Shinfield pub The Black Boy to change name due to 'racist connotations': Here's what you said

The Black Boy, on Shinfield Road, is to be renamed - a decision pub owners Greene King have confirmed in efforts to stamp out potentially racist names of certain establishments.

The firm said the 500-year-old pub name will be decided when Greene King hold a community vote for locals to have their say.

READ MORE: Pub to be renamed due to 'racist connotations' - and punters are asked to VOTE on choices

But many disagree with the decision to change the name, believing that the name's origin isn't associated with racism.

Responding to an article poll in The Chronicle asking "Should the pub be renamed", 80 per cent of 552 votes said "No", with the remaining 20 per cent voting "Yes".

Commenting on the Chronicle's Facebook post, Anit Lanu suggested a new name: "The Chimney Sweep - because that’s why it’s called the Black Boy!

"Nothing to do with racism."

Nathan Murphy said: "Really! They need to check their history - all pubs around the country that are called the Black Boy are after boy chimney sweepers nothing to do with race".

PICTURED: Poll results of Chronicle question

PICTURED: Poll results of Chronicle question

Others believed the name should be changed.

Brit Cee said: "To all those complaining - you lot are more upset about the pub changing it’s name. Guess what, times change."

Luther Granger added: "Their pub, their choice. Have a whip round and buy the gaff and you can call it whatever you want".

Mark Cummins added: "Of all the things in the world to be upset about at the moment, the renaming of a pub is so far down the list I find it hard to have an opinion - Greene King pub - they can call it what they want."

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The Black Boy name history

According to the pub's website, there are around 70 inns and pubs in the UK with the name “The Black Boy”, “The Blackboy” or similar. There are many theories as to the origin of the name, the three most credible include:

• Mining Links

There is a theory that some Black Boy pubs originally had links to the mining industry and the name referred to the coal-blackened child miners who worked in them.

This is however, unlikely for our particular Black Boy pub, because the Reading area is not known as a traditional coal mining heartland.

• King Charles II

Another theory states that the name refers to King Charles II.

Charles was nicknamed “Black Boy” by his mother, Henrietta Maria of France because of his dark hair and complexion and colloquially became known as “The Black Boy” by his Royalist supporters.

Many Black Boy pubs also carry his portrait on their pub signs.

• Tobacco Links

The third theory states that the name has links to the early tobacco industry in England.

When tobacco was first introduced and sold in Europe through shops that sold tobacco, pipes would identify their trade by placing a figure of a Native American outside their premises.

This would usually be a wooden carving with a headdress and skirt often made of tobacco leaves and later holding a bunch of cigars in an outstretched hand.

The figures became known as “Black Boys” or “Virginians”, possibly as they were preserved by being painted with tar.