The Three Kings sign

In 1668 Samuel Rolle wrote in his book about the rebuilding of London after the Great Fire: 'The major part of houses built upon the ruins let out to alehouse keepers and victuallers to entertain the workmen employed in the city.' This limestone sign is from a pub and is carved with the year '1667' featuring three kings with crowns, sceptres and orbs. It was found at Bucklersbury, near Bank Underground Station. The figures give a clue as to the name of the pub. It might have been called 'The Three Kings', or they could depict King Lud and his two sons (their statues had stood on Ludgate since around 1586). By the end of 1667 around 650 houses had been rebuilt. This pub would have been one of them. The City of London’s rebuilding rules of 1667 said that ‘no sign posts shall hang cross, but the signs shall be fixed against the balconies, or some other convenient part of the side of the house’. This stone sign sticks to the rules but lots of people ignored them and carried on using signs that hung out into the street.