The CASTLE is a frequent Essex sign, occurring thirteen times in all. It is an ancient sign, which is thought by Larwood and Hotten to have originated in the fact that anciently entertainment was to be had at the castles of the great, as at an inn. In later times the custom arose of naming inns after particular castles, and it is easy to see that the example of the sign now found at Hadleigh, and the two examples now existing at **Colchester, originated in this way. Sixty years ago there was another at *Saffron Walden, which was, of course, named after the old castle there. Not improbably, in some cases, the sign may have been derived from the arms of the Masons’ Company.[95] A castle is represented on the seventeenth century token of Thomas Hewes of Castle Hedingham--being, of course, the fine old castle of the De Veres at that place. Mr. King finds mention in some old deeds dated 1693 of the CASTLE AT TRIMME at Rochford in that day. This was probably an inn-sign, but perhaps that of a shop or tenement. It was doubtless so called from the ancient castle of the De Lacys, built in 1220, at Trim in Ireland, which figured in the Civil War. As this castle does not appear to have had any connection with Essex, the most probable conclusion is that the sign was set up by some one who was present at the surrender of the castle to Cromwell in 1649. The following advertisement appeared in the _Chelmsford Chronicle_ on March 2, 1787: “COCKING. On Friday, March 9th, will be fought a Main of Cocks, at the sign of the CASTLE, Great Oakley, for Two Guineas a Battle, and Five the odds; where the company of all gentlemen and others will be esteemed a favour, by their humble servant William Rayner. The Cocks to be pitted at eleven o’clock, and a good ordinary to be provided at two.” Mr. H. W. King writes: “The present CASTLE at Hadleigh changed its name (though remaining at the same house) late in the last, or early in the present, century. It was formerly the BLUE BOAR, and old people persistently called it so within my memory, in spite of the change. I have also found evidence of this change in some old Court Rolls. This kind of change is not infrequent. I conceive that the BLUE BOAR may have been the sign of the inn for centuries, but the CASTLE was, I suppose, thought more attractive to the many visitors to the old Castle.”