Angol
Pubs were an important part of our social history because they were, and still are to some extent, the working man's front parlour. Particularly back in the days when people lived in cramped and squalid conditions. Their tiny houses being shared with a lot of noisy kids and quarrelsome adults. In the pub or beer house our ancestors could meet with their friends with an endless supply of liquid refreshment to dull their senses, and blot out the misery of their daily grind. Pubs were, and still are, a resort of comfort in times of relaxation, in distress and marital infidelity. Back then they became political headquarters, home of sporting clubs, friendly societies, entertainments such as darts and dominoes were all taken seriously. Here you could indulge in lotteries, betting, and gaming pursuits, or read the local paper. Pub-goers, like actors on a stage, played out their part at the bar as the soap opera of their lives was forgotten. Today, the public house lives on with a new clientele, new decor, and different (or indifferent) beer. The pub continues to form an essential and integral part of the history and social fabric of our towns.
