The Inklings, an Oxford literary discussion group associated with J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis, famously met up at the Eagle and Child pub in the St Giles’ neighborhood. The weekly Inklings meetings ended in 1949, but Lewis continued to hold gatherings at the Eagle and Child until modernization hit it in 1962. He then chose the Lamb & Flag pub on the other side of the street as a new meeting spot.
The Inklings’ days at the Lamb & Flag were short-lived, however, as Lewis’ death in 1963 put an end to what was left of the group. The pub does, however, remember them fondly as part of its history.
While the Lamb public house is known to have been in business since at least 1566, it was not until 1613 that it was relocated to its current site. Located close to St John’s College, the pub’s name derives from the Agnus Dei, a Christian symbol associated with Saint John the Baptist.
St John’s College itself took over the Lamb in 1997, and all of its profits went to the funding of DPhil student scholarships. It closed down in January 2021 in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. In September 2021, the pub re-opened under new management, leased to a community interest company named The Inklings. There is a humble sign at the door written in Elvish characters, and fans of Tolkien’s legendarium may be able to guess what it says even if they can’t actually read it: speak friend and enter.
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