Preston has played host to a plethora of pub signs through the years, especially considering the city once held a reputation for having a different pub for every day of the year! Pub names depict everything from local folklore, historic events, royalty and notable characters. A simple pub sign can hold the key to a town’s past and when it comes to the history of pub names, each one is different. We’ve dipped into the archives to find some of the best old pub signs that welcome punters to cross the threshold. READ MORE: Long lost pubs of Preston. IN CASE YOU MISSED IT: More forgotten Preston pubs. MORE MEMORIES: Popular Preston pubs of the 90s.
5. Sir Tom Finney pub
This pub sign needs no explanation - it's named after Preston's sporting legend Sir Tom Finney Photo: Neil Cross
6. The General Havelock
This pub on Plungington Road in Preston is most likely named after General Havelock, a British general who is particularly associated with India and his recapture of Cawnpore during the Indian Rebellion of 1857. It is his portrait that can be seen on the pub signage Photo: Ian Robinson
7. The Black Horse
The Black Horse could have gained its name for a couple of reasons - many pubs were named after sporting past times, or it could have referred to travel when a need for coaching inns grew in the 18th century Photo: Archive
8. The Stephensons Arms
As you can see from this old sign outside The Stephensons Arms in Preston - they adopted a typical coat of arms heraldry theme. Thought this might not always have been the case as earlier images show the sign in a different position high on the pub wall. The pub was later renamed Churchills and bore a pub sign showing the former Prime Minister's face Photo: Kevin McGuinness