Dr. Philip Howell, a historical geography professor at the University of Cambridge, discusses his book Pub, which unpacks the English pub's rich history beyond nostalgia. He explores how everyday elements reveal deeper cultural meanings, critiques the traditional view of pubs, and reflects on the evolving role of pub landlords. Howell delves into the quirky charm of pub names and their cultural significance while examining how local pubs serve as vital social hubs that foster community ties, challenging common myths about these institutions.
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Childhood Pub Memories
Philip Howell recounts childhood memories of being left in the car outside pubs.
Pubs were alluring, raising questions about what happened inside.
insights INSIGHT
Pub Architecture and Englishness
Many pubs adopt historical styles, like Tudor or Elizabethan, despite being modern constructions.
This reflects an English tendency to blend modernity with tradition for a reassuring cultural continuity.
insights INSIGHT
The Evolution of the Bar
The pub bar, once associated with fast, impersonal drinking, has become a standard feature.
Its efficiency is debatable, and alternative service methods exist, but it now signifies cheer.
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Published in 1857, 'Tom Brown's School Days' is a novel by Thomas Hughes that chronicles the life of Tom Brown, a young boy attending Rugby School in the 1830s. The story is loosely based on Hughes' own experiences at Rugby School and follows Tom from his early childhood in the Vale of White Horse to his years at Rugby. Tom faces various challenges, including bullying by the notorious Flashman, but finds support and friendship through his relationships with Harry 'Scud' East and George Arthur. Under the guidance of the headmaster, Dr. Thomas Arnold, Tom and his friends learn valuable lessons about morality, responsibility, and personal development. The novel concludes with Tom's growth into a confident and responsible young man, highlighted by his success in a cricket match and his eventual preparation for life beyond school[1][3][5].
The pub is an English institution. Yet its history has been obscured by myth and nostalgia. In Pub (Bloomsbury, 2025) a new addition to the Object Lessons series, Dr. Philip Howell takes the public house as an object, or rather as a series of objects: he takes the pub apart and examines its constituent elements, from pub signs to the bar staff to the calling of “time.” But Pub also explores the hidden features of the pub, such as corporate control, cultural acceptance and exclusion, and the role of the pub in communities.
This interview was conducted by Dr. Miranda Melcher whose new book focuses on post-conflict military integration, understanding treaty negotiation and implementation in civil war contexts, with qualitative analysis of the Angolan and Mozambican civil wars.
New Books in Architecture 