Weird and Wonderful Pub Signs #1

Pubs signs are often thought of being flat rectangular shapes, often with a florid or minimalist design. That’s not strictly true, in some instances pub signs came come in all shapes and sizes; in this ongoing series we will take an insight into the weird and wonderful pub signs that deviate from the norm, and help single out the pub by its unique identity. Here are three examples of unusual looking pub signs:

 

The Flask, 77 Highgate West Hill, Highgate, London

A grade II listed public house situated near Hampstead Heath, this Highgate institution has been around since c.1663, although the present building was rebuilt by William Carpenter in 1767. The building is typical for the mid Georgian period and has largely remained unchanged since it was renovated in the mid-18^th century; it is currently listed on CAMRA’s regional inventory of historic pub interiors, and has boasted a number of notable customers including the satirical artist William Hogarth and the revolutionist thinker and philosopher Karl Marx, whom lived nearby. The pub was given its notable name, since it sold flasks of local mineral water during the boom period in the 18^th century when Hampstead mineral water was all the rage.  Formerly a Mitchell’s and Butler’s pub, it was acquired by Fullers in 2009 and at some point, a decade ago, the old rectangular sign was replaced with a model of an oversized flask in honour of its heritage. This simple yet effective 3D design, is rare among pub signs yet it helps mark the pub among its contemporaries in this area which is well known for its sizeable number of pubs. This unusual architectural feature is welcome addition to the pub’s Georgian era appearance.

King’s Head, 8 High Road, North Weald, Essex

Another grade II listed pub located in North Weald which was once a stop on the Central Line until 1994. A rustic looking country pub partly built from old ships’ timbers salvaged from Tilbury Docks, the building dates from the 17^th century and was extensively reconstructed in 1927. The pub’s name derives from the period following Henry VIII’s dissolution from the Catholic Church and the subsequent decades of anti-Catholic rhetoric that followed when pubs across the country changed their once religious names, some even went to the lengths of openly swearing allegiance to the King, with the King’s Head becoming a popular name. Since this pub was built c.1670, this pub was probably named in honour of Charles II who had restored the English monarchy a decade before. The current pub sign which was installed several years ago, features a cut-out figure of Stephen II, the last of the Norman monarchs who ruled between 1135-1154. Curiously the design is relatively more recent and is based on a cigarette card portrait produced by John Player & Sons in 1935, which itself was based on an earlier engraving by George Vertue in 1733. The cut-out design is two sided and easily identifiable, with the pub’s status as a free-house proudly mentioned beneath.

 

George & Dragon, High Street, West Wycombe, Buckinghamshire

Nestled on the old London – Oxford road near the Hellfire Caves, the building dates back to 1720 on the site of a 14^th century Coaching Inn, and to this day it still retains its heritage by operating as partly as a hotel with 10 bedrooms overlooking the former stables yard. The building has all the unique features of a 18^th century coaching inn including a network of wooden beams, along with wonky and crooked flooring. The pub’s name is a common one among pubs, and comes from the famous folk story when Saint George defeated a Dragon who had been terrorising and extorting a nearby village, at first it was offered livestock to prevent it from destroying the village, then gradually it was given human sacrifices when eventually it was offered a Princess. By pure chance Saint George arrived at this encounter and wounded the Dragon. He then took it back to the village and coerced the villagers to convert to Christianity, before beheading the dragon. At the time of writing there are around 127 pubs bearing that name currently operating the UK, and the signs usually feature a graphic painted portrait of Saint George wounding the Dragon. Although rather uniquely this sign is shaped in the form of a shield, reminiscent of the one used Saint George when he battled the Dragon. It gives the sign a rather distinctive touch that makes it stand out from over pub signs that bare this name.