Why are pubs known as arms?

“’Arms’ refers to the heraldic coats of arms which represent families of royal or noble birth, as well as towns, cities and historic guilds. Many pubs take local nobility or landowners into their names.

Why are pubs called head?

Many pubs have changed names in their history. In the 16th Century, following King Henry VIII’s split with the Catholic Church and the decades of anti-Catholic sentiment that followed, ‘Pope’s Head’ pubs were frequently renamed ‘King’s Head’, a safer declaration of allegiance.

Why are so many pubs called Cross Keys?

CROSS KEYS (22) Crossed keys are the symbols of St Peter, the apostle of Jesus who traditionally guards the gates of Heaven. This sign is a symbol of English nationalism and grew popular as a pub name after the English Civil War in the 17th century.

Why are pubs called the Chequers?

There are several possible origins of the Chequers name. The Romans are said to have brought the name and the chequered sign into this country to signify an inn or ale house. Its other name is the Service tree but because it develops a chequered pattern on its bark it is better known as the chequers tree.

Why do all pubs have the same names?

More often than not, these names can give historical clues to the area surrounding the pub or they can be used to commemorate a local event. Some pubs, which can be centuries old, were named during a time when their customers couldn’t even read, but could recognise pictorial signs.

Why are so many pubs called the White Hart?

Red Lion. Britain’s most popular pub name – there are at least 600 around the country – has heraldic origins, with the lion being a common element in many coats of arms. Similarly, the name White Hart refers to the livery of Richard II – the 14th-century king who first ordered pubs to display signs.

Why are pubs called the black boy?

One is believed to come from a ‘black buoy’ which existed in the harbour in the early days of the Inn. Another refers to the nickname given to Charles II by his mother Henrietta Maria of France because of the darkness of his skin and eyes, as well as the fact that Royalists met at the Inn secretly at that time.

Why are pubs called Lamb and Flag?

Numerous inns acted as stopover points for the Crusades forces and pub names which can be derived from this time include The Turk’s Head, The Saracen’s Head and The Lamb and Flag (the lamb representing Christ and the flag the sign of the crusaders).

Why are pubs called the Black Lion?

Some inns and pubs were named after the coat of arms of prominent landowners. A Black Lion appeared on the coat arms of the Pryse family of Gogerddan who owned many thousands of acres of land in Ceredigion, mostly in the north.

Why is it called Red Lion pub?

The ‘Red Lion’ is probably the most common name for a pub and originates from the time of James I and VI of Scotland who came to the throne in 1603. James ordered that the heraldic red lion of Scotland be displayed on all buildings of importance – including pubs!

Why are pubs called The Greyhound?

Many pub names derive from their names from hunting – near old hunting grounds there are plenty of pubs called The Greyhound, The Fox & Hounds, Dog & Duck or Hare & Hounds. The Bird in Hand is said to derive from King Henry VIII’s love of falconry and The Cock from the days when cock fighting was a popular pastime.