WHAT DO The Naked Man in Settle, The Bucket of Blood in Cornwall and the Flying Horseshoe in Clapham have in common?

Retired Settle bookseller Allan Hemsworth, our speaker at the March 10 meeting of the Airedale Writers’ Circle, had the answer: not only are they all signs on pubs (or former pubs) but they are also found nowhere else in the UK, and all too have origins that are obscure.

Indeed Allan cautioned us that the reason for a pub’s name may not be what you assume, and is only apparent on seeing the picture on its sign: in Totnes in Devon for example the Albert refers not to Queen Victoria’s consort but Einstein.

Only one of the Three Kings in Clerkenwell, London, was really a monarch (Henry VIII), as the other two were Elvis Presley and King Kong!

Animals feature on many inn signs, with The White Hart - denoting Richard II – being quite common, but The White Boar, which was emblematic of Richard III, is only rarely seen, because after his death in the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 many a previously white boar was painted over in another colour.

However the Three Legged Mare in York has a gruesome, not equine, background, as it refers to a triangular scaffold from which nine men or women could be hanged together.

Religious references in pub names include The Cross Keys (of St Peter) and the Angel Inn. Nowadays the sign for the latter depicts a solitary (Arch)angel (Gabriel) but originally would often have displayed a Madonna too – since removed in the Reformation.

Also at that time the ownership of many pubs passed from monasteries to the landed gentry – hence ‘landlords’ and crests of arms appearing on pub signs, such as the Listers Arms in Malham.

The origins of illustrating these signs goes back to Roman times, when tavernas sold wine to many who were illiterate or hailed from far flung corners of the Roman empire where Latin was not understood.

Allan Hemsworth lamented the modern trend of ‘simplifying’ pub signs, as this can remove that vital visual clue as to what the inn name refers to, citing the example of The Royal Shepherd in Skipton: until just a few months ago the head of George III adorned its sign but now that has been replaced by a painting of sheep.

Presumably this is on the basis that few know, and many do not care, that he took a great interest in farming.

We applauded not only this interesting speaker but also our past chairman and founder, Lesley Horton, who was present for the first time since she had a stroke last November.

The next meeting is on April 14, as ever at 7.30pm in the Sight Airedale building in Scott Street, Keighley, immediately behind library.

As we are keen to recruit new members this will be a free meeting, open to all, for you to come and tell us what YOU want from a writing group!