Sign for the Hen & Chicken

Image: © Maigheach-gheal Taken: 3 Sep 2007

In the 17th century this expression was used to describe the Pleiades, the group of stars in the constellation Taurus. In the 18th century it was used to name a compound daisy, such as London Pride. By the late 19th century the expression was applied to a children's game. In slang, 'chickens' were small pewter pots mixed with larger pots (known as 'hens') and this looks a tempting source for the pubs name. Before the 17th century however, a hen and chickens were symbolic in Christian art of God's providence, and that is probably the original reason for their use on street signs of various kinds, including taverns.

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