The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1908-05-03
CURIOUS OLD INN
SIGNS IN ENGLAND
Ignorance of Country Folk Ae-
counts for Some of the
Queer Names

One must turn TO the long past days
o. -Old Aerrie England for informa-
ton and a just appreciation OF the
signs that swung above the entrance
70 England's much bepraised inns We
will then begin TO. comprehend how
closely allied they often were 10 the
events that formed the Kingdoms ma
tional history-with its t-iunp hs and
disasters. its crimes and virtues In the
times when Charles I and Charles II
sat upon the throne conspirators and
anprincipled politicians were fond OF
meeting to scheme and plot within
well known inns OF their time. High
wayraen and criminals were often shell
tered under the roofs OF various inns
throughout England On the other hand.
kings and queens. lords AID ladies. gen
try and commoners. according TO their
station. were housed and entertained
behttingly. for there were inns and inns
in those days. Those having the finest
patronage were spacious and admirably
fitted up with the appointments con-
tributed to luxury and comfort as II
was then understood.
Such inns customariIy bore relevant
signs that at once evinced their status
by having the portrait OF the refzning
king or queen deliberately painted
thereon. Added 10 this were rich carv-
ings and gildings. as well as beautiful
iron work. II was also customary 10
iatter the gentry living in the vicinity
OF one Of these old inns by selecting
some distinguished family's arrnorial
bearing for the inns sign, and by
means OF the painters skill in the use
OF coiors. gliding and devices. repro
ducing the family escutcheon- Il was
then hung out over the entrance as a
choice bit of decoration framed in the
finest OF iron workmanship. A well
known example was that or Richard
Sevil. Earl OF Warwick, who permitted
his crest 10 be chosen, the sign being
known as The Bear with the Ragged
Staf-" Inn keepers signs were. how
ever OF their own choosing mostly.
occasionally the selection Of a 5oviaI
and fayorite patron. OF else the result
OF some very obvious condition or sit
uati0n.
Lions and bulls. painted in every
known color. were favorites IN the
farming country The meeting Of roads
always had been seized upon as the
choicest OF places for the building OF
inns, and each one came TO be called
Gross Inn Some amusing results
frequently followed when the inns
sign was left 10 the peasant patrons
own construction. and accounts for
many OF the fdiotic and absurd names
that constantly prevailed a verv
called The Swan with the Two Necks.@
which originated from the phrase. "a
swan with two hicks" the said hicks
being marks on swans bill by which
it's owner was able 10 recognize his
property Bull and Gate" and Bull
and Mouth" were two inn signs that
were discovered TO have originally
Mouth the latter referring TO the
mouth of river near the old French
town
Bag o. Nails II is almost impossible
10 imagine ever 10 have been distorted
from -BacchanalS. With st George
and the Dragon we are more familtsr
The gallant soldier. ST George. il is
Diocletian. and commanded a legion. As
he happened 10 be a Christian. the
Dragon red with Christian blood renre-
scented TO him devil. whom he
proudly slew. Another confusing sign
upon an inn was The Goat and Com
passes which very long remained a
puzzle II was. in fact. originally taken
read God encompasseth us" .BuII
Inn" al Coventry. historically stands as
one of the foremost in interest. 1t was
noted for its Inequalities in the DAYS of
King Henry VII He was ENTERTAINERS
there the night before the battle OF
Bosworth field. where he won the Eng
fish crown Mary. Queen OF Scots. was
detained there also BIZ order Of Eliza
beth. Il is to be remembered II was
81 this same inn that the gunpowcer
plot conspirafors devised their scheme
10 blow up the houses OF parliament.
On. the other hand there were a mum,
her OF inns OF bad repute recognized
as nothing better than mantraps. Tray
elers were robbed there and murdered
with frequency. but the crimes were so
skillfully concealed that they were sell
dom detected II one instance IL is
recorded OF an inn in Berkshire whose
landlord was suspected Of the murder
OF his guests. but il was impossible to