Carved with Heart - The Golden Lion

If you look very closely, you may have noticed that the Golden Lion’s middle gable contains small, intricate wooden carvings of hearts (or shields). The heart is set within an arched brace designed as a decorative element to enhance the gable. 
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​Details like this are easy to miss because of their size. We don't know why they exist other than being design choices of the time, just like we accessorise our own homes. They may also indicate some form of hidden symbolism or even part of a family Coat of Arms, or maybe the heart signalled that the owner was linked to a specific craft. Deritend after all, was a hive of manufacturing and craftsmanship. We think they were most likely intended to signal wealth, reflecting the owner’s taste, style and status. Details such as these which are visible only upon close inspection, demonstrate that the owner of what eventually became known as the Golden Lion, could afford decorative details that served no practical purpose.  

Over the years, when the hearts were repaired, they were made separately and simply nailed back onto the gable rather than being carved as part of a larger part of timber. We have chosen to recreate the hearts in the way they were originally crafted - carved directly from larger sections of timber as a single, integrated piece, and they will once again adorn the middle gable.
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Details such as these are easy to miss. They further suggest that the original building was certainly high profile and built for a wealthy merchant in the town. This is truly a nod to the building’s history and the craftsmanship associated with it.​