(Year 223, Fall) If you ever visited the Armed Gnome Pub located at Finchwick in Henford-on-Bagley, you probably saw the painting of a man wearing a white wig, raising his glass of nectar. You might have thought that he is proposing a toast, but in fact he is inspecting a new batch of locally produced Apple Nectar. The man is no other than the first Lord Rossie, or to use his full name: Duke Schubret of Rossie.
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| Did you know that this nectar loving man lived in Henford-on-Bagley 200 years ago? |
The duke died before the «Great Apple War», which took place around Year 50. Still, many locals often refer to that war victory when describing this painting. Apples was a local tradition already back then, and the Apple Nectar was an established local product, although not yet very well known outside the Rossie dukedom. The war was not about apples at all, but it's said the victory was possible thanks to locals throwing apples at the foreign soldiers. It tells us that the Henford locals were protecting their area, but also that they must have had a huge storage of this red fruit, most likely intended for nectar production.
The small picture hanging in the pub is a copy of the original work that hangs at Rossie Palace. Because of the grey wig, and the duke's rather aged face, historians suggest it was originally painted around Year 40, just a few years before this local hero died.
The Apple Nectar lives on, though! Rossie is known for its quality apple nectar, and every year they celebrate the new nectar production. At the palace there is a room named the Apple Blossom Lounge, that's where guests can taste various apple nectars, but also study the many portraits of the House of Ross' teenagers. The next generation is like apple blossoms, right?
If you'd like to read more about the Henford story and House of Ross, here are all posts tagged #Ross.
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