Now don’t get excited food people, these taverns were for touring not eating.
Shield’s Tavern was closed, but had something the husband wanted to photograph.
Men. I can’t explain them….
But the gardens out back were lovely.
And I enjoyed a stroll among the well tended shrubbery.
I think Edward Scissorhands would approve.
There were vegetable gardens…
And wreaths…
I even saw an old ball and chain gate closure.
And then down the road, we found Wetherburn’s Tavern.
Where we had a guide give us the history and a tour.
Taverns back in the day were far different from what you might think. Rooms were rented for private parties, balls were held in the great rooms, owners lived behind the kitchen and the upstairs served as a hotel.
Which rooms you rented depended on your social standing.
Up to 12 men bunked in here.
I like cozy, but not that cozy.
Middle class families might sleep 8 in this room.
A private room? You had serious money.
Business deals were struck and government policies were made in rooms like these.
While the tavern keepers cranked out the meals in here….
That’s one high tech rotisserie right there.
Many taverns had their own smokehouses and livestock.
Which prompted a 30 minute conversation from my husband about being raised on a dairy farm.
An appropriate wreath was decorating their door as well.
We may not have seen any beer…. but it was still a tavern.
River's world..... 
Great post 🙂
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Twelve to a bed? I can hardly stand more than one in the room!
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It gives new meaning to the word togetherness…
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I’m seriously loving all the wreaths, it could be better than rocks. I said maybe, lol. What a lovely town, one can feel the history oozing out of every building.
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Williamsburg is famous for their natural decorations. I don’t know how they manage to keep them looking fresh for so long…. but it’s lovely!
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The ball and chain gate – genius!
Such a pretty town, loaded with fun history. Love it!
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“, these taverns were for touring not eating.” Oh puhleeze–tell us something we don’t know!! At least 6 more posts before we even see food aside from being on wreaths!
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Ate you trying to make a point…?
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These posts make me think of all the historical romance books I love ☺
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I didn’t personally witness any bodice ripping…. but that doesn’t mean it wasn’t happening.
😉
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And if there were any bodice-ripping going on, you’d want it to be in the private room and not in the 12 man share room. Unless you’re into that kind of thing of course.
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12 man bodice ripping is not something I’d like to experience. In this century… or theirs!
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Me either!
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Shields Tavern is open in the spring and summer. I’ve ate and had a few tankards of ale there.
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We wanted to but apparently missed the season.
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Love the shrubbery. The outdoor tidiness itself is beautiful.
I’m with you on not sleeping 12 people cozy, not since camp as a kid anyway.
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This post nails all the reasons I loved attending college in Williamsburg, Taverns + History = perfect together!
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We really enjoyed our two weeks there. So much to see and do..
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