Britain has a unique heritage in its inn signs – one imaginatively reflected in the names and signs of Cambridge pubs. These names and signs provide a visual index to the city’s history and the people who made it. They depicted everything, from battles to inventions, from sporting heroes to royalty.
Pub signs were made compulsory in Cambridge by an Act of Parliament, 9 Henry VI., it was enacted: “Quicunq; de villa Cantebrigg ‘braciaverit ad vendend’ exponat signum suum, alioquin omittat cervisiam.”—Rolls of Parliament, vol. v. fol. 426 a. (“Whosoever shall brew ale in the town of Cambridge, with intention of selling it, must hang out a sign, otherwise he shall forfeit his ale.”)
Most pub signs, even if they made of metal rather than the customary wood, deteriorate in the weather (unlike some of the stone signs preserved after the Great Fire of London in 1666 and still preserved at the London Museum). We are therefore very fortunate in having the Richard Hopkins Leach (1794-1851) collection of early 19th century original boards. Four of Leach’s signs have been preserved in the Museum of Cambridge and County Folk Museum.
Cambridge, due to a large demand for calligraphers and sign writers generated by the colleges (staircase names, commemorative rowing oars, team and college photos etc) was also a centre for pub sign painting. Firms such as Swainland and Son on Broad Street were specialists. The company have since closed but the memories of ex-employees are still aired on some social media sites and I am hoping it will be possible to capture and catalogue some examples of this fast-disappearing art.
Lost Inns of Cambridge Pub Sign Project
Under the watchful eye of local artist Annabel Lee we are looking to recreate some of the old signs. Annabel has made a start with 3 boards but we are hoping to extend this idea into an outreach project and exhibition.
Anyone interested in Cambridge inn signs should be aware of this site…
Arms and the man, and various beasts is a blog by a chap who writes about, and photographs, boards, from around South Cambridgeshire and beyond. He has a particular knowledge of, and interest in, heraldry. Well worth a visit.