Spit n Sawdust

[Richard Hyett]

I'm not sure where the expression "Spit n Sawdust" comes from, people refer
to spit n sawdust pubs, but I've never been in a pub which had sawdust on
the floor. I know it's used just as an expression to mean basic or rough,
but I wonder where it came from? Did they once have pubs with sawdust? Of
course butchers with sawdust on the floor used to be quite common, in this
case the sawdust was used to absorb any spare blood from when the meat was
brought in or cut up. Don't see it so much now or do you? I can't
remember the last time I was in a butchers. No doubt there is some EU
directive prohibiting its use in food shops. A rough night club may have
had its steps painted red, as had many surgeries on the old ships, a more
effective way of covering up blood than sawdust

I spoke to someone on Sunday who said they had been marshalling the end of a
road (running) race in Scotland and they were given a bucket of sawdust.
"What's this for he asked"? "You'll find out soon enough" they said.

[Jimbo]

people refer to spit n sawdust pubs, but I've never been in a pub which had

sawdust on

the floor.

I can only remember the names of two out of several, in Sunderland
The Argo Frigate,tiled snug, then sawdust on bar floor with a spittoon
circa 1962
The Londonderry, sawdust on bar floor,two spittoons again 1962
The Argo has long gone
The Londonderry was when last seen 2001 a disco type thing

Jimbo

[CJ]

Hi,

I found this most logical explanation on the Web -

"A spit and sawdust pub is a throw back from the old days when spittoons
were provided for customers to spit into and sawdust to mop up the
product from poor shots, spilt beer or blood from any fight which might
have broken out. The phrase is still used today although these types of
pub are few and far between nowadays. Spitting has almost entirely died
out with the decline in 'baccy' chewing that produced the need to spit."

CJ

Post by Richard Hyett
I'm not sure where the expression "Spit n Sawdust" comes from, people refer
to spit n sawdust pubs, but I've never been in a pub which had sawdust on
the floor. I know it's used just as an expression to mean basic or rough,
but I wonder where it came from? Did they once have pubs with

sawdust? Of

Post by Richard Hyett
course butchers with sawdust on the floor used to be quite common, in this
case the sawdust was used to absorb any spare blood from when the meat was
brought in or cut up. Don't see it so much now or do you? I can't
remember the last time I was in a butchers. No doubt there is some EU
directive prohibiting its use in food shops. A rough night club may have
had its steps painted red, as had many surgeries on the old ships, a more
effective way of covering up blood than sawdust
I spoke to someone on Sunday who said they had been marshalling the end of a
road (running) race in Scotland and they were given a bucket of sawdust.
"What's this for he asked"? "You'll find out soon enough" they said.

[JAB]

Never been to South Gosfoth Metro station, CJ? Spitting certainly hasn't
died out there.

Post by CJ
Hi,
I found this most logical explanation on the Web -
"A spit and sawdust pub is a throw back from the old days when spittoons
were provided for customers to spit into and sawdust to mop up the
product from poor shots, spilt beer or blood from any fight which might
have broken out. The phrase is still used today although these types of
pub are few and far between nowadays. Spitting has almost entirely died
out with the decline in 'baccy' chewing that produced the need to spit."
CJ

Post by Richard Hyett
I'm not sure where the expression "Spit n Sawdust" comes from, people

refer

Post by Richard Hyett
to spit n sawdust pubs, but I've never been in a pub which had sawdust

on

Post by Richard Hyett
the floor. I know it's used just as an expression to mean basic or

rough,

Post by Richard Hyett
but I wonder where it came from? Did they once have pubs with

sawdust? Of

Post by Richard Hyett
course butchers with sawdust on the floor used to be quite common, in

this

Post by Richard Hyett
case the sawdust was used to absorb any spare blood from when the meat

was

Post by Richard Hyett
brought in or cut up. Don't see it so much now or do you? I can't
remember the last time I was in a butchers. No doubt there is some EU
directive prohibiting its use in food shops. A rough night club may

have

Post by Richard Hyett
had its steps painted red, as had many surgeries on the old ships, a

more

Post by Richard Hyett
effective way of covering up blood than sawdust
I spoke to someone on Sunday who said they had been marshalling the

end of a

Post by Richard Hyett
road (running) race in Scotland and they were given a bucket of

sawdust.

Post by Richard Hyett
"What's this for he asked"? "You'll find out soon enough" they said.

[Phil Britton]

Post by JAB
Never been to South Gosfoth Metro station, CJ? Spitting certainly hasn't
died out there.

<snip>

Or any place where teenage lads think it makes them look hard, that is,
all of the north east :-)

I can understand where this came from as the need to spit out the
shite you'd been swallowing all day down the pit or in the factory was
the sign of a MAN. Spittung out the gunge out of your pipe that dribbled out
into your mouth, like my great grandad used to. He used to spit that
into the fire, where it made a brilliant sizzling noise.

cheers

Phil

[JAB]

I've never been a smoker,but I beleive that when you start, you spit a lot.
Or so some charvers told me, inbetween asking for cash and tabs.

Post by Phil Britton

Post by JAB
Never been to South Gosfoth Metro station, CJ? Spitting certainly hasn't
died out there.

<snip>
Or any place where teenage lads think it makes them look hard, that is,
all of the north east :-)
I can understand where this came from as the need to spit out the
shite you'd been swallowing all day down the pit or in the factory was
the sign of a MAN. Spittung out the gunge out of your pipe that dribbled out
into your mouth, like my great grandad used to. He used to spit that
into the fire, where it made a brilliant sizzling noise.
cheers
Phil

[Steve E]

Post by Phil Britton

Post by JAB
Never been to South Gosfoth Metro station, CJ? Spitting certainly hasn't
died out there.

<snip>
Or any place where teenage lads think it makes them look hard, that is,
all of the north east :-)

Hi Phil

Can you remember the signs that used to be at the front upstairs of
double deckers - No Standing - No Spitting <G>.

Cheors

Steve E.

Whitley Bay, North East England
Tyneside & Northumberland Local History Group at:
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/tyneside
For photographs of the Newcastle Upon Tyne area go to:
http://www.steve-ellwood.org.uk
http://www.geordies.force9.co.uk
"Geordie goes beyond mere geography and is a quality of heart"

[Phil Britton]

Post by Steve E

Post by Phil Britton

Post by JAB
Never been to South Gosfoth Metro station, CJ? Spitting certainly hasn't
died out there.

<snip>
Or any place where teenage lads think it makes them look hard, that is,
all of the north east :-)

Hi Phil
Can you remember the signs that used to be at the front upstairs of
double deckers - No Standing - No Spitting <G>.

and nearly always the "p" had been scratched out with a coin :-)

And downstairs it used to say "No Smoking-No Spitting"

cheers

Phil

[Alan Gustard]

Post by Steve E
Can you remember the signs that used to be at the front upstairs of
double deckers - No Standing - No Spitting <G>.

PLease ask the Conductor to adjust the windows

Alan G

[Mark Hewitt]

Post by Phil Britton
Or any place where teenage lads think it makes them look hard, that is,
all of the north east :-)

I never did understand that. As soon as I reached about 14 years old, all my
friends suddendly found the need to spit once a minute, every minute.. only
while outside tho. A few times I asked why and I don't think they really
knew!

[Paul Hodgson]

Post by Richard Hyett
I'm not sure where the expression "Spit n Sawdust" comes from, people refer
to spit n sawdust pubs, but I've never been in a pub which had sawdust on
the floor. I know it's used just as an expression to mean basic or rough,
but I wonder where it came from? Did they once have pubs with sawdust? Of
course butchers with sawdust on the floor used to be quite common, in this
case the sawdust was used to absorb any spare blood from when the meat was
brought in or cut up. Don't see it so much now or do you? I can't
remember the last time I was in a butchers. No doubt there is some EU
directive prohibiting its use in food shops. A rough night club may have
had its steps painted red, as had many surgeries on the old ships, a more
effective way of covering up blood than sawdust
I spoke to someone on Sunday who said they had been marshalling the end of a
road (running) race in Scotland and they were given a bucket of sawdust.
"What's this for he asked"? "You'll find out soon enough" they said.

The pub at Beamish Museum still has sawdust on the floor, to add to the
authenticity I guess. The spitoons have gone however.
JMTPW
Paul

[Steve E]

On Mon, 12 Jan 2004 19:30:58 -0000, "Richard Hyett"

Post by Richard Hyett
I'm not sure where the expression "Spit n Sawdust" comes from, people refer
to spit n sawdust pubs, but I've never been in a pub which had sawdust on
the floor.

Hi Richard

The Vic & Comet (Neville Street - opposite the Central Station) used
to have sawdust on the floor.

Indeed the places nickname was The Spit & Vomit ;-)

In the case of this bar it was to soak up any bodily fluids and any
drink which was knocked over.

The locals could always tell if you were a stranger if you still had
both ears!

Cheors

Steve E.

Whitley Bay, North East England
Tyneside & Northumberland Local History Group at:
http://www.smartgroups.com/groups/tyneside
For photographs of the Newcastle Upon Tyne area go to:
http://www.steve-ellwood.org.uk
http://www.geordies.force9.co.uk
"Geordie goes beyond mere geography and is a quality of heart"