Inn Sign Collection

Beer Street, 1751. Artist: William Hogarth
Beer Street, 1751. Working people enjoying a tankard of beer outside the Barley Mow public house. The figures include two women with baskets of fish and a butcher holding a joint of meat

Netherlandish Proverbs illustrated in a village landscape
CH11386 Netherlandish Proverbs illustrated in a village landscape by Brueghel, Pieter the Younger (c.1564-1638); Private Collection; (add.info)

The Man with the Load of Mischief, 18th century, (1943). Creator: William Hogarth
The Man with the Load of Mischief, 18th century, (1943). A man with a chain and padlock round his neck, carrying a " load of mischief" : a woman holding a glass of gin rides on his back

Wootton Rivers MCF01_02_0674
Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, Wiltshire. A view looking north along the main street through Wootton Rivers, showing The Royal Oak Inn on the right of the foreground

Compton & West Marden - October 1948
View of lane through the village with the Victoria Inn on the right and a pond on the left. George Garland Collection West Sussex Record Office Ref. No. N30723

Drinking party at the Christopher public house for a society of old Etonians that stole inn and shop signs
FLO4618807 Drinking party at the Christopher public house for a society of old Etonians that stole inn and shop signs. Signs for a pawn shop, milliners, optician, wineseller, fishmonger, cobbler

The Times, plate I, c1762 (1895). A representative of King George III fights a fire (the Seven Years War), which is burning down houses representing Germany and France

Bells of Ouseley INN01_01_033
Bells Of Ouseley, Straight Road, Old Windsor, Windsor And Maidenhead, Berkshire. A group of figures gathered beside the River Thames in front of The Bells of Ouzeley

Ye Old Fighting Cocks MCF01_02_1016
Ye Old Fighting Cocks, Abbey Mill Lane, St Albans, Hertfordshire. A view along the south-west side of Ye Old Fighting Cocks pub, showing part of the octagonal timber framed building

Wootton Rivers MCF01_02_0676
Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, Wiltshire. A view looking north along the main street through Wootton Rivers, showing three men and a horse-drawn cart laden with coppiced wood outside The Royal Oak Inn

Wootton Rivers MCF01_02_0675
Wootton Rivers, Wiltshire, Wiltshire. A view looking south along the main street through Wootton Rivers, showing The Royal Oak Inn on the left of the foreground

The Black Horse MCF01_02_0419
The Black Horse, Chorleywood Common, Chorleywood, Three Rivers, Hertfordshire. The Black Horse on Chorleywood Common seen from the south-east, with two calves in the foreground

At the sign of the White Horse MCF01_02_0390
The White Horse, Rickmansworth Road, Chorleywood, Three Rivers, Hertfordshire. A horse-drawn cart laden with sacks outside The White Horse, with the horse drinking from a trough

Steeple Ashton a62_02615
HIGH STREET, STEEPLE ASHTON, WILTSHIRE, WILTSHIRE. A view looking north past the inn sign for The Longs Arms, showing houses on the High Street with the tower of St Marys Church beyond

The Strawberry pub sign PLA01_05_041
The Strawberry Public House, Strawberry Place, Newcastle upon Tyne. The pub sign of The Strawberry public house, on the corner of Strawberry Place and Strawberry Lane, Newcastle upon Tyne

The Cup Public House Sign PLA01_01_113
The Cup Public House, Birmingham Road, Sutton Coldfield, Birmingham. The pub sign of The Cup pub on Birmingham Road, Sutton Coldfield

Pub or Inn sign, Bamberg, Germany

Tavern sign in Crete, Greece

Inn Sign, c. 1938. Creator: Robert Pohle
Inn Sign, c. 1938

Tavern Sign, c. 1939. Creator: Alfred Parys
Tavern Sign, c. 1939

Red Lion Inn Sign, c. 1939. Creator: Martin Partyka
Red Lion Inn Sign, c. 1939

Tavern Sign, 1935 / 1942. Creator: Alfred Parys
Tavern Sign, 1935/1942

Tavern Sign, c. 1940. Creator: Alfred Parys
Tavern Sign, c. 1940

Tavern Sign: "J. Porter", c. 1939. Creator: Alfred Parys
Tavern Sign: " J. Porter", c. 1939

Inn Sign: "A. Phelps ", c. 1939. Creator: Martin Partyka
Inn Sign: " A. Phelps ", c. 1939

Landscape with a Well. Creator: Unknown
Landscape with a Well

Canvassing for Votes, Plate II: Four Prints of an Election, February 20, 1757

Beer Street, February 4, 1751. Creator: William Hogarth
Beer Street, February 4, 1751

The Times, Plate 1, September 7, 1762. Creator: William Hogarth
The Times, Plate 1, September 7, 1762

The Bathos, 1807, (1827). Creator: Thomas Cook
The Bathos, 1807, (1827). The figure of Time expiring, collapsed against a broken column, with the blade of his scythe snapped and his hour glass smashed, blowing out smoke from his broken pipe

Inn sign for the George and Dragon Inn, Bennets Hill, City of London, 1814. Artist
Inn sign for the George and Dragon Inn, Bennets Hill, City of London, 1814. Sign dated 1667

The politicians, 1763. Figures stand in the street outside the K Prussia Tavern. Some of the figures are discussing the Treaty of Paris, that concluded the Seven Years War

Inn sign from the Boars Head Tavern, Eastcheap, London, (1850?)

Sign of the Green Dragon Inn, Bishopsgate, London, 1871. Artist: E Edwards
Sign of the Green Dragon Inn, Bishopsgate, London, 1871

Castle Tavern, Old Kent Road, London, c1830. Artist: George Scharf
View of the Castle Tavern, London, c1830. Also showing part of the yard belonging to Robert Atkins, timber merchant, on the Old Kent Road, Southwark

Bell Inn, Edgware Road, London, 1788. Artist: CA Prestel
View of the Bell Inn on Edgware Road, London, 1788; with a horse drawn carriage in the foreground

Botolph Alley, London, 1886. Artist: John Crowther
View of Botolph Alley and the Green Dragon Inn, London, 1886

New Cross turnpike on the Old Kent Road, Deptford, London, 1783. Artist: Robert Laurie
New Cross turnpike on the Old Kent Road, Deptford, London, 1783. A cart passes through the turnpike, with inns on either side

Fleet Street, London, 1746. Artist: John Cleghorn
View of Devil Tavern and Temple Bar in Fleet Street, London, 1746; with figures and horses and carriage

The Tabard Inn on Borough High Street, Southwark, London, 1827
View of the Tabard Inn on Borough High Street, Southwark, London, 1827. The inn was the meeting place of the pilgrims in Chaucers The Canterbury Tales

Old Goat and Compasses Inn, Marylebone Road, London, 1868. Artist: JT Wilson
View of the Old Goat and Compasses Inn on Marylebone Road, London, 1868

The March to Finchley, 1745. Artist: Luke Sullivan
The March to Finchley, or A representation of the march of the guards towards Scotland in the year 1745 ; showing the Tottenham Court turnpike at the intersection with Euston Road

Canvassing for votes, 1757. Artist: Charles Grignion
Canvassing for votes, 1757; scene with two country innkeepers, agents for their respective parties, are here dropping money into the hands of a rustic freeholder

The Bathos, 1764. Artist: William Hogarth
The Bathos, 1764; showing Time expiring, collapsed against a broken column, with the blade of his scythe snapped and his hour glass smashed, blowing out smoke from his broken pipe

France, 1756. Artist: William Hogarth
France, 1756; a scene outside the Duke of Cumberland inn, in England. To the left a grenadier is painting a caricature of the King of France to the amusement of his companions

Canvassing for Votes, Plate II from The Humours of an Election, 1757. Artist: William Hogarth
Canvassing for Votes, Plate II from The Humours of an Election, 1757. This series of four plates depicts the Oxfordshire parliamentary election of 1754

Canvassing for votes, 1757. Artist: William Hogarth
Canvassing for votes, 1757. Two country innkeepers, agents for their respective parties, are here dropping money into the hands of a rustic freeholder

Lazio Viterbo Montefiascone General Views Italy
Lazio Viterbo Montefiascone General views, this is my Italy, the italian country of visual history, View of an inn sign in the Piazza Roma that reads " Est! Est!! Est!!

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"Inn Sign: A Glimpse into Netherlandish Proverbs Illustrated in a Village Landscape" Step back in time to October 1948, as we explore the enchanting world of inn signs. These captivating symbols, such as the Bells of Ouseley and Ye Old Fighting Cocks, have long adorned village landscapes across Europe. One notable example is "The Man with the Load of Mischief, " an 18th-century masterpiece by William Hogarth. This iconic inn sign transports us to a bygone era, where mischief lurks around every corner. Delve deeper into history with "The Times" plate I from c1762 (1895), which offers a fascinating glimpse into societal norms and customs of that period. The intricate details on this sign will leave you mesmerized. Travel further through picturesque villages like Compton & West Marden or Wootton Rivers, where inn signs such as The Black Horse and At the sign of the White Horse beckon weary travelers for respite and refreshment. Immerse yourself in Steeple Ashton's charm, captured beautifully in a62_02615 photograph. Here lies another hidden gem waiting to be discovered amidst its quaint streets and welcoming establishments. These inn signs not only serve as markers for weary travelers but also reflect local culture and traditions. Each one tells a unique story about its surroundings – tales passed down through generations. So next time you stumble upon an old inn sign while exploring idyllic villages or bustling towns, take a moment to appreciate their historical significance, and are more than just decorative elements; they are windows into our pasts – reminders of simpler times when life revolved around community gatherings at these beloved establishments.