The Blue Anchor (Est. 1380) Noir - a photo on Flickriver

            The Blue Anchor (Est. 1380)
The Blue Anchor Inn was established in 1380, making it possibly one of the oldest pubs in Wales. At that time the Inn was a focal point for the then thriving trading port of Aberthaw. The name of the Inn was derived from the distinctive blue marl (mud) which coated the anchors of the vessels that sailed the channel and anchored at Aberthaw.

Aberthaw was once a more important port than those nearby at Cardiff and Barry, and was even busy enough to justify a Customs & Excise presence. Evidence of the diverse trading that took place was the presence of a tobacco drying shed, hinting at possible trade with the American colonies.

In bygone times the port of Aberthaw was synonymous with smuggling. The Cardiff Customs House records of the year 1735 detail an account of a seizure of rum at Aberthaw involving a drunken smuggler, a chase by Customs Officers by boat at first, and then later on horseback. The smuggler, who was carrying a cask on his back, was eventually overhauled. A much earlier reference to smuggling at Aberthaw comes from an order given in 1387 (some seven years after the Blue Anchor was established) from the Crown to the Mayor of Bristol, directing that the Mayor investigate English smugglers running goods into Aberthaw, Penarth and Cardiff.

Local rumours down the years abound of a secret tunnel linking Aberthaw Bay with the Blue Anchor, down which all manner of contraband might have been transported. Unfortunately no such tunnel has ever been found to back up these rumours.

The Blue Anchor was part of the Fonmon estate until 1941, when it was acquired by Bill Coleman, Bill eventually passed it on to his son John and when John retired in 1987 his two sons (the current owners) Jeremy and Andrew Coleman took over. Jeremy’s son Richard is also working in the family business, becoming the fourth generation of Colemans to do so since the family took on the Blue Anchor, 74 years ago.

Although now in his late 80s, John Coleman is still active, growing some of the fresh fruit and vegetables that feature in the highly regarded restaurant and bar cuisine. John still enjoys a pint and a chat, and can be found in the main bar on most nights.

Apart from a forced closure in 2004 (due to a serious fire which destroyed the thatched roof) the Blue Anchor Inn has traded almost continuously as a public house since 1380.

The blue anchor has also been a popular location for film shoots over the years. It was featured in the ITV series "Great Pubs of Wales" presented by John Sparks in 2008. Most recently, 2010 the Hollywood blockbuster "Killer Elite" with Robert De-Niro, Clive Owen and Jason Statham and in late 2010 the BBC documentary "Coast" when it rained for most of the shoot. Courtesy of the Blue Anchor website

The Blue Anchor
The Blue Anchor, which has been owned by the Coleman family since 1941, opened its doors as an inn in 1380.

Its name comes from the distinctive blue marl (mud) on the anchors of the vessels that anchored at Aberthaw after sailing the channel.

The Blue Anchor was originally a focal point for the once-thriving trading base of East Aberthaw when the area was more important than either Cardiff or Barry, and was busy enough to justify a Customs and Excise presence.

Visit blueanchoraberthaw.com

Taken on: July 19, 2024

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Sets appears in: • Pubs

Groups appears in: • Pubs, Bars, Inns and Taverns • Wales Photography. more » • Wales and the Welsh • British pubs • Neo Noir • Black and White Photo Award - PREMIER -- Post>Comment>Award • Dead Pubs Society • Black & White Digital • Noir City • Noir Photography • Welsh History/Hanes Cymru • Britain In Black And White • Black & White Art Awards (Post 1 - Award 3) • Pubs U.K. & Eire....(Public houses, inns and bars) • Great British Boozers • Black & White: À la film noire! • Black&White Photography - Congrats to the winners! • Best of Black & White • UK Pubs • Noir/ Outre-Noir • Pubs & Pints • Welsh photography • Black and White Photography Art • BLACK AND WHITE ONLY! - (POST 1, MUST COMMENT 3) • Black & White Done Right !. • Tell me a story... (Show & Tell) • The Last Romantics • Building A Mystery • Wales, UK • Welsh countryside • black white .. only • Great British Pubs • Black&White Photo Group • Pubs of the British Isles, inside & out • Amazing Image: Stories • Black and White Photographs • BLACK & WHITE PHOTOGRAPHY (Nikon/Canon/Sony and Phoneography) • Wales P1/A2 - The Very Best Of Wales - LEVEL 2 • Old photos UK • Film Noir Dangerous Shadows • Black & White Realms • Any United Kingdom Pictures • Noir Film • Wales only images • Journey - Welsh Photography • Mystery After Midnight (Mystère Après Minuit) • Jewel of the Isles -United Kingdom's Beauty • Pubs of Britain & Ireland (Tafarndai Prydain ac Iwerddon) • for the Love of Film Noir « less

Camera: Canon EOS REBEL T3i, f/4.5, 1/60 sec, 30mm, ISO 400 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Canon EOS REBEL T3i
Lens:	EF-S18-55mm f/3.5-5.6 IS II
Aperture:	f/4.5
Exposure Time:	0.017 sec (1/60)
Focal Length:	30mm
ISO:	400
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	On, Fired
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	sRGB
Software:	Adobe Photoshop Elements 11.0 Windows
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