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This splendid new sign has only been up a few months, and replaces the previous much-faded Banks's sign. It shows King Charles II. Bewdley was a strongly Royalist town in the 17th century civil war between the Royalists and Parliament. During the few years the country was a republic under Oliver Cromwell, the Royal Toast was forbidden. It became the custom for Royalists in that period to drink a toast to the health of "The Black Boy Across The Water". This was a reference to the fact that Charles II had a fairly dark complexion. Eventually he was restored to the English throne in 1660.