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INN
AND PUB SIGNS OF BRITAIN
Britain has a unique heritage in its
inn signs: a record of its history
and the people who made it. Inn signs depict everything, from battles to
inventions,
from sporting heroes to royalty. The origin of inn signs goes back to the
Romans. The 'Tabernae' would hang vine leaves outside to show that they sold
wine - in Britain, as vine leaves are rare (due to the climate!), small evergreen bushes were
substituted.
One of the first Roman tavern signs was the 'Bush'.
Early pubs hung long poles or ale
stakes, which might have been used to stir the ale, outside their doors. If
both wine and ale were sold, then both bush and pole would be hung outside.
The
naming of inns and pubs became common by the 12th
century. With pub names came pub signs - as the majority of the population
could not read or write. In 1393, King Richard II
passed an Act making it compulsory
for pubs and inns to have a sign (his own emblem the 'White Hart' in London)
in order to identify them to the
official Ale Taster. Ever since then, inn names and signs have reflected, and
followed, British life at that time.
 Before King
Henry VIII and the Reformation, many had a religious theme, for
example 'The Crossed Keys' , the emblem of St. Peter. When
Henry split with the Catholic church, names were changed from religious
themes to 'The King's Head' or 'The Rose & Crown' etc. The
'Red Lion' is probably the most common name for a pub and originates
from the time of James I and VI of Scotland who came to the throne
in 1603. James ordered that the heraldic red lion of Scotland be
displayed on all buildings of importance - including pubs!
Many
signs have royal links: for instance, most 'White Lion'
inns date from the time of Edward
IV and the 'White Boar' was the emblem of Richard
III.
Pubs are
also named after famous people in history, for example, The Duke of
Wellington and Shakespeare.
More recently,
social and industrial change has been reflected in pub names, for
example 'The Railway' . Sport is well represented with names like
'The Cricketers' . Infamous goings-on are also remembered: for
example, 'The Smugglers Haunt' and 'The Highwayman'!
Useful Links The Inn Sign Society www.innsignsociety.com
English Country Inns - take a virtual tour of
some of England's best country inns and historic hotels! www.english-inns.co.uk
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