The Falcon These
two signs belong to the same pub in Hatton, Warwickshire. The design on
the left dates from around 2001 when the pub was run by Peacock Inns.
The second image was captured in 2005. This bird of prey features above
the arms of the Throckmorton family. It was Clement Throckmorton who
built the nearby Haseley Manor in 1561. It was built on ground bought by
his uncle, Michael Throckmorton who had awarded it from Mary Tudor for
his services in Italy, where he was sent to spy on Cardinal Pole but
remained as his loyal secretary. Clement Throckmorton, who was
cup-bearer to Katherine Parr, died in 1573 and is buried with his wife,
Katherine Nevill, at the local church under a fine monument with a slate
slab which features some of the finest brasses in the county. It shows
Clement in full Elizabethan armour with sword and dagger and his wife is
in detailed costume. It is no coincidence therefore that this pub should
be called The Falcon. In addition, the pub is a really old inn and that
the neighbouring great houses at Packwood and Baddesley Clinton date
from around the sixteenth century. Falconry was a royal sport around
this period and the bird appears in the arms of Elizabeth I and William
Shakespeare, amongst others. Don't forget we are in Shakespeare country
here. Indeed, in Macbeth, the bard wrote 'A falcon, towering in her
pride of place, was by a mousing owl hawk'd at and kill'd.'
