Courage Glass Sign. Photo: Jorgen Langkilde Larsen, Aarhus, Denmark
From Hodgsons' Kingston Brewery
Courage Cockerels
Courage & Co. Ltd
(This page is under construction)
The Cockerel has long been the image identifying Courage pubs.
In 1780, John Courage, born in Aberdeen of a French Huguenot family, moved to London. In 1787, he bought the Horselydown brewhouse from the Ellis family. John Courage I died in 1793, but was succeeded by two further generations, both John. It is thought that the brewery's Gold Cockerel image sprang from the family's French origins, and began to be associated with the brewery from the early 19th century.
In the 1930s, a new cockerel design became more prolifically used and was gradually introduced on pub signs, brewery stationery etc. In 1948, Courage commissioned designer Milner Gray to create a new silhouette design, and this lasted all the way up to the early 1990s. From the 1960s, Courage pubs were given wall plaques featuring the Cockerel.
Here are some examples.
London and Middlesex
Shakespeares Head, Arlington Way, London EC1
Shakespeares Head, Arlington Way, London EC1
Duke of Wellington, London N1, 2007
Duke of Wellington, London N1, 2007
Duke of Wellington, London N1, 2014
Duke of Wellington, London N1, 2014
Exmouth Arms, London NW1, 2006
Exmouth Arms, London NW1, 2019
Junction Tavern, London NW5
Southampton Arms, London NW5
Oxford Arms, London London SE1
Prince Albert, London SE10
Windermere, South Kenton, 2003
Windermere, South Kenton, 2010
Windermere, South Kenton, 2010
Windermere, South Kenton, 2010
Queens Head, London London SW3
Imperial Arms, London SW6
Builders Arms, Teddington
Berkshire
Craufurd Arms, Maidenhead
Thatched Cottage, Maidenhead
Rifle Volunteer, Wokingham
Buckinghamshire
King George V, High Wycombe
King George V, High Wycombe
King George V, High Wycombe
Rose & Crown, High Wycombe
Rose & Crown, High Wycombe
Stag & Hounds, Iver Heath
Beech Tree, Terriers (High Wycombe)
Surrey
Apple Tree, Guildford (former)
Duke of Buckingham, Kingston
Flying Scud, Redhill (former)
Flying Scud, Redhill (former)
Flying Scud, Redhill (former)
Flying Scud, Redhill (former)
Old Manor, Walton on Thames
Old Manor, Walton on Thames
Railway Athletic Club, Woking
Railway Athletic Club, Woking
Wales and the West Country
Old Navigation, Crumlin, Caerphilly
Old Navigation, Crumlin, Caerphilly
Maes Y Lili, Gorslas, Carmarthen
Royal British Legion, Newport
Ferndale Band Club, Rhondda
Volunteer Riflemans Arms, Bath
Volunteer Riflemans Arms, Bath
Volunteer Riflemans Arms, Bath
Downend Tavern, Fishponds, Bristol
Downend Tavern, Fishponds, Bristol
Avonmouth Tavern, Avonmouth
Crown, Hambrook, Gloucestershire
Elm Tree, Hanham, Gloucestershire
Swan, Hanham, Gloucestershire
Crown, Keynsham, Somerset
Trout Tavern, Keynsham, Somerset
Star & Garter, Montpelier, Bristol
White Lion, Nailsea, Somerset
White Lion, Nailsea, Somerset
Poacher, Portishead, Somerset
Druids Arms, Stanton Drew, Somerset
Prince Of Orange, Yatton, Somerset
Other Areas
Theobald Arms, Grays, Essex
Red Lion, Great Wakering, Essex