Creative Connections - UK Signs

The artists who create Disney's themed environments often draw inspiration from a rich palette of past and present real-world locales. A cultivated appreciation for Disney Details inspires us to seek out similar treasures across the globe. Here at the Veranda, we look for these "Creative Connections" in our travels, and I'd like to share one of these connections with you today.

Those of you who have strolled Epcot's United Kingdom pavilion may have noticed the colorful signs hanging on several of the buildings. Here are a few examples:

The Queen's Table


Lords and Ladies Fancy Goods


The Toy Soldier

Although Epcot's UK takes inspiration from the past (with structures representing the 14th through 19th centuries), evidence of similar hanging signs can still be found in the present-day England.

Recounting her days in the United Kingdom, one of our members recalled seeing several such signs on display across the Costwold area. Consulting the Veranda photo gallery, she was quickly able to produce several examples:

The Balck Swan


Bakers Arms


Swan Hotel


The Bell Inn

The images on these signs often represent the name of the establihment, or provide some clue as to what may be found inside.

Sometimes, the images on the signs relate to family crests. The Lygon Arms Hotel in Chipping Campden appears to be one such example:

Although I'm a novice at such matters, a cursory internet search suggests that the two red lions(?) depicted on the sign are emblematic of the Lygon family crest.

In my next dispatch, we will "cross the pond" back over to Epcot to examine some more of the UK pavilion's signs, to see if the notion of family crests can provide additional creative connections:

- The Management