Ye Olde Dolphin Inne

Ye Olde Dolphin Inne is a rather splendid looking public house in the centre of Derby. First licenced in 1580, though likely operating as early as 1530, it is the oldest alehouse in the city. Quite how it came by its name is not clear; what is more clear is the sign maker’s particular ignorance of dolphine anatomy. He may have seen one from afar, or, more likely, had one described by some old mariner who himself saw one from afar. In the golden model, below, we have is something dolphin-like, but not, sadly, a dolphin.

Be careful when you obtain an understanding of God from a source other than His own word, the Bible. If your ‘God’ never gets angry, or approves of all behaviours (especially your own), consider from where you got your information. You may just find that the old sign maker of Derby has a superior understanding of aquatic mammals than you have of the one true God.