Pub signs come in all manner of
names and designs, many are steeped in history such as The Rose and Crown which
celebrates the marriage union of the Houses of Lancaster and York when Lancastrian
Henry Tudor married Elizabeth, the Rose of York in 1485, or The Royal Oak that
memorialises the story when Charles II hid in an oak tree to avoid capture from
parliamentary troops after the defeat at the Battle of Worcester in 1651. Some
signs have referenced local industry and commerce such as The Railway, The
Carpenters Arms, The Three Horseshoes or The Bricklayers Arms, whilst others
have referenced iconic historical figures, with names like The George, The Duke
of Wellington, Lord Nelson or Shakespeare being popular examples. A good number
of pubs feature signs that swore loyalty to a particular monarch of time, with
the earliest being The White Hart which was symbol of Richard II, latterly the
King’s Head which was introduced following Henry VIII’s establishment of the
church of England in 1534, or The Victoria in commemoration of the monarch’s
long and eventful reign that lasted from 1837 to 1901. Although are large
proportion of pubs signs that feature royal links, there have also been numerous
cases of pub names reflecting the local gentry, notable military leaders, famous
individuals, industry, mythology, animals and even sports like greyhound racing,
cricket and fox hunting, yet they also share something in common as they have
closely followed the changes in British society over time.
Many of these signs were introduced
specifically at a time when the general population was largely illiterate, so
signs tended to be simple in design and would generally show subjects of local
or popular interest at the time they were built. This heritage persists well
into the modern era with many pubs around the country still baring these
historic names and signs; yet some pubs names are more common than others, for example
currently there are over 500 pubs called the Red Lion currently in business
within the UK, this astonishingly high number has remained consistently high despite
the spate of pub closures over the past decade. This is followed by the likes
of The Crown and The Royal Oak, both boasting over 300 pubs each, yet below these
high figures the current standings become increasingly competitive and close,
and with the continuous wave of pub closures and openings, these numbers tend
to change with the times. So based on research from Pubs Galore,
here is a potted guide into the current top ten pub signs (as of June 2024) that
can be found in pubs currently in operation across the UK, along with some
information behind the intriguing origins of their iconic names and designs.
10. The Kings Arms – 226 pubs
This particular sign continues on
the fine tradition of pubs swearing their loyalty to the incumbent monarch of the
time. In 1534, King Henry VIII broke with the Catholic Church and declared himself
Supreme Head of the Church of England. A time of radical upheaval followed, a new
version of the bible featured text translated into English, the monasteries
were dissolved and Church property were taken under control. All references to
Catholicism were outlawed, even down to pub names where owners changed the
names, so the Crossed Keys became The Rose and Crown and The Ark was renamed
The Ship for instance. Some went even further, and names like the King’s Head and
the Kings Arms were established, in order to show unequivocal support for the King.
Like it’s latter-day namesake The Crown, this sign is essentially timeless as
it shows loyalty to the monarchy without having to change when a new monarch ascended
to the throne. Most signs typically bear the current Royal Coat of Arms, which
dates back to the time of James I, which was introduced following the union of
crowns upon his ascent to the English throne in 1603, this design continues to
be used to this day, with minor alterations over the years.
9. The Ship – 227 pubs
Its origins are steeped in a
period of profound religious and political upheaval in this country. Originally
it was known as The Ark in reference to the iconic religious text where Noah
built an ark under the orders of God, in a bid to survive the Great Flood. However,
with reformation and the establishment of the Church of England in 1534, since
pubs were required to rid all links to Catholicism, the likes of The Ark became
The Ship as a result of this. Although nowadays pubs bearing the name The Ship
have more to with country’s seafaring and naval heritage than religion, most
signs generally feature images of iconic flagships like the Cutty Sark, the Mary
Rose or the HMS Victory to name a few. These pubs tend to be found in coastal
or riverside towns, although examples further in land have been accounted. Despite
its religious origins, this particular sign has radically changed in it’s
meaning over the years, to one of swearing allegiance and support to the country’s
naval defences which were essential to our defence from the 16th
century onwards.
8. The White Horse – 269 pubs
A figure steeped in mythology, it
represents purity, a triumph of good versus evil, in many myths and religious
texts it is deemed to be the only pure animal to carry a God or hero. It has
also been suggested that horses with white coats are a figure of courage and
boldness, a spirit animal that helps bring confidence to the weary. The White
Horse is also a dream figure that could represent incoming wealth, relationship
issues, lifestyle changes or desire to break from personal issues. The symbol
has appeared in various illustrations, statues and most notably the Uffington White
Horse, a 3000-year-old prehistoric hill figure carved into the upper slopes of
White Horse Hill. The use of the White Horse on pub signs dates back to the 17th
century when a White Horse (in the form of a Unicorn) appeared on the Stuart
coat of arms, although it is steeped in the theme of heraldry, its usage was likely
to denote loyalty for the monarchy at the time. Over the years, this particular
sign continues to evoke spiritual and philosophical significance, yet in times
of conflict, this sign is steeped in the legacy for the continuous faithfulness
for the defence of the realm.
7. The Swan – 270 pubs
The origins of the name are shrouded
in confusion, some say it derives from the family crest of Anne of Cleves,
whilst others argue it is sourced from the coat of arms of Mary de Bohun of
Hereford, wife of Henry I, however, both theories are unlikely. Moreover, it
has been claimed that this name was linked to the ancient trade guilds where in
the 14th century, the Abbotsford Swannery and subsequently the Worshipful
Companies of Dyers and of Vintners during the 15th century were granted
rights of ownership on mute Swans, where they would mark the young cygnets
during a process known as Swan Upping. Despite this, all unmarked mute Swans were
declared property of the crown, whilst those that were marked by these designated
organisations were destined as a prize food, served at banquets. These pubs are
a former reminder of this practise, as these were often meeting places for
workers from these trades, and a pub going by this name would imply fine dining,
including roast swan. Swans are no longer eaten, however to this day the King
continues to maintain protection of all Swans on open waters, particularly on
the River Thames.
6. The Plough – 271 pubs
Perhaps the oldest example on this
list, its name dates back to the medieval period when publicans took to naming
their pubs and inns as a means of differentiating themselves from the competition.
Such names like The Plough, The Hop Pole, The Boot, The Saracens Head and The Lamb
and Flag became commonplace, and these could be represented by simple signs (or
objects) which was particularly useful during this period, where there was a
high level of illiteracy among the population, signs like The Plough were particularly
useful as farming implements could as pub signs. The use of these names sharply
declined following Richard II’s royal decree of 1393, where all pubs and inns were
required to bear a sign, for identification purposes when visited the Ale
Taster, whom would inspect and certify the premises during a visit. Invertedly,
this also kickstarted the tradition of pubs naming themselves after the
incumbent monarch or local gentry, generally reflecting the changes in society
at the time. Despite these setbacks, a good number of these ancient and historic
names continue to be of prominence, in particular The Plough which has evolved
to commemorate the tireless endeavours of the local ploughmen as they strode
their horse-drawn ploughs across the fields. By far the most common of the early
pub names still in frequent use, it has progressed to become a testament to the
farming industry and pub heritage.
5. The Railway – 280 pubs
During the mid-19th
century following the introduction of the railway network in the UK, a rush of
pubs across the land cashed in on this growing railway mania. A good number of
these pubs were built near the newly opened railway stations, in order to cash
in on the passing trade, which became increasingly profitable for the pub industry
as the rail network spread across the country. So understandably a good number
of these pubs were named after the railways, with such names like The Railway
Tavern, Railway Inn, The Railway Arms and The Railway appearing, named in
tribute to the industry they benefited from. Although over time railway related
pubs have diversified when it comes to naming, The Railway by far is the most
common and popular out of the fleet. Despite the reduction of the country’s
rail network between the 1950’s-1970’s, a high number of pubs featuring this name
still persist, even in areas that once featured a railway station, a timely
reminder of an industry that once was abundant throughout the land.
4. The White Hart – 292 pubs
In 1393, then monarch Richard II
issued a royal decree that made in compulsory for all pubs to bear a sign, in
order to signify the premises when visited by the official ale taster for
inspection. The sign of the White Hart, was Richard’s own moniker, which was derived
from the coat of arms once used by his mother Joan, Countess of Kent, heiress
of Edmund of Woodstock; when Richard II ascended to the throne, he adopted the
emblem as his personal moniker. It has been presumed that The White Hart was a
pun of his name, although it had more to do with signifying the noble power of
the Hart, itself a word for a mature stag. Following its introduction in 1393, the
use of the sign gradually became popular and widely used by pubs and inns
during his reign, and continued to be utilized long after his demise. In turn
this kick started the tradition of pubs using the personal monikers of the
reigning monarch of the time, which featured such names like The White Lion (Edward
IV), The White Boar (Richard III), The Rose and Crown (Henry VII) and The King’s
Head (Henry VIII), to name a few. Yet the one that started them all, the White
Hart continues to be the most popular, and currently it is the fourth most common
pub sign in the country.
3. The Royal Oak – 390 pubs
Much like its namesake The Crown,
its origins date to the time of the restoration in 1660, when pubs and inns up
and down the country named their buildings in honour of the new monarch,
Charles II who returned to England after years in exile after the English Civil
War. This particular sign dates from incident in 1651 when following defeat to
the parliamentarians at the Battle of Worcester, the then Prince Charles evaded
capture when he reached Bishops Wood near Staffordshire, by hiding in an oak
tree for a day. When the troops gave up their search, he climbed down and
escaped to France. Following the restoration, as a means of drumming up publicity
for the monarchy, this story of good fortune was relayed across the country, even
to the point when the 29th May (which was Charles II’s birthday) was
declared as Royal Oak Day, should the message need to be further rubbed into people’s
faces. This is in turn caused an outbreak of publicity for this story, and subsequently
a good number of pubs were renamed the Royal Oak in memory of this courageous
story which in turn enabled the continuation of the monarchy.
2. The Crown – 467 pubs
The second most common pub name
in the UK, its origins date to the time of Henry VIII when following the break with
Rome and the establishment of the church of England in 1534, a number of pubs
called themselves The Crown in support for the authority of monarchy. This tradition
was temporarily ceased when all pubs were banned during the puritanical rule of
Oliver Cromwell. Following the restoration
of the monarchy with the ascension of Charles II in 1660, in commemoration of the
occasion, a number of pubs were named as The Crown in Charles’ honour. There is
also a good business sense to this particular sign, as it has subsequently become
a convenient way of showing loyalty to the reigning monarch, without the need
of having to change it with the accession of a new monarch, this partly explains
why a good number of pubs have retained this particular sign, when others have
come and gone, since there was nothing in the rulebook that requested the publican
to update the sign whenever the monarchy was succeeded.
1. The Red Lion – 509 pubs
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