. The pub was still operating when I was growing up and readily available whenever we visited my Grandmother who lived there until she passed away. We visited almost every year from Illinois, and after a few weeks, always came back speaking with a strong Irish Brogue.

No where near your unique backstory but a legend in my own family history.


Well done,
Ken O'Boyle

Fantastic vignette, and what a personal one at that. I will be looking at this often as the detail is incredible. Particularly like the "animation" with the wine spilling out of the jug. Just great work all around.

Amazing detail throughout John.
Well done
Keith

I found the rats,do I get a prize? Great work of art.
Mark

Love it, John!
Excellent painting and presentation.

John....That is just absolutely impressive...To put that amount of work and patience into one vision just blows me away.

Wayne

John,
Another epic piece from your capable hands. Great conception and execution all around.
I know our Maureen in the first picture but who is the other lovely lady? I look forward to seeing it in person this Saturday. We are supposed to be in our new facility.
Tom

Great project John.
Gordon

Great work and excellent painting !

Woooooow, this is amazing idea, amazing project, amazing craft and amazing result. Great work in all aspects of the scene. Attention to detail, excellent dramatic effect, very good composition, and back story is amazing too. Congratulations on mastering this great and large project. Beautiful work John. My compliment

Cheers Borek

Wow. Great and I want first to ask "Where are the rats", but I found them. I like it very much

Excellent scene and paintwork John.

Beautifull scene.

Marc

Freakin' awesome.

Jeff