Did you know some pubs are named for trades that were prominent in the area?There are 37 Bricklayer’s Arms pubs in the U.K. according to pubnames.co.uk. This is one named after that trade.
Bricklayer’s Arms Pub Sign- the Pub
I came across this pub while walking through London. It was 31 Gresse Street which is north of Oxford Street and west of Tottenham Court Road in the Camden section of the city. It is not far from the Tottenham Court Station.
Bricklayer’s Arms Pub Sign
Back long ago a pub being named for a trade may have shown where people could meet others in a similar trade. It might also help them meet people to procure work if they were new in the trade. Brick laying is still an occupation that is active. It is great to see the long time trades honoured through signs like these.
These signs are from two different pubs of the same name in London, The Duke of York. According to pubnames.co.uk there are 52 Pubs named Duke of York.
Duke of York Pub Signs, Mayfair, London
The pub pictured above I believe is in Mayfair, London. One of the more famous Duke of York’s was King Charles brother, James. According to history.nycourts.gov, Charles laid claim for New Netherland by granting James a patent to the colony. James sent a fleet of ships to New Netherland and the Dutch surrendered. The English took over New Netherland and the colony was renamed New York. I am guessing that is who is depicted in the sign, but I could be wrong. Paintings I see of him online do not resemble this sign.
Duke of York Pub Signs – Fitzrovia, London
The pub sign pictured above is at The Duke of York pub in Fitzrovia in central London. According to londonletter.substack.com, Prince Andrew gave permission for his likeness to be used in this sign. They say it is the only pub in the world that has a living member of the Royal family on it. Not sure how I feel about that. The reigning monarch’s image is on the pound notes as well as coins. Some may say having Prince Andrew’s image on a pub sign is controversial.
What do you think? Should a living person be depicted on a pub sign? Have a great rest of your weekend!
The Horse & Guardsman, which opened in November of 2021, is a pub worth visiting, not just because of its location, but its decor and food. The pub honours the King’s Horse Guard who are stationed nearby.
The Horse and Guardsman Pub – Pub Sign
Interior
This pub had a lineup waiting to get in. Because they had a full house, I did not take pictures inside of the decor or architecture. Unless there are not many people, I do not attempt inside pictures. The pub has lovely decor in honour of its namesake the Horse Guardsmen. There are paintings , photos, and other artifacts related to the King’s Horse Guards.
Exterior
The Horse and Guardsman Pub
I like the way they displayed the flag. Most pubs have the flag in some form outside or inside. It is also on the pub sign below.
The Horse and Guardsman Pub
Food
Some pubs may be more modern in terms of food choices, but many like this pub also will have some of the traditional British foods. This pub has some interesting savoury pies on the menu and also has gluten free items to choose from. They do roasts on Sunday. In my opinion their variety of menu choices should have almost everyone covered.
Location
The Horse and Guardsman pub is on Whitehall. South of the pub on the same street is the Royal Horse Guards and the Household Calvary Museum. Going north from the pub is Trafalgar Square. Across the street and not far is the street Great Scotland Yard, named for the police service.
Horse and Guardsman Pub – Royal Horse Guards down the streetHorse and Guardsman Pub – Royal Horse Guards down the street
If you are visiting Trafalgar Square, the Royal Horse Guards, or the Household Calvary Museum it is worth stopping at the pub for a bite to eat and to see the decor. This pub highlights one of the iconic things about England, the Horse Guards.
What name tops the list for most popular names in England for pubs? The Red Lion does The origins of this pub name may have started in the 14th century. John, a son of King Edward III was fighting with his nephew who later became King Richard II. John added a red lion into his coat of arms while the symbol that represented Richard was a white heart. Pubs that supported John displayed a red lion while those who supported Richard displayed a white heart.
The Red Lion Pub Sign
Lions are said to have represented the monarchy in England dating back to the 1100s. Animal names are the most popular theme for a pub. Have a great week!
One location in England that is iconic is the local pub. Pub signs would be an object that is iconic. Most pubs in England have a sign that incorporates an image with the name. Although the green man image appears on some grotesques on churches and other places in the US, it is more of a thing in England.
The Green Man Pub Sign
The green man idea is ancient with pagan roots, but the image appears on churches in England. Pagan symbols were brought into the early Christian Church. They say the green man appears on churches to symbolise rebirth and resurrection.
As with this image on the pub sign, green men are often depicted with leaves around their face and sometimes acorns. Have a great week!
What is a mudlark? A mudlark is a British term referring to one who made their living by searching for coal, bits of copper, or anything else they could sell to get by. This was a profession long ago.
This sign is from a pub near the Thames River in London. The Thames fluctuates around twenty feet between high and low tide. People go out and search the mud for items. They have to pay attention as they search as the tide comes back in quickly.
Today people who mudlark are hobbyists. They are searching for Saxon items, ancient coins, Roman or Bronze Age artifacts, etc. One may find a blackened roof tile from the Great London Fire of 1666 or a clay pipe. Mudlarks of today are required to get permission and report anything of archeological value. This includes items that may qualify as treasure or human remains. Some prison transport ships to Australia left from London docking along the Thames River and some executions long ago took place near the river.
If you walk along the Thames at low tide, you may see some people busy Mudlarking. You could always join them. You never know what you could find.
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