“It is, in many cases, impossible to draw a line of demarcation between signs borrowed from the animal kingdom and those taken from Heraldry: we cannot now determine, for instance, whether by theWhite Horseis meant simply anequus caballus, or the White Horse of the Saxons, and that of the House of Hanover; nor whether theWhite Greyhoundrepresented originally the supporter of the arms of Henry VII., or simply the greyhound that courses ‘poor puss’ on our meadows in the hunting-season. For this reason this chapter has been placed as a sequel to the heraldic signs. As a rule, fantastically-coloured animals are unquestionably of heraldic origin: their number is limited to the Lion, the Boar, the Hart, the Dog, the Cat, the Bear, and, in a few instances, the Bull. All other animals were generally represented in what was meant for their natural colours.”
“It is, in many cases, impossible to draw a line of demarcation between signs borrowed from the animal kingdom and those taken from Heraldry: we cannot now determine, for instance, whether by theWhite Horseis meant simply anequus caballus, or the White Horse of the Saxons, and that of the House of Hanover; nor whether theWhite Greyhoundrepresented originally the supporter of the arms of Henry VII., or simply the greyhound that courses ‘poor puss’ on our meadows in the hunting-season. For this reason this chapter has been placed as a sequel to the heraldic signs. As a rule, fantastically-coloured animals are unquestionably of heraldic origin: their number is limited to the Lion, the Boar, the Hart, the Dog, the Cat, the Bear, and, in a few instances, the Bull. All other animals were generally represented in what was meant for their natural colours.”
Again, the authors very truly remark (p. 110) that—
“In pondering over this class of signs, great difficulty often arises from the absence of all proof that the animal under consideration was set up as a badge, and not as a representation of the actual animal. As no amount of investigation can decide this matter, we have been somewhat profuse in our list of badges, in order that the reader should be able to form his own opinion upon that subject. Thus, for instance, with the first sign that offers itself,The Angel and Trumpet, it is impossible to say whether the supporters of Richard II. gave rise to it, or whether it represents Fame.”
“In pondering over this class of signs, great difficulty often arises from the absence of all proof that the animal under consideration was set up as a badge, and not as a representation of the actual animal. As no amount of investigation can decide this matter, we have been somewhat profuse in our list of badges, in order that the reader should be able to form his own opinion upon that subject. Thus, for instance, with the first sign that offers itself,The Angel and Trumpet, it is impossible to say whether the supporters of Richard II. gave rise to it, or whether it represents Fame.”
The late Mr. Jewitt, who had an excellent knowledge of Heraldry, in his article already referred to, clearly recognizes the important part which that art has played in giving origin to many of our commonest signs; but the same cannot be said for Mr. Pengelly’s treatise on theSigns of Devonshire. The connection between Heraldry and the origin of our trade-signs is so intimate, that no one is fully competent to discuss the latter unless well acquainted with the former; and, although the signs of the 1,123 inns existing in Devonshire are carefully classified and treated of at length by Mr. Pengelly, numerous passages make it evident from the outset that he has little or no knowledge of the herald’s art. Consequently, his remarks lose very much of their interest. For instance, he says:—“So far as I have been able to discover, theHarp and Lionat Plymouth is without parallel anywhere. Its meaning, if it have any, seems very far to seek.” Had thewriter been acquainted with Heraldry, he would have known that a lion and a harp are the principal charges in the arms of Scotland and Wales respectively, as shown on the backs of our florins. Again, he says:
“Three is the popular numeral, and is not, at all times, easily accounted for.... There seems to be no explanation for theThree Cranesat Exeter, theThree Pigeonsat Bishop’s Tawton, theThree Horseshoes, of which there are four examples, or theThree Tuns, met with as many as seven times, unless we suppose the number to have some direct or indirect allusion to the doctrine of the Trinity, or to the very popular belief that ‘Three are lucky.’ ”
“Three is the popular numeral, and is not, at all times, easily accounted for.... There seems to be no explanation for theThree Cranesat Exeter, theThree Pigeonsat Bishop’s Tawton, theThree Horseshoes, of which there are four examples, or theThree Tuns, met with as many as seven times, unless we suppose the number to have some direct or indirect allusion to the doctrine of the Trinity, or to the very popular belief that ‘Three are lucky.’ ”
The frequent appearance of the number three on our sign-boards has been already explained, and the origin of its use will be made still clearer hereafter. It is certainly true that one of Mr. Pengelly’s headings is “Heraldry,” but under it he speaks of but little else than those inns which have the “Arms” of some person or place as their sign. In this connection he says:
“The Devonshire inn-keepers appear to be fond of heraldic signs; but it may be doubted whether some of the arms they have set up are known at the Heralds’ office. There are in the county as many as 253 sign-boards—i.e., 22 per cent. of the entire number—bearing arms of some kind. There is, however, a sufficient recurrence of the same names to reduce the number to 165 distinct signs or names of coats. The list contains the arms of a hero who had died, and a hierarchy that had passed away—Achilles and the Druids—before the founding of the Heraldic System; of royal, noble, and other distinguished personages; of proprietors of the soil; of countries, counties, cities, towns, and villages; of trades and employments; and of objects difficult of classification.”
“The Devonshire inn-keepers appear to be fond of heraldic signs; but it may be doubted whether some of the arms they have set up are known at the Heralds’ office. There are in the county as many as 253 sign-boards—i.e., 22 per cent. of the entire number—bearing arms of some kind. There is, however, a sufficient recurrence of the same names to reduce the number to 165 distinct signs or names of coats. The list contains the arms of a hero who had died, and a hierarchy that had passed away—Achilles and the Druids—before the founding of the Heraldic System; of royal, noble, and other distinguished personages; of proprietors of the soil; of countries, counties, cities, towns, and villages; of trades and employments; and of objects difficult of classification.”
With Mr. Pengelly’s treatment of non-heraldic signs there is, of course, no fault to be found.
M. Edouard Fournier, in his most interestingHistoire des Enseignes de Paris, makes some valuable remarks on the connection between Trade Signs and Heraldry. The following is a translation. After stating that coats of arms came into use at the time of the Crusades, he says:
“The first Crusade dates from the year 1090.... Is it not allowable to suppose that, among the Crusaders who had taken the sign of the cross upon their coats [of arms], there were some who, prevented from starting upon the Crusade, displayed the cross upon their houses, as a token of their having taken a vow, sooner or later, to proceed to the Holy Land?This would be a rational explanation of the general and widely followed custom of using the cross as the sign of a house or a shop—Red Crosses, White Crosses, Golden and Silver Crosses, &c., which form a kind of sign-board crusade. It is impossible otherwise to explain the singular and obvious analogy which exists between the devices on the shield of arms and those on the oldest sign-boards. On the sign-boards, as upon the armorial bearings, are to be seen the same devices, borrowed from every object which has a shape or a name in the creation of God or of man; moreover, upon the sign-boards, these figures are reproduced with the various colours and ‘metals’ in which they appear on the coats of arms. The only difference is in the ‘field’ or background upon which the figures are painted. On the sign-board this is of no importance; while it is, on the contrary, one of the distinctive features of the coat of arms. In Louvan Geliot’sIndice Armorial(Armorial Index) is to be found not only a glossary of all the words used in heraldic ‘blazon,’ but also the names of nearly all the devices displayed upon sign-boards.... In a word, sign-boards and shields of arms, both alike, display figures of everything that strikes the eye or the mind in our every-day life....“The mansions built or inhabited by noble families bore, as signs, the arms of these families, sculptured or painted, over the entrance-door. These escutcheons of the nobility, without doubt, excited the envy of the merchants, who wished also to have signs, and who, therefore, placed their trade or occupation under the protection of the shield of France, or some other shield, either of a province or even of a monastery. There was nobody to object to this, and such signs quickly multiplied in every direction.”
“The first Crusade dates from the year 1090.... Is it not allowable to suppose that, among the Crusaders who had taken the sign of the cross upon their coats [of arms], there were some who, prevented from starting upon the Crusade, displayed the cross upon their houses, as a token of their having taken a vow, sooner or later, to proceed to the Holy Land?This would be a rational explanation of the general and widely followed custom of using the cross as the sign of a house or a shop—Red Crosses, White Crosses, Golden and Silver Crosses, &c., which form a kind of sign-board crusade. It is impossible otherwise to explain the singular and obvious analogy which exists between the devices on the shield of arms and those on the oldest sign-boards. On the sign-boards, as upon the armorial bearings, are to be seen the same devices, borrowed from every object which has a shape or a name in the creation of God or of man; moreover, upon the sign-boards, these figures are reproduced with the various colours and ‘metals’ in which they appear on the coats of arms. The only difference is in the ‘field’ or background upon which the figures are painted. On the sign-board this is of no importance; while it is, on the contrary, one of the distinctive features of the coat of arms. In Louvan Geliot’sIndice Armorial(Armorial Index) is to be found not only a glossary of all the words used in heraldic ‘blazon,’ but also the names of nearly all the devices displayed upon sign-boards.... In a word, sign-boards and shields of arms, both alike, display figures of everything that strikes the eye or the mind in our every-day life....
“The mansions built or inhabited by noble families bore, as signs, the arms of these families, sculptured or painted, over the entrance-door. These escutcheons of the nobility, without doubt, excited the envy of the merchants, who wished also to have signs, and who, therefore, placed their trade or occupation under the protection of the shield of France, or some other shield, either of a province or even of a monastery. There was nobody to object to this, and such signs quickly multiplied in every direction.”
M. Fournier next gives a long list of houses which formerly displayed armorial signs in several of the “Quartiers” of Paris. “After this enumeration [he says] it will be possible to form an idea of the multitude of signs of this kind which must have existed at the same periods in the other Quarters of Paris.”
Before proceeding to discuss in detail the various signs to be met with in the county of Essex, it will be well to point out two cunningly-concealed pitfalls into which the ardent antiquary is likely to fall, unless he is careful to exercise vigilance in avoiding them.
The first of these arises from the combination of two different signs into one. Larwood and Hotten speak of such signs being “quartered,” but “impaled” is a much better word, if used in its old heraldic sense. Signs of this kind first began to appear about the beginning of last century, and are still common, although less so than formerly. It is noticeable that Taylor in hisCatalogue of Tavernes, published in 1636(see p. 28), does not name a single impaled sign, properly so-called. In some cases, such as theEagle and Child, theStar and Garter, theGeorge and Dragon, &c., the connection is at once obvious; but in the great majority no meaning or connection is apparent. In such cases it will be found best not to search too deeply for a meaning, for the good reason that none exists. The mind of Addison seems to have been considerably exercised by the signs of this kind to be seen in his day in the London streets. In an amusing letter to theSpectator, in 1710, he professes himself desirous of obtaining office as “Superintendent of Signs,” in order that he might be able to expunge those of an unnatural kind.
“My first task, therefore [he says], should be, like that of Hercules, to clear the city from monsters. In the second place, I should forbid that creatures of jarring and incongruous natures should be joined together in the same sign; such as theBell and Neat’s Tongue, theDog and Gridiron. TheFox and the Goosemay be supposed to have met; but what have theFox and Seven Starsto do together? And when did theLion and Dolphinever meet except upon a sign-post? As for theCat and Fiddle, there is a conceit in it; and I, therefore, do not intend that anything that I have here said should affect it.”
“My first task, therefore [he says], should be, like that of Hercules, to clear the city from monsters. In the second place, I should forbid that creatures of jarring and incongruous natures should be joined together in the same sign; such as theBell and Neat’s Tongue, theDog and Gridiron. TheFox and the Goosemay be supposed to have met; but what have theFox and Seven Starsto do together? And when did theLion and Dolphinever meet except upon a sign-post? As for theCat and Fiddle, there is a conceit in it; and I, therefore, do not intend that anything that I have here said should affect it.”
Further on, he makes it plain to us how some of these strange combinations arose.
“I must, however, observe to you upon this subject [says he], that it is usual for a young tradesman, at his first setting up, to add to his own sign that of the master whom he served, as the husband, after marriage, gives a place to his mistress’s arms in his own coat. This I take to have given rise to many of those absurdities which are committed over our heads; and, as I am informed, first occasioned theThree Nuns and a Hare, which we see so frequently joined together.”
“I must, however, observe to you upon this subject [says he], that it is usual for a young tradesman, at his first setting up, to add to his own sign that of the master whom he served, as the husband, after marriage, gives a place to his mistress’s arms in his own coat. This I take to have given rise to many of those absurdities which are committed over our heads; and, as I am informed, first occasioned theThree Nuns and a Hare, which we see so frequently joined together.”
According to Messrs. Larwood and Hotten (p. 21) impaled signs, too, were often set up “on removing from one shop to another, when it was customary to add the sign of the old shop to that of the new.” Numerous examples may be cited of impaled signs which occur at the present time in Essex. Such are theBull and Horseshoe(p. 65) at North Weald, theLion and Boar(p. 63) at Earl’s Colne, theLion and Key(p. 63) at Leyton, theBull and Crown(p. 65) at Chingford, theStar and Fleece(p. 79) atKelvedon, theSun and Whalebone(p. 83) at Latton, the examples of theCock and Bell(p. 99) at Writtle, Romford, and High Easter, theRainbow and Dove(p. 101) at North Weald, theCrown and Blacksmith(p. 131) at Tendring, the examples of thePlow and Sail(p. 146) at Tollesbury, East Hanningfield, Paglesham, and Maldon, theSun and Anchor(p. 147) at Steeple, theBell and Anchor(p. 159) at Canning Town, theCoach and Bell(p. 159) at Romford, theOld Windmill and Bells(p. 159) also at Romford, theCrown and Crooked Billet(p. 162) at Woodford Bridge, and many others. These will all be found noticed in their proper places. Many other apparently impaled signs might be noticed. Such are theCoach and Horses(p. 57), theLion and Lamb(p. 63), theEagle and Child(p. 92), theDog and Partridge(p. 75), theRose and Crown(p. 116), theGeorge and Dragon(p. 128), &c., &c.; but these do not properly belong to this class, there being some obvious or possible connection between the two objects named in each case. Among signs of this kind—apparently, though not strictly speaking, impaled—belong all, or most, combinations of any object with either a Hand or a Hoop. Such are theHand and Glove(p. 142), theHand and Ball(p. 142), theCross and Hand(p. 142), and theHand and Star(p. 28); also theCock and Hoop, theHoop and Horseshoe, theHoop and Grapes, which do not occur in Essex. Combinations with a Hand generally arose from the fact that it was once common to represent on the sign-board a hand holding or supporting some other object. In many cases, no doubt, such combinations originally represented some family crest, in which (as is commonly the case) a hand supported a cross, a glove, a spear, or some other object as the case might be. Combinations into which a Hoop enters may be explained by mentioning the fact that formerly the sign was not always painted on a board, but often carved in wood or metal and suspended before the house within a hoop.
The second cause of difficulty arises from the fact that some signs have become altered and corrupted in the course of time. Many curious examples of signs of this class aregiven by the authors so often quoted. Most of them seem to have arisen in this way:—A sign was put up which commemorated some incident or personage, often perhaps of only local celebrity. In the course of time the occurrence commemorated or the individual represented by the sign became forgotten (or, at any rate, disconnected from the sign); and, under the influence of vulgar pronunciation (or, possibly, upon the advent of a fresh landlord, who knew nothing as to the significance of the old name), the sign was changed, and given some fresh meaning, which the words seemed to imply or nearly resemble. Such signs as these may be styled “corruptions.” As an example, it may be mentioned that at Hever, in Kent, near which place the Bullen or Boleyn family had large possessions, there was, for many years after the death of the unfortunate Ann, an ale-house with the sign of theBullen Butchered; but, on the place falling into fresh hands, the sign was vulgarized into theBull and Butcher(!), and so remained until a recent date. In exactly the same way, a farm standing on or near the site of one of the old lodges at one of the entrances to the Park of New Hall, Boreham—another ancient estate of the Boleyn or Bullen family—is now known as “Bull’s Lodge Farm,” it having formerly been “Bullen’s Lodge Farm.” Thus, too, theGeorge Canninghas become changed into theGeorge and Cannon, theIsland Queeninto theIceland Queen, theFour Allsinto theFour Awls(and used as a shoemaker’s sign), and theElephant and Castleinto thePig and Tinderbox. It is by no means improbable that, if sufficiently minute inquiry were to be made, it would be found that some of our 22 EssexShips, many of which are situated far from the sea, and in purely agricultural districts, are intended forSheep, that word being, in Essex, invariably pronounced “ship,” both in the singular and plural. The StockShip, for instance, occupies some of the highest ground in the county, and is a well-known landmark for many miles around. It could hardly have reached its present position without undergoing some such strange adventures as Noah’s Ark is said to have experienced. The
Image not available: FALCON AND FETTERLOCK.FALCON AND FETTERLOCK.
authors of theHistory of Sign-boardsstate that the two words “ship” and “sheep” were once commonly pronounced almost promiscuously, as now in Essex. At Berkhampstead, in Hertfordshire, moreover, there is a house which formerly had a pictorial representation of a ship in full sail as its sign. Of late, however, the sign-board has merely borne the word “ship;” and, quite recently, on the advent of a new landlord who had been a cattle-dealer, the sign was changed into theSheep. On the other hand, there is, at Chipping Norton, in Oxfordshire, a house styled theSheep and Anchor, which, doubtless, should be, and originally was, theShip and Anchor. The old sign of theFalcon and Fetterlock, representing the badge of John of Ghent, is now often corrupted into theHawk and Buckle, or even into theHawk and Buck. In speaking of Essex examples of corrupted signs, it may be mentioned that theGoat and Boots(p. 81) appears at Colchester for theGoat in Boots, and that theDe Beauvoir’s Arms(p. 43) at Downham is locally known as “theBeavers.” In thePost Office Directory, too, theHorse and Well(p. 57) at Woodford appears as theHorse and Wheel, theRoman Urn(p. 44) at Colchester as theRoman Arms, and theSunderland Arms(p. 31) at Wakes Colne as theSutherland Arms. Some of these are not corruptions which have actually taken place on the sign-board; but they well show the tendency towards such corruption. There can be but little doubt, too, that the sign of theHarrow(p. 171) represents thePortcullis crownedwhich Henry VII. and other sovereigns used as a badge. When the knowledge of heraldry declined the common people called the sign by the name of the Harrow, not knowing of anything else which resembled the device displayed. It thus became an agricultural sign, and was sometimes combined with another sign of the same kind, namely, thePlough, as at Leytonstone (p. 170). In other counties, according to Larwood and Hotten, the sign is still commonlyknown as thePortcullis, but we have no example in Essex. Some forty years ago it was recorded in theWorcester Journalthat the landlord of theWhite HartInn at Dudley decided that his sign, which had until then been merely written, should be made pictorial; but instead of having depicted the ordinary White Hart with golden chain and collar, he (whether through ignorance or intent) had painted in white, on a black ground, a large Elephant’sHeart! Of this absurd corruption we have now an example in Essex, as mentioned hereafter (p. 53).
Image not available: PORTCULLIS.PORTCULLIS.
It was also once a very common thing for the sign to form a “rebus,” or pun, upon the name of the owner. ThusTwo Cocksrepresented Cox;Three Conies, Conny;Three Fishes, Fish, &c., &c. The token issued in 1665 by “Beniamin Samson in Coggeshall” bears what Boyne describes as “the figure of Sampson, standing, with a robe over his shoulder and loins, holding a jawbone in one hand.” Many combinations, otherwise inexplicable, doubtless arose from this source, such as aHand and Cock, signifying Hancock, and aBabe and Tun, signifying Babington. It is not easy to detect any instance in which a rebus or punning device now appears on an Essex sign-board; but several cases may be pointed out on the trade-tokens issued by Essex tradesmen in the seventeenth century. Thus, aLambappears on the token of Thomas Lambe of Colchester in 1654 (p. 80), aFinchon that of John Finch of Halstead, and aTreeon that of W. Spiltimber of Hatfield Broad Oak. It is worth mention, too, that Mr. A. Stagg, an English hatter, in the Rue Auber, Paris, displays two gilded stags’ heads on the facia above his shop.
Thus we see that, in searching for the origin of any sign of obscure derivation, we may have to trace it back through several different forms.
Coming now to the more particular examination of the signs connected with Essex, we find that the signs of the 1,355 inns existing in the county furnish an ample fund ofinterest to any one who systematically studies their origin and significance. For convenience in treatment an attempt has been made to arrange these signs under various headings, and under one or other of these headings every distinct inn-sign now appearing in the county will be found treated of, together with a large number of other signs which once existed in Essex, but have now disappeared. The list of Essex inns given in thePost Office Directoryfor the county has been found very useful, although, unfortunately, the signs of the numerous “beer-shops” (when they have any) are not given. This deficiency has, however, to some extent, been supplied through the kindness of the magistrates’ clerks in the county, who have forwarded lists of such beer-houses as have signs or names in their respective divisions. The information thus obtained has been incorporated with the remainder; but in speaking of a certain sign appearing so many times in the county the number of fully-licensed houses alone is in all cases referred to. In various parts of the county, but especially in the south-western portion round Epping and Ongar (as also in London), these houses are known among the labouring people by the strange name of “Tom and Jerrys,” no explanation of the origin of which seems to be obtainable. Beer-houses are compelled by Act of Parliament (1 Will. IV., c. 64, s. 6, & 4 & 5 Will. IV., c. 85, s. 18) to display over their doors a descriptive board, to be “publicly visible and legible,” under penalty of £10, but it does not appear that either they or fully-licensed houses are compelled to display signs.
There does not appear to have been any complete list of the inns of the county published more than forty years ago, but even the lists extending back that far may advantageously be compared with that of the present time. Although very many of our signs still remain the same now as they were then, numerous changes are noticeable. These are, however, generally in the direction that might be expected. Old heraldic devices are slowly disappearing and giving place to modern vulgarisms. For instance, so lately as the year 1868Railway InnsandRailway Tavernscombinedonly numbered twenty, while at the present time we have no less than thirty-one. It is quite clear that in the early part of this century, before railways came into existence, these signs must have been altogether unknown. Their places were then filled by such signs as theCoach and Horsesor theHorn and Horseshoes, and other signs now going out of fashion.
A great deal of very useful and interesting information as to the signs in use in Essex two centuries ago is also to be obtained from an examination of the list of seventeenth-century tokens given by Mr. Boyne.[11]These tokens were issued very numerously by tradesmen during the Commonwealth and the reign of Charles I., when the national coinage was in an extremely debased condition. In the “field,” or centre, of the coin there was generally a device, which usually represented the sign under which the issuer traded. Many of the objects thus represented have, of course, disappeared from the sign-boards of the present day, though very many others are still familiar public-house signs. Mr. Boyne is, however, of the opinion that not more than one-fifth of the tokens now extant were issued by tavern-keepers, the rest having been circulated by ordinary tradesmen. Reference has already been made to the fact that many of the common heraldic signs had their origin in the use formerly made of the arms of the various Trade Guilds or companies as signs; and a hasty examination of the list of Essex tokens given by Boyne shows that between 80 and 90, or 37 per cent., bear arms or emblems belonging to one or other of these ancient companies. Thus, the Grocers appear about 25 times, the Bakers about 13 times, the Tallow-chandlers 10 times, the Woolmen 8 times, the Clothworkers 4 times, the Blacksmiths and the Drapers each 3 times, the Mercers, the Apothecaries, and the Barber Surgeons each twice, and the Brewers, the Fishmongers, the Butchers, the Fruiterers, and the Cutlers each once. Each of these signs will be hereafter treated of in its proper place.
A very interesting list of the inns in Essex (107 in all) in 1636 is given in John Taylor’s—the “Water Poet’s”—Catalogue of Tavernes in Tenne Shires about London, published in that year. Unfortunately, however, in only thirteen cases does he give the sign. In all other cases he merely gives the name of the holder. Frequent allusion will hereafter be made to this list of inns.
In the first edition ofPigot’s Commercial Directory, published in 1823, is a list of the inns in the principal Essex towns at that day, which has proved very useful. An asterisk placed before the sign of any particular existing inn, or the name of the place at which it is situated, indicates that the inn in question is mentioned in the aboveDirectory, and that it is therefore at least 64 years old.
It is much to be regretted that, although the inns are, as a rule, among the oldest and most interesting houses in any small town or country village, our Essex historians have, almost without exception, been too fully occupied in tracing the descent of manors and estates, even to notice them.
The list given in theLondon Directoryfor 1885 enumerates no less than 1,742 distinct signs or devices, as appearing in the metropolis alone. Some of these are, of course, repeated as many as fifty times.
Image not available: HAND AND STAR. (Date 1550, after Larwood and Hotten.)HAND AND STAR.(Date 1550, after Larwood and Hotten.)
... “a coat of arms, ... and wild beasts on their hind legs,showing it, as if it was a copy they had done, with mouths from earto ear,—good gracious!”Dickens:Little Dorrit, book ii., chap. ix.
... “a coat of arms, ... and wild beasts on their hind legs,showing it, as if it was a copy they had done, with mouths from earto ear,—good gracious!”Dickens:Little Dorrit, book ii., chap. ix.
... “a coat of arms, ... and wild beasts on their hind legs,showing it, as if it was a copy they had done, with mouths from earto ear,—good gracious!”Dickens:Little Dorrit, book ii., chap. ix.
AS the quaint art of Heraldry has given to us many, if not a majority, of our most interesting signs, it is only reasonable that signs of this class should be treated first.
In all respects the most purely heraldic sign we have in Essex is theFleur-de-Lys, which occurs at Widdington. As a sign, this was formerly much more common than at present. Eight of the Essex tokens are described as having borne it. Two of these were issued in Colchester, two in Billericay, and one each in Chelmsford, Coggeshall, Stock, and Witham, the issuer at the latter place being John Jackson, clothier, in 1669. There was formerly a house of this name at Waltham Abbey. In the parish register the burial of a landlord, on May 8, 1684, is recorded as follows:—“Edward Clarke, att yeflower de luis.” Mr. H. W. King, too, finds mention in ancient deeds of a “Flower de Luce” at Maldon in 1658, and again in 1690, but whether an inn, shop, or dwelling-house, there is, as usual, no evidence to show. As it is sometimes varied into theThree Fleurs de Lys, the most reasonable conclusion is that it is taken from the arms of France, as formerly quartered with those of England, but a fleur-de-lys was also used as a badge by Edward III. In former times, too, it was an emblem of the Virgin Mary. In London at the present day the sign occurs once only, namely, in Fleur-de-Lys Street, E.Below are depicted four of the many forms taken by this device on early shields of arms.
Image not available: FLEUR DE LYS (four early forms).FLEUR DE LYS (four early forms).
Image not available: ESSEX ARMS.ESSEX ARMS.
Image not available: COLCHESTER ARMS.COLCHESTER ARMS.
No less than 116 of our present public-houses (or 8·5 per cent.) are named after the arms of some family, place, city, country, or trade. Those obviously named after some place within the county will be first noticed. To commence with, however, we will mention theRoyal Armsat Silvertown.[12]The same device appears on a token inscribed “Theophilus Harvey, in Manitree, 1669.” Next we have theEssex Arms.[13]There are now four examples, though forty years ago there were five. At Springfield, too, there is a beer-house of this name. Then we have a *Colchester Arms,[14]which is, of course, situated at Colchester. It is at least forty years old. TheColchester Armsalso appear on the halfpenny token of Alexander Satterthwaite, of Colchester, dated 1668. TheBorough Armsat Maldon are, of course, the arms of that town.[15]TheAbbey Armsat Plaistow doubtless represent the arms of the neighbouring Abbey of Barking.[16]Sixty yearsago there was aHarwich Arms[17]at *Harwich. Then we have theHutton Armsat Hutton, theChadwell Armsat Chadwell Heath, theBerechurch Armsat Lexden, theRomford Arms(beer-house) at Romford, theColne Valley Armsat Birdbrook, and theRoyal Essex Armsat Braintree, all of which coats the heralds would probably be unable to find entered at Heralds’ College. The last-named is an especially strange device. It is probably an impaled sign, due to a combination of theRoyal Armsand theEssex Arms.
Many other of our “arms” are named after places outside the county. Probably in many cases a new landlord has named his house after the place he came from. Such are theCambridge Arms, theCuckfield Arms, theDartmouth Arms, theDenmark Arms, theDorset Arms, 2Durham Arms, theFalmouth Arms, theIpswich Arms, theLiverpool Arms, theNorthumberland Arms, theOdessa Arms, theLilliput Arms(in the Lilliput Road, Stratford), theTower Hamlets Arms(at Forest Gate), and theKent Armsat North Woolwich, a parish belonging to Kent, though situated on the north side of the river. Twenty years ago there was also aSussex Armsin existence. TheCity Armsat Canning Town presumably represent the arms of the City of London.[18]The dagger in the City arms commemorates the slaying of Wat Tyler by Sir William Walworth, in 1381. The weapon used is still in the possession of the Fishmongers’ Company. TheSutherland Armsat Wakes Colne seems from the printed list to have been corrupted from theSunderland Armswithin the last twenty years. An example of both forms occurs in London at the present time. It is most probable that some of these signs have not taken their names direct from the counties or towns mentioned, but from the titles of noblemen who have become prominent for political or other reasons. This hasbeen almost certainly the case with theCambridge Arms, theDurham Arms, and theLiverpool Arms.
Image not available: BREWERS’ ARMS.BREWERS’ ARMS.
The following signs are, with equal clearness, derived from trades or employments pursued within the county. Many of them are, doubtless, derived directly from the arms of the London Trade Companies. Of theBlacksmiths’ Arms[19]we have examples situated respectively at Little Clacton and at North Weald. The Blacksmiths’ Arms also appear on the halfpenny tokens of “Will Todd, Blacksmith of Epping,” 1668, and of William Thompson of South Benfleet (no date). TheBlacksmiths’ Arms, at Little Clacton, appears to have existed since 1786 at least, as it is referred to in an advertisement in theChelmsford Chroniclefor March 17th in that year. Not improbably theHammer and Pincerscrossed, which appeared on the halfpenny of Will Willis of Romford, in 1667, constituted a blacksmith’s sign. TheBrewers’ Arms[20]occur as a sign at Woodham Ferris and *Colchester. TheThree Tuns, of which we have examples at Newport, *Dunmow, and Waltham Abbey, all of them being at least forty years old, are certainly derived from the arms either of the Brewers’ Company or the Vintners’ Company.[21]Three Tunsare depicted on the token issued by William Harman, of Chelmsford, in 1657. TheThree Tunswhich formerly existed at *Chelmsford was long a well-known inn. The Rev. R. E. Bartlett finds it mentioned in the parish registers in 1619, when “a chrisome son of Robt. Ogden of Chelmsford, Vintner, at the 3 Tunnes, and of Susan his wife, was buried theXXXday of December, being Thursday.”Taylor also mentions it in hisCatalogue of Tavernes, published in 1636. Sixty years ago there was a house of this name at *Braintree, and in 1789 that at Waltham Abbey was spelledThree Tons. The Bakers’ Arms[22]occur on the tokens some thirteen times, either as theBakers’ Arms, aHand and Scales, aPair of Scales, or aPair of Scales and a Wheatsheaf. TheBakers’ Armsnow only appears as an inn-sign at Leyton, but there are beer-houses of this name at Buttsbury and Waltham Abbey. Our common modern sign of theWheatsheafis also probably derived from the arms of this Company. There are seven examples in the county, situated respectively at Wrabness, *Chelmsford, Tolleshunt D’Arcy, Braintree, Stow Maries, High Ongar, and Ardleigh. There are also beer-houses of this name at Loughton, Theydon Bois, Waltham Abbey, Hatfield Peverell, Kelvedon, Rettendon, Writtle, Hornchurch, &c. A house at Castle Hedingham, known as theWheatsheaf, though now a beer-shop merely, appears once to have been a very good private residence. TheWheatsheafat *Chelmsford seems to have been in existence since 1786 at least, as it is mentioned in theChelmsford Chronicleon January 13th in that year. Likewise the still-extant sign of theMaid’s Head(to be noticed hereafter) is probably derived from the arms of the Mercers’ Company,[23]which appear on the undated farthings of “Thomas Bvrges, Est Street, Covlchester,” and “Clement Pask of Castell Heninhame.” TheMasons’ Arms[24]occur at *Moulsham. TheGardeners’ Arms[25]appear at Wakes Colne and Loughton (beer-house). TheWheelers’ Arms[26](?Wheelwrights’ Arms) appear at
Image not available: BUTCHERS’ ARMS.BUTCHERS’ ARMS.
Good Easter. TheBricklayers’ Arms[27]occur three times, namely, at Colchester, Stondon, and Bocking (beer-shop). TheRoyal Hotelat Purfleet is famed for its whitebait. Until recently it was known as theBricklayers’ Arms, evidently, as Mr. Palin thinks,[28]because the Bricklayers’ Company formerly worked the huge chalk quarries close at hand. TheButchers’ Arms[29]occur at Wimbish, Felstead, Stambourne, and Woodham Ferris (beer-shop). Probably theBull’s Head, theBoar’s Head, and theFly and Bullock, to be noticed hereafter, are all connected with the arms of this Company, which appear on the halfpenny of “John Harvey of Rochfoord” in 1668. TheCarpenters’ Arms[30]occur eight times in the county,and also often serve as a beer-house sign. One near Chelmsford is kept by a carpenter, as is, doubtless, often the case. There can be no doubt that theCompasses, which occurs six times, and theThree Compasses, which appears twice, are derived from the arms of this Company. A house near Waltham Abbey, now known by the latter form of the sign, seems in 1789 to have been called theCompassesmerely. TheAxe and Compassesat Arkesden is probably a modern, but certainly an appropriate, combination; or the axe may be intended for one of the adzes in the arms of the Coopers’ Company, for theCoopers’ Arms[31]themselves appear at Chadwell Heath, Aldham, Chelmsford, and Romford, the last two being beer-houses. Although the arms of the Cutlers’ Company[32]are not now to be seen on our sign-boards, there can be little doubt that theTwo swords crossed, which appeared on the undated farthing of “Nathaniell Smith in Thacksteed,” were derived from the arms of that Company, Thaxted having formerly been a seat of the cutlery trade, as the name “Cutlers’ Green,” in the immediate vicinity, indicates. TheWaterman’s Arms[33]was formerly a sign at Leigh, but whether of an inn or private house does not appear. Mr. H. W. King is able, by means of evidence obtained from old deeds, to give a complete account of the house which displayed this sign (and which was built about the time of Charles I.) from 1650; but there are earlier notices of it. Portions of it, built of oak, are still standing, but much altered. When it first became an inn does not appear. It is first mentioned as having been such in 1746, when it is described as “two tenements now and lately called the Waterman’s Arms.” Probably, therefore, it had even then ceased to be an inn, and had been divided into two dwelling-houses.Under the floor of one of the rooms, some years since, were found several small coins of Charles II., and a leaden tavern token, undated, but probably of the seventeenth century. On it was a hand or arm, pouring from a tankard into a cup or glass. Forty years ago there was aPoulterers’ Arms[34]at Chelmsford. Larwood and Hotten do not notice this sign.
Image not available: THE CUPS HOTEL, COLCHESTER.THE CUPS HOTEL, COLCHESTER.
Similarly, several other Companies, whose arms are not now to be found named upon our Essex sign-boards, appear to have given us signs which we still have. For instance, the sign of theTrowel and Hammerat Marks Tey (which is not mentioned by Larwood and Hotten) is in all probability derived from the arms of the Plasterers’ Company,[35]while the sign ofThree Cupshas, doubtless, been derived from the arms of the Salters’ Company.[36]Of this sign we have examples at Great Oakley, Maldon, Springfield, and *Colchester. TheThree Cupsat Colchester (commonlycalled theCups), though not one of the oldest licensed houses in that ancient borough, was long a well-known coaching inn, and for upwards of half a century has been the leading hotel in the town. There is reason to believe that a small tavern known as the Queen’s Head stood upon the site in the days of Elizabeth; but a more commodious building was erected, as an inscription on the front stated, in 1792. That, however, had become too antiquated for its requirements, and was demolished in 1885. Upon its site has now been erected an extremely handsome building of brick and stone. Carved on one of the projecting windows are “three cups,” with pedestals, but they do not correctly represent the “covered sprinkling-salts” of the Salters’ Arms. These, however, are correctly represented, being carved in wood, and supported upon a sign-post, before theThree Cupsat *Springfield, a house at least a century old, as it is mentioned in theChelmsford Chronicleon March 30, 1787.
In a curious poem, describing a journey from London to Aldborough and back, published in 1804,[37]theThree Cupsat *Harwich—now known as theCups—is thus alluded to: