Did you know that the commonest pub name in the UK is “The Red Lion”? It’s because of a royal decree, issued more than 400 years ago, when James VI of Scotland was also crowned James I of England. Following his coronation in 1603, King James ordered the red lion of Scotland to be displayed on all important public buildings – which of course included inns and taverns.
This was just one of the many fascinating facts that Anthony Collis of Stourbridge told us in his entertaining talk about the inn signs and pub names of Worcestershire. The talk was attended by 43 people present in person at Badsey Community Sports & Social Club and 21 attended via Zoom, including members from America and London.
The naming of pubs first became common around the 12th century – a time when few of the regulars who frequented them could read the words on the signs outside. It then became law for pubs and inns to have a sign to identify during the reign of King Richard II.
Anthony has been photographing inn signs for more than 30 years so had an impressive range of photos and also told us about the origin of some of the names. You might think that with a name like “The Three Kings” at Hanley Swan, that it was named after the three wise men of biblical fame. Not so – it was named after the three King brothers who owned the pub in the late 17th century!
What was impressive, though, was not only the huge number of unusual inn signs throughout the county, but the amazing amount of knowledge displayed by the audience. I never knew our members were such a boozy lot!
