The CROWN AND LAST originated with shoemakers, but the gentle craft having the reputation of being thirsty souls, it was also adopted as an alehouse sign: we find it as such in 1718:--
“ON EASTER Monday, at the Crown and Last at Primlico (_sic_) in Chelsea road, a silver watch, value 30 sh., is to be bowled for; three bowls for six pence, to begin at Eight of the clock in the morning and continues till Eight in the evening. N.B.--They that win the watch may have it or 30s.”[126]
The CROWN AND HALBERT was, in 1790, the sign of a cutler in St Martin’s Churchyard;[127] the CROWN AND CAN occurs in St John Street; and the CROWN AND TRUMPET at Broadway, Worcester: this last may either allude to the trumpet of the royal herald, or simply signify a crowned trumpet.
Of the KING’S ARMS, and the QUEEN’S ARMS, there are innumerable instances; they are to be found in almost every town or village. The story is told that a simple clodhopper once walked ever so many miles to see King George IV. on one of his journeys, and came home mightily disgusted, for the king had arms like any other man, while he had always understood that his majesty’s right arm was a lion and his left arm a unicorn.
Grinling Gibbons, the celebrated carver and sculptor, lived at the sign of the King’s Arms in Bow Street, from 1678 until 1721, when he died. This house is alluded to in the _Postman_, January 24, 1701-2:--
“On Thursday, the house of Mr Gibbons, the carver in Bow Street, fell down, but by special providence none of the family were killed; but, ’tis said, a young girl which was playing in the court being missed, is supposed to be buried in the rubbish.”
At the Haymarket, corner of Pall Mall, stood the QUEEN’S ARMS tavern, in the reign of Queen Anne. At the accession of George I. it was called the King’s Arms, and there, in 1734, the Whig party used to meet to plan opposition to Sir Robert Walpole. This club went by the name of the Rump-steak Club.
Faulkner[128] says that at the King’s Arms, in the High Street, Fulham, the Great Fire of London was annually commemorated on the 1st of September, and had been continued without interruption until his time. It was said to have taken its rise from a number of Londoners who had been burnt out, and who, having no employment, strolled out to Fulham, on their way collecting a quantity of hazel nuts, from the hedges, with which they resorted to this house. A capital picture of the great conflagration used to be exhibited on that day.