Blunder sees pub mistake own Duke

Pub bosses have infuriated eagle-eyed history buffs by erecting a sign of the wrong Duke of York, rather than the one after whom the 18th century pub was originally named, in a case of mistaken identity.

The Duke of York pub in Tunbridge Wells, Kent, owned by Fullers, was named after Prince Edward, the Duke of York and Albany – the younger brother of George III – after he died in 1767, according to a report by the Daily Mail.

However following a refurbishment, a new sign was erected of Prince Frederick, the son of George III, who died 60 years later in 1827, and was the subject of the mocking nursery rhyme, the Grand Old Duke of York.

Sam Tredgold, 41, a history graduate, told the paper: “This has got to be the most embarrassing of the lot, getting the wrong Duke of York and sticking up a daft pub sign showing the Grand Old Duke of York leading his men up a hill.”

“Why bother having a pub with so much history if you go and get the very basic historical facts about the pub wrong?

“You might as well build a new pub and called it the Prince William, Duke of Cambridge.”

The grade II listed pub first opened in 1770 in memory of Prince Edward, by his older brother, George III.

A spokesman for Fuller’s, which bought the pub 18 months ago, said: “There is no real reason behind it other than a nice recognisable bit of fun.

“We have been very mindful of maintaining the traditions and history of the pub.

“We aimed to transform the pub in a style that was empathic to the local area (and) every change has been approved by local conservation officers.

“The name of the pub has not changed – it will remain the Duke of York.”

RIGHT: Prince Edward, who died in 1767
WRONG: Prince Frederick, who died in 1827