“Four and a half miles – can you imagine?” The speaker gestured towards the flowing waters of the Thames. Right here, by Ye Olde Swan, a tradition older than America itself began. Ye Olde Swan, if its walls could talk, would tell tales of centuries past. It was once a hubbub of activity, a popular inn mentioned as early as the 1360s. The inn even survived the Great Fire of London in 1666, only to be rebuilt and continue its lively service. But its claim to fame is the legendary Doggett’s Coat and Badge Race. Imagine young men, fresh out of their apprenticeships, vying for the coveted prize: a red coat adorned with a grand badge. They’d set off from the very spot we stand, rowing with all their might towards Chelsea. The cheers of the crowds, the splashing of oars, the thrill of the race – all echoing through the years, from Ye Olde Swan. Though the inn is gone, its legacy lives on in the heart of this historic race.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to