What do George Washington, grog and the self-styled "World's Largest Antiques Market" have in common?

looney_tunes

"The World's Largest Antiques Market" is Portobello Road. http://www.portobelloroad.co.uk/ George Washington's ancestors came from Sulgrave, Northamptonshire. Sulgrave has a 300 year old public house, the Star Inn, that belongs to the Hook Norton Brewery. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sulgrave This feels so close, but may be totally wrong, because I cannot find any connection between Hook Norton Brewery and Portobello Road. May 29 10, 7:37 PM

serpa

Here is a connection between Washington and grog. "Mount Vernon was home to George Washington for more than 45 years. First known as Little Hunting Creek Plantation, the Estate was originally granted to Washington's great grandfather John Washington in 1674. It eventually passed to Washington's older half-brother, Lawrence, who renamed the property Mount Vernon after his commanding officer, Admiral Edward Vernon of the British navy." http://www.mountvernon.org/learn/explore_mv/index.cfm/ss/27/ grog (grg) n. An alcoholic liquor, especially rum diluted with water. [After Old Grog, nickname of Edward Vernon (1684-1757), British admiral who ordered that diluted rum be served to his sailors, from grogram (from his habit of wearing a grogram cloak).] http://www.thefreedictionary.com/grog May 29 10, 7:58 PM

star_gazer

I found it! Portobello Road was known prior to 1740 as Green's Lane - a winding country path leading from Kensington Gravel Pits, in what is now Notting Hill Gate, up to Kensal Green in the north. In 1740 Portobello Farm was built in the area near what is now Golborne Road. The farm got its name from a popular victory during the War of Jenkins' Ear, when Admiral Edward Vernon captured the Spanish town of Puerto Bello (now known as Portobelo in modern-day Panama). Green's Lane became known as Porto Bello Lane; the title which it still held in 1841. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Portobello_Road May 29 10, 9:25 PM

Datsmeharse

Ahhhhh, I knew a fun guy etymologist would mushroom up to put this question to bed and stem the cloud of mystery. Well done Star_gazer, you earn a cap. And criminy, no amount of grog or soaking to the gills will stem the cloud of misery in just reading this, myacologies to all for my lack of morels. May 29 10, 9:35 PM

star_gazer

Thank you for the compliment. But, I could not have done it without the prior postings of looney_tunes and serpa. May 31 10, 3:20 PM