My quiz last week asked what you would do with a talbot, if you had one.
A couple of you thought it was an early bicycle, a tool for gardening, a measurement of land or a folk name for a tree. I agree that all of these do sound possible, and when I was dreaming up these options I almost started believing them myself!
However, the truth is that the talbot is – or was – a breed of dog. Now extinct, it is thought to have resembled a bloodhound, maybe smaller in size, short-legged with a big head and pendulous ears. Its coat was most commonly white, but it is often depicted with black spots like a dalmatian, and there are instances of black talbots as well.
Talbot is the family name of the Earls of Shrewsbury, and can be traced back to Normandy where there is a link with William the Conqueror. Around 1449 Henry VI is reputed to have called John Talbot, Earl of Shrewsbury, ‘Oure good dogge’; this may have been a simple compliment about his loyalty, or it could have referred also to his name and coat of arms, which bears a picture of a white talbot. It is unclear whether the dog was named after the family, or vice versa!
According to one source, the talbot originated in France in the 8th century and was brought to England by William I. Known for their sensitive nose rather than their speed, the dogs were useful for following a scent, not only of quarry such as deer and boar, but also of escaped criminals and soldiers deserting a battlefield. There is a story that, during the Scottish Wars of Independence, Robert the Bruce’s talbot was captured by the English. It was then set free and followed by a group of soldiers, who hoped it would lead them to its master. The dog did indeed find its way back to Robert the Bruce, but the ensuing battle was a victory for the Scots.
It’s thought that the talbot died out around the end of the 18th century, along with two other breeds – the northern hound and the southern hound. There is still some debate about whether it is a direct ancestor of the present-day bloodhound.
One of the only dogs used in heraldry, the talbot represents courage, vigilance and fidelity, and is usually displayed with its tongue hanging out, as if panting after a chase. Also known as the ‘sleuth hound’ and ‘lime hound’, it became popular among the wealthier families who even trained the dogs to run under or behind their carriages – possibly to discourage highwaymen. Their connection with carriages may be why many public houses (former coaching inns) are named ‘The Talbot’.
While I was exploring Much Wenlock a few weeks ago, I came across a good example of a ‘Talbot’ pub. Amazingly, the building dates back to 1360, when it was an almshouse and a hostel for travellers, and its sign shows the dog with a white coat and black spots. The surname ‘Talbot’ is an old one in Shropshire, and I imagine it is pretty widespread in the Midlands.
Sources:
- Vanished Dog Breeds
- Bloodhounds.org
- You can view a 15th century painting of a Talbot, on the ceiling at Haddon Hall in Derbyshire, by clicking here.
16 Comments
tearoomdelights
Fascinating! I had no idea and plumped for the gardening implement. So many of your choices sounded feasible, it was very tricky! I feel I’ve been usefully educated today, thank you!
Jo Woolf
Excellent! 🙂 Glad you liked it!
Pit
Very enlightening: thanks for sharing.
Best regards from southern Texas,
Pit
Jo Woolf
Thanks Pit, glad you found it interesting!
dhphotosite
Very interesting indeed. You find the neatest topics to educate us out here in blogger world! great illustration/photo for this post. It’s amazes and pleases me to hear that a building dating that far back is still being used. The stories the place could tell!
Jo Woolf
Thank you, David! I was interested to find out about this too. Yes, that’s an amazing old building… I wish I could go back in time and just watch and listen.
marialla
VERY INTERESTING STUFF!! THANK YOU VERY MUCH.!
Jo Woolf
Thank you, Marialla!
Homestead Ramblings
Wow, how neat to know. Would love to spend time in that tavern, just imagining what it was like throughout the centuries.
Jo Woolf
So would I – I’d love to go back in time somehow and see it as it was in the 14th century.
John Lucas
There is a pub on Chiswick High Road in West London called the “Packhorse and Talbot.”
Jo Woolf
Oh, that’s wonderful! I wonder if it has a sign showing the horse and the dog. Thank you, John!
Ian
Thanks for the information.
There used to be (in the late 19th century) a large family house in Leith, Edinburgh called Talbot House, owned by William Sanderson, a whisky distiller and blender. One of his company’s (now part of Diageo) famous blend was, and still is, VAT 69. The labels on the bottles usually, but not always, show a crest with a Talbot Hound.
I don’t know any more, sorry.
Jo Woolf
That’s very interesting, thank you Ian! I had a quick look and it appears that the talbot appeared on the Sanderson family crest. There’s a bit more about their family history (and VAT 69) here: http://www.leithlocalhistorysociety.org.uk/businesses/william_sanderson.htm I’m therefore guessing that Talbot House was built for them, and I take it that it’s no longer standing as it doesn’t show up in any searches. Thank you for the information! Best wishes, Jo
Ian
Thanks again Jo, I’ve read that piece of information.
My grandmother was born in Talbot Lodge, her father was the gardener and the family lived at the bottom of the garden. The house was eventually given over to a Roman Catholic religious order before eventually being demolished in the 20th century and replaced with an RC primary school.
Jo Woolf
Oh really? So you have a close connection – that’s very interesting! From my own childhood, I remember that Talbot is an old surname in Shropshire.