The Trade Signs of Essex: A popular account of the origin and meanings of the public houses & other signs — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
The Trade Signs of Essex: A popular account of the origin and meanings of the public houses & other signs
John Stuart Mill · en
been derived from the coat of arms of Queen Philippa of Hainault, wife
of Edward III.,” or it may represent the _lion sable_ in the arms of
Owen Glendower. The RED LION is, however, by far our commonest leonine
sign in Essex. It occurs as many as thirty-four times. The authors so
frequently quoted, say (p. 119) that it doubtless originated in the
badge of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, who bore the lion of Leon and
Castille on his arms as a token of his claim to the throne of those
countries. In after years it may often have been used to represent the
lion of Scotland. The RED LION, opposite the church at Stambourne, has a
truly heraldic sign--_a lion, rampant, gules, armed, langued, &c.,
argent, on a wreath argent and sable_. On one of its gables this inn has
two designs--one representing an old man with long white hair, wearing a
large green coat and boots of the same colour, and apparently blowing a
long horn or trumpet; the other a monogram “I.^{W.}E.” and the date
1709. This may indicate that it was formerly known as the GREEN MAN. The
RED LION at *Colchester is a very well-known house. Like the WHITE HART
at Brentwood, it is one of the few examples now remaining in the county
of the old-fashioned inn of several centuries ago. Its capacious
courtyard has evidently once been galleried, and it is altogether one of
the most ancient inns now existing in Colchester, or even in the county,
as well as being certainly one of the most quaint and antique in its
appearance. Its uppermost story considerably overhangs the others, and
the whole of the front shows much old carving which is certainly not
later than the fifteenth, and probably the fourteenth, century, to which
has been added some good modern work. Probably if the plaster were
removed much more old carving would be brought to light. Among other
faces, are those of two lions, which look down upon the entrance. The
doorway is also carved. Miss L. S. Costello, in an article on Colchester
in _Bentley’s Miscellany_ for 1840 (vol. xviii. p. 62), says, that among
the few interesting houses in the High Street, she “was struck with a
wooden doorway at the entrance of the [RED] LION INN. It has evidently
been elaborately carved on the different storeys all over, but very
little of its ornament remains. The spandrels of the arch have a
representation, on one side, of a dragon, huge and grim, and on the
other of a knight on foot, with an immensely long spear, tilting at the
monster.” An entry, dated Jan. 9, 1603-4, in one of the old Corporation
assembly books, states that “the Lion, the Angel, and the White Hart
were appointed the only three wine taverns in y^{e} towne, being
auncyent Innes and Taverns.” Mr. Chas. Golding of Colchester has,
however, traced its existence back many years earlier, having found
mention of it under its present name in the Corporation records of the
year 1530 or thereabouts. The still-extant RED LIONS at Great Wakering