Following publicity in the Antiques Trade Gazette a year ago the original signboard for the Fox and Pelican painted by Walter Crane, the notable Victorian illustrator and artist, was offered for sale by public auction on Tuesday ( last week) and has been successfully secured for the village by funding from the Grayshott Pottery Community Fund. Following strong commission and telephone bidding the sign was secured for £4,300.

Research carried out by the Grayshott Village Archive of the signs subsequent fate following its removal from outside of the pub in 1913 had proved somewhat inconclusive until three weeks ago. An email received from Essex auctioneers Sworders claimed that they had been consigned what they thought to be the original missing signboard from a vendor in Wales.

Upon a visit to their auction rooms it certainly seemed that this was the missing sign. The sign was originally commissioned to be painted by Walter Crane in 1899 by the then newly formed 'Grayshott and District Refreshment Association' whose original shareholders included George Bernard Shaw and Sir Frederick Pollock. Run as a temperance house it was never a financial success and in 1913 it was sold to the 'Peoples Refreshment House Association'( P.R.H.A.) and then run more on the lines of a public house. At this time the original sign was taken down and a copy put in its place. The sign was then handed over to the parish council and subsequently the village hall management committee for safe keeping with the intention that it would be restored and hung in the village hall. By now it was mid 1914 and with the intervention of war the hall was taken over by the military authorities for billeting purposes and it is thought that the sign was again returned to the 'Fox and Pelican' where it was hung somewhere inside the building probably still in its original unrestored state. Later possibly in the 1930s one side was over painted and subsequently after world war two it was removed to an outbuilding where it remained until the 1970s and acquired by the vendor to save it being consigned to a bonfire.

Along with the sign has come a second in pressed copper which dates from the take over by the P.R.H.A. in 1913 and is typical of the 'Arts and Crafts' movement style of the period. This was originally fixed on the wall between the front windows at first floor level.

The original ironwork which was specially made for the sign still exists and its present owners Fullers brewery have indicated that it will be made available shortly to be reunited with the sign after some 97 years.

Having now secured the sign and its ironwork and with its return to the village it is intended that this important piece of Grayshott history which also has equal importance as an artefact from the late 19th century 'Arts and Crafts' movement is to be put on public display. This will possibly be at Grayshott Pottery which will enable suitable public viewing to take place as the overall height is almost 2 metres , it needs to be viewed from both sides and to be in a secure indoor accessible location..
At a future date it is hoped that funds can be raised to have the signboard cleaned and the over painted side restored.

For further information on the history of Grayshott please see our Grayshott Village Archive web site: www.grayshott-archive.org.uk or contact Richard Peskett tel 01428 604862 mob 07721517547.