This article is about the pub. For the mystery novel, see Martha Grimes.
The Only Running Footman (also referred to as The Footman[1]) is a public house in Charles Street, Mayfair, long famous for its sign, which used to read, in full, I am the only Running Footman. At 24 characters, this was the longest pub name in London until modern pubs were created with fanciful names (such as Chelsea's The Ferret and Firkin in The Balloon Up The Creek).[2]
Formerly the "Running Horse",[3] the establishment was first built in 1749 and rebuilt in the 1930s.[4]
The pub is variously said to be named after a retired footman who bought the establishment and named it after himself,[5] or via its then owner William Douglas, 4th Duke of Queensberry, who employed a footman "said to be able to keep up a respectable 8 mph".[3] Footmen were originally employed to run ahead of a carriage to ensure the way was clear. As roads got better and clearer the demand for their services fell away and many were re-employed as household servants.
The pub is believed to have been the inspiration for the Junior Ganymede Club, a fictional club in P. G. Wodehouse's Jeeves stories.[4] It is a significant location in Martha Grimes's 1986 mystery novel I Am the Only Running Footman, which takes its title from the pub.
Referencesedit
^The official website uses the title The Footman but also states the pub is still formally known as The Only Running Footman.
^Russell Ash (2009), "British pubs with the longest names", Top 10 of Britain, Hachette, ISBN9780600622512
^ abLong, David (17 October 2013). Bizarre London: Discover the Capital's Secrets & Surprises. Little, Brown Book Group. ISBN978-1-4721-0933-0.
^ abHalliday, Stephen (2013). "The City of Westminster". From 221B Baker Street to the Old Curiosity Shop: A Guide to London's Literary Landmarks. Stroud, Gloucestershire: The History Press. p. 104. ISBN978-0752470245.
^"The story behind one London pub – The Only Running Footman". Metro. 22 August 2012. Retrieved 29 March 2018.
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only, running, footman, this, article, about, mystery, novel, martha, grimes, also, referred, footman, public, house, charles, street, mayfair, long, famous, sign, which, used, read, full, only, running, footman, characters, this, longest, name, london, until,. This article is about the pub For the mystery novel see Martha Grimes The Only Running Footman also referred to as The Footman 1 is a public house in Charles Street Mayfair long famous for its sign which used to read in full I am the only Running Footman At 24 characters this was the longest pub name in London until modern pubs were created with fanciful names such as Chelsea s The Ferret and Firkin in The Balloon Up The Creek 2 The FootmanThe Only Running Footman in 2008Location within Mayfair LondonEtymologyFootmanGeneral informationLocationLondonAddress5 Charles Street Mayfair London W1J 5DFCoordinates51 30 31 N 0 08 46 W 51 5085 N 0 14615 W 51 5085 0 14615Websitehttp www thefootmanmayfair com Formerly the Running Horse 3 the establishment was first built in 1749 and rebuilt in the 1930s 4 The pub is variously said to be named after a retired footman who bought the establishment and named it after himself 5 or via its then owner William Douglas 4th Duke of Queensberry who employed a footman said to be able to keep up a respectable 8 mph 3 Footmen were originally employed to run ahead of a carriage to ensure the way was clear As roads got better and clearer the demand for their services fell away and many were re employed as household servants The pub is believed to have been the inspiration for the Junior Ganymede Club a fictional club in P G Wodehouse s Jeeves stories 4 It is a significant location in Martha Grimes s 1986 mystery novel I Am the Only Running Footman which takes its title from the pub References edit The official website uses the title The Footman but also states the pub is still formally known as The Only Running Footman Russell Ash 2009 British pubs with the longest names Top 10 of Britain Hachette ISBN 9780600622512 a b Long David 17 October 2013 Bizarre London Discover the Capital s Secrets amp Surprises Little Brown Book Group ISBN 978 1 4721 0933 0 a b Halliday Stephen 2013 The City of Westminster From 221B Baker Street to the Old Curiosity Shop A Guide to London s Literary Landmarks Stroud Gloucestershire The History Press p 104 ISBN 978 0752470245 The story behind one London pub The Only Running Footman Metro 22 August 2012 Retrieved 29 March 2018 nbsp This pub related article is a stub You can help Wikipedia by expanding it vte Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title The Only Running Footman amp oldid 1164889556, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
