The Trade Signs of Essex / A popular account of the origin and meanings of the public houses & other signs

Again, the authors very truly remark (p. 110) that—

The late Mr. Jewitt, who had an excellent knowledge of Heraldry, in his article already referred to, clearly recognizes the important part which that art has played in giving origin to many of our commonest signs; but the same cannot be said for Mr. Pengelly’s treatise on the Signs of Devonshire. The connection between Heraldry and the origin of our trade-signs is so intimate, that no one is fully competent to discuss the latter unless well acquainted with the former; and, although the signs of the 1,123 inns existing in Devonshire are carefully classified and treated of at length by Mr. Pengelly, numerous passages make it evident from the outset that he has little or no knowledge of the herald’s art. Consequently, his remarks lose very much of their interest. For instance, he says:—“So far as I have been able to discover, the Harp and Lion at Plymouth is without parallel anywhere. Its meaning, if it have any, seems very far to seek.” Had the writer been acquainted with Heraldry, he would have known that a lion and a harp are the principal charges in the arms of Scotland and Wales respectively, as shown on the backs of our florins. Again, he says:

The frequent appearance of the number three on our sign-boards has been already explained, and the origin of its use will be made still clearer hereafter. It is certainly true that one of Mr. Pengelly’s headings is “Heraldry,” but under it he speaks of but little else than those inns which have the “Arms” of some person or place as their sign. In this connection he says:

With Mr. Pengelly’s treatment of non-heraldic signs there is, of course, no fault to be found.

M. Edouard Fournier, in his most interesting Histoire des Enseignes de Paris, makes some valuable remarks on the connection between Trade Signs and Heraldry. The following is a translation. After stating that coats of arms came into use at the time of the Crusades, he says:

M. Fournier next gives a long list of houses which formerly displayed armorial signs in several of the “Quartiers” of Paris. “After this enumeration [he says] it will be possible to form an idea of the multitude of signs of this kind which must have existed at the same periods in the other Quarters of Paris.”

Before proceeding to discuss in detail the various signs to be met with in the county of Essex, it will be well to point out two cunningly-concealed pitfalls into which the ardent antiquary is likely to fall, unless he is careful to exercise vigilance in avoiding them.

The first of these arises from the combination of two different signs into one. Larwood and Hotten speak of such signs being “quartered,” but “impaled” is a much better word, if used in its old heraldic sense. Signs of this kind first began to appear about the beginning of last century, and are still common, although less so than formerly. It is noticeable that Taylor in his Catalogue of Tavernes, published in 1636 (see p. 28), does not name a single impaled sign, properly so-called. In some cases, such as the Eagle and Child, the Star and Garter, the George and Dragon, &c., the connection is at once obvious; but in the great majority no meaning or connection is apparent. In such cases it will be found best not to search too deeply for a meaning, for the good reason that none exists. The mind of Addison seems to have been considerably exercised by the signs of this kind to be seen in his day in the London streets. In an amusing letter to the Spectator, in 1710, he professes himself desirous of obtaining office as “Superintendent of Signs,” in order that he might be able to expunge those of an unnatural kind.

Further on, he makes it plain to us how some of these strange combinations arose.

According to Messrs. Larwood and Hotten (p. 21) impaled signs, too, were often set up “on removing from one shop to another, when it was customary to add the sign of the old shop to that of the new.” Numerous examples may be cited of impaled signs which occur at the present time in Essex. Such are the Bull and Horseshoe (p. 65) at North Weald, the Lion and Boar (p. 63) at Earl’s Colne, the Lion and Key (p. 63) at Leyton, the Bull and Crown (p. 65) at Chingford, the Star and Fleece (p. 79) at Kelvedon, the Sun and Whalebone (p. 83) at Latton, the examples of the Cock and Bell (p. 99) at Writtle, Romford, and High Easter, the Rainbow and Dove (p. 101) at North Weald, the Crown and Blacksmith (p. 131) at Tendring, the examples of the Plow and Sail (p. 146) at Tollesbury, East Hanningfield, Paglesham, and Maldon, the Sun and Anchor (p. 147) at Steeple, the Bell and Anchor (p. 159) at Canning Town, the Coach and Bell (p. 159) at Romford, the Old Windmill and Bells (p. 159) also at Romford, the Crown and Crooked Billet (p. 162) at Woodford Bridge, and many others. These will all be found noticed in their proper places. Many other apparently impaled signs might be noticed. Such are the Coach and Horses (p. 57), the Lion and Lamb (p. 63), the Eagle and Child (p. 92), the Dog and Partridge (p. 75), the Rose and Crown (p. 116), the George and Dragon (p. 128), &c., &c.; but these do not properly belong to this class, there being some obvious or possible connection between the two objects named in each case. Among signs of this kind—apparently, though not strictly speaking, impaled—belong all, or most, combinations of any object with either a Hand or a Hoop. Such are the Hand and Glove (p. 142), the Hand and Ball (p. 142), the Cross and Hand (p. 142), and the Hand and Star (p. 28); also the Cock and Hoop, the Hoop and Horseshoe, the Hoop and Grapes, which do not occur in Essex. Combinations with a Hand generally arose from the fact that it was once common to represent on the sign-board a hand holding or supporting some other object. In many cases, no doubt, such combinations originally represented some family crest, in which (as is commonly the case) a hand supported a cross, a glove, a spear, or some other object as the case might be. Combinations into which a Hoop enters may be explained by mentioning the fact that formerly the sign was not always painted on a board, but often carved in wood or metal and suspended before the house within a hoop.

The second cause of difficulty arises from the fact that some signs have become altered and corrupted in the course of time. Many curious examples of signs of this class are given by the authors so often quoted. Most of them seem to have arisen in this way:—A sign was put up which commemorated some incident or personage, often perhaps of only local celebrity. In the course of time the occurrence commemorated or the individual represented by the sign became forgotten (or, at any rate, disconnected from the sign); and, under the influence of vulgar pronunciation (or, possibly, upon the advent of a fresh landlord, who knew nothing as to the significance of the old name), the sign was changed, and given some fresh meaning, which the words seemed to imply or nearly resemble. Such signs as these may be styled “corruptions.” As an example, it may be mentioned that at Hever, in Kent, near which place the Bullen or Boleyn family had large possessions, there was, for many years after the death of the unfortunate Ann, an ale-house with the sign of the Bullen Butchered; but, on the place falling into fresh hands, the sign was vulgarized into the Bull and Butcher (!), and so remained until a recent date. In exactly the same way, a farm standing on or near the site of one of the old lodges at one of the entrances to the Park of New Hall, Boreham—another ancient estate of the Boleyn or Bullen family—is now known as “Bull’s Lodge Farm,” it having formerly been “Bullen’s Lodge Farm.” Thus, too, the George Canning has become changed into the George and Cannon, the Island Queen into the Iceland Queen, the Four Alls into the Four Awls (and used as a shoemaker’s sign), and the Elephant and Castle into the Pig and Tinderbox. It is by no means improbable that, if sufficiently minute inquiry were to be made, it would be found that some of our 22 Essex Ships, many of which are situated far from the sea, and in purely agricultural districts, are intended for Sheep, that word being, in Essex, invariably pronounced “ship,” both in the singular and plural. The Stock Ship, for instance, occupies some of the highest ground in the county, and is a well-known landmark for many miles around. It could hardly have reached its present position without undergoing some such strange adventures as Noah’s Ark is said to have experienced. The

authors of the History of Sign-boards state that the two words “ship” and “sheep” were once commonly pronounced almost promiscuously, as now in Essex. At Berkhampstead, in Hertfordshire, moreover, there is a house which formerly had a pictorial representation of a ship in full sail as its sign. Of late, however, the sign-board has merely borne the word “ship;” and, quite recently, on the advent of a new landlord who had been a cattle-dealer, the sign was changed into the Sheep. On the other hand, there is, at Chipping Norton, in Oxfordshire, a house styled the Sheep and Anchor, which, doubtless, should be, and originally was, the Ship and Anchor. The old sign of the Falcon and Fetterlock, representing the badge of John of Ghent, is now often corrupted into the Hawk and Buckle, or even into the Hawk and Buck. In speaking of Essex examples of corrupted signs, it may be mentioned that the Goat and Boots (p. 81) appears at Colchester for the Goat in Boots, and that the De Beauvoir’s Arms (p. 43) at Downham is locally known as “the Beavers.” In the Post Office Directory, too, the Horse and Well (p. 57) at Woodford appears as the Horse and Wheel, the Roman Urn (p. 44) at Colchester as the Roman Arms, and the Sunderland Arms (p. 31) at Wakes Colne as the Sutherland Arms. Some of these are not corruptions which have actually taken place on the sign-board; but they well show the tendency towards such corruption. There can be but little doubt, too, that the sign of the Harrow (p. 171) represents the Portcullis crowned which Henry VII. and other sovereigns used as a badge. When the knowledge of heraldry declined the common people called the sign by the name of the Harrow, not knowing of anything else which resembled the device displayed. It thus became an agricultural sign, and was sometimes combined with another sign of the same kind, namely, the Plough, as at Leytonstone (p. 170). In other counties, according to Larwood and Hotten, the sign is still commonly known as the Portcullis, but we have no example in Essex. Some forty years ago it was recorded in the Worcester Journal that the landlord of the White Hart Inn at Dudley decided that his sign, which had until then been merely written, should be made pictorial; but instead of having depicted the ordinary White Hart with golden chain and collar, he (whether through ignorance or intent) had painted in white, on a black ground, a large Elephant’s Heart! Of this absurd corruption we have now an example in Essex, as mentioned hereafter (p. 53).

It was also once a very common thing for the sign to form a “rebus,” or pun, upon the name of the owner. Thus Two Cocks represented Cox; Three Conies, Conny; Three Fishes, Fish, &c., &c. The token issued in 1665 by “Beniamin Samson in Coggeshall” bears what Boyne describes as “the figure of Sampson, standing, with a robe over his shoulder and loins, holding a jawbone in one hand.” Many combinations, otherwise inexplicable, doubtless arose from this source, such as a Hand and Cock, signifying Hancock, and a Babe and Tun, signifying Babington. It is not easy to detect any instance in which a rebus or punning device now appears on an Essex sign-board; but several cases may be pointed out on the trade-tokens issued by Essex tradesmen in the seventeenth century. Thus, a Lamb appears on the token of Thomas Lambe of Colchester in 1654 (p. 80), a Finch on that of John Finch of Halstead, and a Tree on that of W. Spiltimber of Hatfield Broad Oak. It is worth mention, too, that Mr. A. Stagg, an English hatter, in the Rue Auber, Paris, displays two gilded stags’ heads on the facia above his shop.

Thus we see that, in searching for the origin of any sign of obscure derivation, we may have to trace it back through several different forms.

Coming now to the more particular examination of the signs connected with Essex, we find that the signs of the 1,355 inns existing in the county furnish an ample fund of interest to any one who systematically studies their origin and significance. For convenience in treatment an attempt has been made to arrange these signs under various headings, and under one or other of these headings every distinct inn-sign now appearing in the county will be found treated of, together with a large number of other signs which once existed in Essex, but have now disappeared. The list of Essex inns given in the Post Office Directory for the county has been found very useful, although, unfortunately, the signs of the numerous “beer-shops” (when they have any) are not given. This deficiency has, however, to some extent, been supplied through the kindness of the magistrates’ clerks in the county, who have forwarded lists of such beer-houses as have signs or names in their respective divisions. The information thus obtained has been incorporated with the remainder; but in speaking of a certain sign appearing so many times in the county the number of fully-licensed houses alone is in all cases referred to. In various parts of the county, but especially in the south-western portion round Epping and Ongar (as also in London), these houses are known among the labouring people by the strange name of “Tom and Jerrys,” no explanation of the origin of which seems to be obtainable. Beer-houses are compelled by Act of Parliament (1 Will. IV., c. 64, s. 6, & 4 & 5 Will. IV., c. 85, s. 18) to display over their doors a descriptive board, to be “publicly visible and legible,” under penalty of £10, but it does not appear that either they or fully-licensed houses are compelled to display signs.

There does not appear to have been any complete list of the inns of the county published more than forty years ago, but even the lists extending back that far may advantageously be compared with that of the present time. Although very many of our signs still remain the same now as they were then, numerous changes are noticeable. These are, however, generally in the direction that might be expected. Old heraldic devices are slowly disappearing and giving place to modern vulgarisms. For instance, so lately as the year 1868 Railway Inns and Railway Taverns combined only numbered twenty, while at the present time we have no less than thirty-one. It is quite clear that in the early part of this century, before railways came into existence, these signs must have been altogether unknown. Their places were then filled by such signs as the Coach and Horses or the Horn and Horseshoes, and other signs now going out of fashion.

A great deal of very useful and interesting information as to the signs in use in Essex two centuries ago is also to be obtained from an examination of the list of seventeenth-century tokens given by Mr. Boyne.[11] These tokens were issued very numerously by tradesmen during the Commonwealth and the reign of Charles I., when the national coinage was in an extremely debased condition. In the “field,” or centre, of the coin there was generally a device, which usually represented the sign under which the issuer traded. Many of the objects thus represented have, of course, disappeared from the sign-boards of the present day, though very many others are still familiar public-house signs. Mr. Boyne is, however, of the opinion that not more than one-fifth of the tokens now extant were issued by tavern-keepers, the rest having been circulated by ordinary tradesmen. Reference has already been made to the fact that many of the common heraldic signs had their origin in the use formerly made of the arms of the various Trade Guilds or companies as signs; and a hasty examination of the list of Essex tokens given by Boyne shows that between 80 and 90, or 37 per cent., bear arms or emblems belonging to one or other of these ancient companies. Thus, the Grocers appear about 25 times, the Bakers about 13 times, the Tallow-chandlers 10 times, the Woolmen 8 times, the Clothworkers 4 times, the Blacksmiths and the Drapers each 3 times, the Mercers, the Apothecaries, and the Barber Surgeons each twice, and the Brewers, the Fishmongers, the Butchers, the Fruiterers, and the Cutlers each once. Each of these signs will be hereafter treated of in its proper place.

A very interesting list of the inns in Essex (107 in all) in 1636 is given in John Taylor’s—the “Water Poet’s”—Catalogue of Tavernes in Tenne Shires about London, published in that year. Unfortunately, however, in only thirteen cases does he give the sign. In all other cases he merely gives the name of the holder. Frequent allusion will hereafter be made to this list of inns.

In the first edition of Pigot’s Commercial Directory, published in 1823, is a list of the inns in the principal Essex towns at that day, which has proved very useful. An asterisk placed before the sign of any particular existing inn, or the name of the place at which it is situated, indicates that the inn in question is mentioned in the above Directory, and that it is therefore at least 64 years old.

It is much to be regretted that, although the inns are, as a rule, among the oldest and most interesting houses in any small town or country village, our Essex historians have, almost without exception, been too fully occupied in tracing the descent of manors and estates, even to notice them.

The list given in the London Directory for 1885 enumerates no less than 1,742 distinct signs or devices, as appearing in the metropolis alone. Some of these are, of course, repeated as many as fifty times.

CHAPTER II.

HERALDIC SIGNS.

In all respects the most purely heraldic sign we have in Essex is the Fleur-de-Lys, which occurs at Widdington. As a sign, this was formerly much more common than at present. Eight of the Essex tokens are described as having borne it. Two of these were issued in Colchester, two in Billericay, and one each in Chelmsford, Coggeshall, Stock, and Witham, the issuer at the latter place being John Jackson, clothier, in 1669. There was formerly a house of this name at Waltham Abbey. In the parish register the burial of a landlord, on May 8, 1684, is recorded as follows:—“Edward Clarke, att y^e flower de luis.” Mr. H. W. King, too, finds mention in ancient deeds of a “Flower de Luce” at Maldon in 1658, and again in 1690, but whether an inn, shop, or dwelling-house, there is, as usual, no evidence to show. As it is sometimes varied into the Three Fleurs de Lys, the most reasonable conclusion is that it is taken from the arms of France, as formerly quartered with those of England, but a fleur-de-lys was also used as a badge by Edward III. In former times, too, it was an emblem of the Virgin Mary. In London at the present day the sign occurs once only, namely, in Fleur-de-Lys Street, E. Below are depicted four of the many forms taken by this device on early shields of arms.

No less than 116 of our present public-houses (or 8·5 per cent.) are named after the arms of some family, place, city, country, or trade. Those obviously named after some place within the county will be first noticed. To commence with, however, we will mention the Royal Arms at Silvertown.[12] The same device appears on a token inscribed “Theophilus Harvey, in Manitree, 1669.” Next we have the Essex Arms.[13] There are now four examples, though forty years ago there were five. At Springfield, too, there is a beer-house of this name. Then we have a *Colchester Arms,[14] which is, of course, situated at Colchester. It is at least forty years old. The Colchester Arms also appear on the halfpenny token of Alexander Satterthwaite, of Colchester, dated 1668. The Borough Arms at Maldon are, of course, the arms of that town.[15] The Abbey Arms at Plaistow doubtless represent the arms of the neighbouring Abbey of Barking.[16] Sixty years ago there was a Harwich Arms[17] at *Harwich. Then we have the Hutton Arms at Hutton, the Chadwell Arms at Chadwell Heath, the Berechurch Arms at Lexden, the Romford Arms (beer-house) at Romford, the Colne Valley Arms at Birdbrook, and the Royal Essex Arms at Braintree, all of which coats the heralds would probably be unable to find entered at Heralds’ College. The last-named is an especially strange device. It is probably an impaled sign, due to a combination of the Royal Arms and the Essex Arms.

Many other of our “arms” are named after places outside the county. Probably in many cases a new landlord has named his house after the place he came from. Such are the Cambridge Arms, the Cuckfield Arms, the Dartmouth Arms, the Denmark Arms, the Dorset Arms, 2 Durham Arms, the Falmouth Arms, the Ipswich Arms, the Liverpool Arms, the Northumberland Arms, the Odessa Arms, the Lilliput Arms (in the Lilliput Road, Stratford), the Tower Hamlets Arms (at Forest Gate), and the Kent Arms at North Woolwich, a parish belonging to Kent, though situated on the north side of the river. Twenty years ago there was also a Sussex Arms in existence. The City Arms at Canning Town presumably represent the arms of the City of London.[18] The dagger in the City arms commemorates the slaying of Wat Tyler by Sir William Walworth, in 1381. The weapon used is still in the possession of the Fishmongers’ Company. The Sutherland Arms at Wakes Colne seems from the printed list to have been corrupted from the Sunderland Arms within the last twenty years. An example of both forms occurs in London at the present time. It is most probable that some of these signs have not taken their names direct from the counties or towns mentioned, but from the titles of noblemen who have become prominent for political or other reasons. This has been almost certainly the case with the Cambridge Arms, the Durham Arms, and the Liverpool Arms.

The following signs are, with equal clearness, derived from trades or employments pursued within the county. Many of them are, doubtless, derived directly from the arms of the London Trade Companies. Of the Blacksmiths’ Arms[19] we have examples situated respectively at Little Clacton and at North Weald. The Blacksmiths’ Arms also appear on the halfpenny tokens of “Will Todd, Blacksmith of Epping,” 1668, and of William Thompson of South Benfleet (no date). The Blacksmiths’ Arms, at Little Clacton, appears to have existed since 1786 at least, as it is referred to in an advertisement in the Chelmsford Chronicle for March 17th in that year. Not improbably the Hammer and Pincers crossed, which appeared on the halfpenny of Will Willis of Romford, in 1667, constituted a blacksmith’s sign. The Brewers’ Arms[20] occur as a sign at Woodham Ferris and *Colchester. The Three Tuns, of which we have examples at Newport, *Dunmow, and Waltham Abbey, all of them being at least forty years old, are certainly derived from the arms either of the Brewers’ Company or the Vintners’ Company.[21] Three Tuns are depicted on the token issued by William Harman, of Chelmsford, in 1657. The Three Tuns which formerly existed at *Chelmsford was long a well-known inn. The Rev. R. E. Bartlett finds it mentioned in the parish registers in 1619, when “a chrisome son of Robt. Ogden of Chelmsford, Vintner, at the 3 Tunnes, and of Susan his wife, was buried the XXX day of December, being Thursday.” Taylor also mentions it in his Catalogue of Tavernes, published in 1636. Sixty years ago there was a house of this name at *Braintree, and in 1789 that at Waltham Abbey was spelled Three Tons. The Bakers’ Arms[22] occur on the tokens some thirteen times, either as the Bakers’ Arms, a Hand and Scales, a Pair of Scales, or a Pair of Scales and a Wheatsheaf. The Bakers’ Arms now only appears as an inn-sign at Leyton, but there are beer-houses of this name at Buttsbury and Waltham Abbey. Our common modern sign of the Wheatsheaf is also probably derived from the arms of this Company. There are seven examples in the county, situated respectively at Wrabness, *Chelmsford, Tolleshunt D’Arcy, Braintree, Stow Maries, High Ongar, and Ardleigh. There are also beer-houses of this name at Loughton, Theydon Bois, Waltham Abbey, Hatfield Peverell, Kelvedon, Rettendon, Writtle, Hornchurch, &c. A house at Castle Hedingham, known as the Wheatsheaf, though now a beer-shop merely, appears once to have been a very good private residence. The Wheatsheaf at *Chelmsford seems to have been in existence since 1786 at least, as it is mentioned in the Chelmsford Chronicle on January 13th in that year. Likewise the still-extant sign of the Maid’s Head (to be noticed hereafter) is probably derived from the arms of the Mercers’ Company,[23] which appear on the undated farthings of “Thomas Bvrges, Est Street, Covlchester,” and “Clement Pask of Castell Heninhame.” The Masons’ Arms[24] occur at *Moulsham. The Gardeners’ Arms[25] appear at Wakes Colne and Loughton (beer-house). The Wheelers’ Arms[26] (? Wheelwrights’ Arms) appear at

Good Easter. The Bricklayers’ Arms[27] occur three times, namely, at Colchester, Stondon, and Bocking (beer-shop). The Royal Hotel at Purfleet is famed for its whitebait. Until recently it was known as the Bricklayers’ Arms, evidently, as Mr. Palin thinks,[28] because the Bricklayers’ Company formerly worked the huge chalk quarries close at hand. The Butchers’ Arms[29] occur at Wimbish, Felstead, Stambourne, and Woodham Ferris (beer-shop). Probably the Bull’s Head, the Boar’s Head, and the Fly and Bullock, to be noticed hereafter, are all connected with the arms of this Company, which appear on the halfpenny of “John Harvey of Rochfoord” in 1668. The Carpenters’ Arms[30] occur eight times in the county, and also often serve as a beer-house sign. One near Chelmsford is kept by a carpenter, as is, doubtless, often the case. There can be no doubt that the Compasses, which occurs six times, and the Three Compasses, which appears twice, are derived from the arms of this Company. A house near Waltham Abbey, now known by the latter form of the sign, seems in 1789 to have been called the Compasses merely. The Axe and Compasses at Arkesden is probably a modern, but certainly an appropriate, combination; or the axe may be intended for one of the adzes in the arms of the Coopers’ Company, for the Coopers’ Arms[31] themselves appear at Chadwell Heath, Aldham, Chelmsford, and Romford, the last two being beer-houses. Although the arms of the Cutlers’ Company[32] are not now to be seen on our sign-boards, there can be little doubt that the Two swords crossed, which appeared on the undated farthing of “Nathaniell Smith in Thacksteed,” were derived from the arms of that Company, Thaxted having formerly been a seat of the cutlery trade, as the name “Cutlers’ Green,” in the immediate vicinity, indicates. The Waterman’s Arms[33] was formerly a sign at Leigh, but whether of an inn or private house does not appear. Mr. H. W. King is able, by means of evidence obtained from old deeds, to give a complete account of the house which displayed this sign (and which was built about the time of Charles I.) from 1650; but there are earlier notices of it. Portions of it, built of oak, are still standing, but much altered. When it first became an inn does not appear. It is first mentioned as having been such in 1746, when it is described as “two tenements now and lately called the Waterman’s Arms.” Probably, therefore, it had even then ceased to be an inn, and had been divided into two dwelling-houses. Under the floor of one of the rooms, some years since, were found several small coins of Charles II., and a leaden tavern token, undated, but probably of the seventeenth century. On it was a hand or arm, pouring from a tankard into a cup or glass. Forty years ago there was a Poulterers’ Arms[34] at Chelmsford. Larwood and Hotten do not notice this sign.

Similarly, several other Companies, whose arms are not now to be found named upon our Essex sign-boards, appear to have given us signs which we still have. For instance, the sign of the Trowel and Hammer at Marks Tey (which is not mentioned by Larwood and Hotten) is in all probability derived from the arms of the Plasterers’ Company,[35] while the sign of Three Cups has, doubtless, been derived from the arms of the Salters’ Company.[36] Of this sign we have examples at Great Oakley, Maldon, Springfield, and *Colchester. The Three Cups at Colchester (commonly called the Cups), though not one of the oldest licensed houses in that ancient borough, was long a well-known coaching inn, and for upwards of half a century has been the leading hotel in the town. There is reason to believe that a small tavern known as the Queen’s Head stood upon the site in the days of Elizabeth; but a more commodious building was erected, as an inscription on the front stated, in 1792. That, however, had become too antiquated for its requirements, and was demolished in 1885. Upon its site has now been erected an extremely handsome building of brick and stone. Carved on one of the projecting windows are “three cups,” with pedestals, but they do not correctly represent the “covered sprinkling-salts” of the Salters’ Arms. These, however, are correctly represented, being carved in wood, and supported upon a sign-post, before the Three Cups at *Springfield, a house at least a century old, as it is mentioned in the Chelmsford Chronicle on March 30, 1787.

In a curious poem, describing a journey from London to Aldborough and back, published in 1804,[37] the Three Cups at *Harwich—now known as the Cups—is thus alluded to: