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The Origins of Pictorial Public House Signs
Public House (pub) signs were first introduced to the United Kingdom by Richard II in 1393. He compelled landlords to erect signs outside their premises, with a legislation that stated: “Whoever shall brew ale in the town with intention of selling it must hang out a sign, otherwise he shall forfeit his ale”.
As water was then not (generally) fit to drink, the signs indicated the public house was licensed and the ale
was fit for human consumption.
Why Pictorial Signs?
An important factor during the Middle Ages was that a large percentage of the population were illiterate, therefore, pictures were more useful than words as a means of identifying a public house - and for this reason, the names of public house often descended after the signs had been erected, and derived from
their pictorial signs.
Public house signs tell a story, and are often based around natural, religious, or historical symbols such as the The Sun, The Cross, The Fat Ox, The Ship,
The Trafalgar, The Lord Nelson, The King’s Arms,
and The Queen’s Head.
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The following pubs are located in Tyne and Wear and Northumberland, along England’s north east coast.
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Click a thumbnail to enlarge, and hover your cursor to display the public house’s name and location.
  
  
  
  
  
  
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