Wander into any English neighborhood, town, or village – no matter how small – and you will undoubtedly run across one or more of the ubiquitous pubs that dot the countryside. And the first thing you will notice is the sign outside the door. There are over 53,000 pubs in the UK, each with a unique name to identify and differentiate it from its neighbors.
The origin of the painted pub signs dates to 1393. Since most people in the Middle Ages could not read, pictures were used to illustrate the name of the establishment. Pub names can depict just about anything. The most popular is The Red Lion referring to King James I of Scotland who instructed that all buildings bear the Scottish heraldic red lion. The second most popular sign is the Red Oak, referring to King Charles II escaping captivity by climbing an oak tree. Pubs signs are the UK’s unique art form.