Why is Elephant and Castle Called Elephant and Castle?
Ever wondered how Elephant & Castle got its unusual name?
The Coaching Inn
In 1765, a coaching inn named the Elephant and Castle was established to offer a retreat for coach traffic travelling in and out of the south of London. This inn became a popular stopover point, providing rest and refreshments for travellers and their horses. However, the area’s connection to the name might date even further back.
Shakespeare’s Reference
There is a reference to the "Elephant" in William Shakespeare's comedy Twelfth Night, written around 1601: “In the south suburbs, at the Elephant, is best to lodge,” wrote the playwright. This suggests that there might have been some form of tavern earlier than the coaching inn.
The Worshipful Company of Cutlers
Another theory connects the name to the Worshipful Company of Cutlers, a medieval guild of craftsmen who made swords and knives. The company’s crest, granted in 1622, depicted an elephant carrying a castle. The elephant’s tusks symbolized the ivory handles of the cutlers’ implements, and the castle represented the elephant’s sheer size and strength. It’s plausible that the first landlord of the coaching inn chose the name Elephant and Castle to pay homage to this prestigious group.
Evolution Over Time
The coaching inn, which later became a pub, served the area well but was demolished in 1959 after suffering significant damage during the wars. Despite this, the name and the popular drinking spot endured. Today, the Elephant & Castle pub continues to welcome customers at its current location on Newington Causeway.
Over the centuries, the name "Elephant and Castle" endured, even as the area around it transformed. From a bustling coaching inn to a major transport hub, and now a focal point of urban regeneration, the name has remained a distinctive part of London's cultural and historical tapestry.