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
The DRAGON in his own proper colour (whatever that may be) does not
occur in the county; but we have four examples of the GREEN DRAGON,
situated respectively at Shenfield, Black Notley, *Saffron Walden, and
Waltham Abbey. Sixty years ago there were also GREEN DRAGONS at
*Colchester and elsewhere. It is very easy to account for the origin of
the use of the Dragon as a sign, but it is not so easy to say why he
should so often be green. The GREEN DRAGON, however, has been a common
sign for over two centuries. As the badge and supporter of the arms of
many of our sovereigns, he was generally red, though occasionally black
or golden. The Dragon appeared on the standard of the Saxons, and was
used as a badge by several early Princes of Wales. It formed one or
other of the supporters of the arms of Henry VII., and of all the Tudor
sovereigns except Queen Mary. It appears also in the heraldic bearings
of many private families. There can, therefore, be very little doubt as
to its heraldic derivation, although it was formerly used as a chemist’s
sign, in which case its origin was probably non-heraldic. Perhaps, as
the Rev. H. L. Elliot writes, the strange colour in which this monster
usually appears on sign-boards is due to the fact that a Green Dragon,
holding in his mouth a bloody hand, was a badge of William Herbert, Lord
Steward, created Earl of Pembroke in the time of Edward VI. The GEORGE
AND DRAGON is a sign which occurs eight times in Essex. This very
common sign has increased greatly in popularity since the institution of
the Order of the Garter, of which a representation of St. George killing
a dragon forms the pendant; but the fact that several of our recent
kings have borne the name of George has no doubt had a good deal to do
with its adoption. The legendary act of St. George, the patron-saint of
England, is alluded to in the following amusing little rhyme:--
“To save a mayd, St. George the Dragon slew--
A pretty tale, if all that’s told be true.
Most say there are no dragons, and ’tis sayd
There was no George;--let’s hope there was a mayd.”
A representation of St. George killing the Dragon appears on the token
issued by J. Lark of Coggeshall in 1667.[69]