In fact, the Elephant and Castle at Newington Butts did not come into existence until long after Shakespeare's time. The ground on which it stands was not yet built upon in 1658, being then granted as a charitable donation to the poor of Newington parish. The grant was renewed and confirmed in 1673, when the structure here represented may already have come into existence, for we are told that building operations had then lately taken place. The sign may be derived from the crest of the Cutlers' Company. Close to the Elephant and Castle, during the construction of a new sewer in 1823, some piles, posts, and rings for barges were found imbedded in the soil. Hard by, in the early part of this century, that strange fanatic, Joanna Southcott, set up a meeting-house for her followers. Newington Butts was so named from the exercise of archery at the butts, which was practised here by the parishioners in Tudor times. The inn was rebuilt in 1824. Of late there has been another rebuilding on the same site. The view is founded on an old drawing in the Gardner collection.
A house called the "Oliphant," previously the "Red Hart," is mentioned in the vestry proceedings of St. Saviour's parish, Southwark, in 1598, and an "Elephant Alley" near the Globe theatre comes to light in the St. Saviour's sacramental token book for 1600. Shakespeare may have had in his mind the building thus indicated, when he made the allusion quoted above.
(658 × 1018)D. 82-1896.
2. White Hart Inn Yard, Southwark, 1884 (Water-colour).
(1314 × 1738) D. 7-1896.
3. Back of White Hart Inn, Evening, 1884 (Black and white).
(938 × 13916) D. 8-1896.
4. In the Gallery of the White Hart, 1884 (Water-colour).
(1158 × 81316) D. 9A-1896.
5. In the Gallery of the White Hart, 1884 (Black and white).