So, what is the connection with the village to Saracens?
The Saracen's head
is the crest of the Shirley family of Ettington Park .
Legend states that one
of the family drank from the well on returning from the Crusades, and his
trophy,
a Saracen's head, fell into the well and was petrified.
The well is
quite close to the Saracen’s Head inn which is probably how it got its name.
Thomas
Heritage (1756-1810) became the Inn-keeper at the Saracen’s
Head in Ettington, Warwickshire (originally called Eatington) in 1796 and
continued until his death in 1810.
At which time his widow, Esther, became
the Inn-keeper until 1828. For a number of years during this period it was known
as the New Inn.
Then Thomas, their son, became Inn-keeper from 1828 by 1871
After Thomas it remained in the family as his son Henry William Hemming Heritage
was the inn keeper.
By 1881 Henry's son Thomas George had taken over.
But the road on which the Saracen's Head stood was no longer the main road and
trade had slackened.
So Thomas, who
was known by his second name, George, tried to supplement his income by working
as a Builder/Bricklayer,
but eventually it was too much for him and he committed
suicide. (See separate story).
His
widow, Angelina took over until things were finalised, but then she moved with
her children to Birmingham.
The Saracen's Head is now a house called
The Saracen's.