322 The Tavern Signs of Wiltshire and their Origin. 
Grimstead ; the “ Grapes,” at Swindon; the “ Vine,” at Charlton ; 
and the “ Three Tuns” (derived from the Brewers’ Arms), at 
Wroughton, Trowbridge, and Great Bedwyn, though the Wiltshire 
labourer will persist in calling it the “ Three Bottles,” mistaking 
the diminutive barrels, which appear on the sign-board, for the 
small wooden kegs, or “ dottles,” in which our mowers and reapers 
delight.! 
Excepting the Vine, the Grapes, and the Barleycorn, above- 
mentioned, the vegetable world seems scarcely suited to the sign- 
board; and yet we have several instances in the county of the 
promotion of trees and shrubs to that honour. Perhaps some of 
these signs may have been derived from notorious trees, which 
marked the boundaries of parishes: for in the “ perambulations,” or 
“beating of bounds” of parishes, which used to take place on 
Rogation Days, prominent trees were oftentimes selected as dis- 
tinguishing marks or boundaries: and under such trees a portion of 
the Gospel was read, from which they were known as “ Gospel 
trees,” and a certain number of boys of the parish were soundly 
whipped, and then rewarded with money, in order to impress, as 
vividly as possible, on their youthful minds the exact localities, so 
that they could in after years bear testimony to the limits of their 
parishes ! 
We have but one instance in this county of the world-renowned 
“ Bush,’ which may be seen at Chiseldon. This however is a very 
old tavern sign, and throughout the continent of Europe and the 
United States of America, a dush (or the bough of a tree) hung 
before the door denotes a house of refreshment; just as the old 
Roman proverb that ‘‘ Good wine needs no bush ”’ has been translated 
into every European language. 
1T am informed by Mr. Hillier that five-and-twenty years ago an inn existed 
between Old and New Swindon, kept by one Thomas Jonas, and bearing the 
appropriate sign of the Whale. Beneath the figure of the marine monster, the 
following lines were added, which prove that Mr. Jonas was a wit and a poet, 
though not over refined in his language or his sentiments :— 
*‘This is a true authentic whale! 
Look at his head and regard his tail, 
And then come in and taste my ale! 
There is no better ale, I tell ’ee 
Than Jonas draws from out his belly.’”’ 
