The Cock sign on Sutton High Street

The Cock sign is a steel and wrought iron structure standing at the intersection of Sutton High Street and Carshalton Road. The roughly 3-meter-tall construction serves as both a road sign and street light.

The original wooden sign came from the time of The Cock Hotel, which operated from 1789 to 1914. The current steel and wrought iron sign was erected in 1907 to replace the older wooden version.

The sign bears the name of a former hotel and displays eight directional pointers to nearby places such as Cheam, Worcester Park, and Carshalton. Visitors can still read and use these historical directions today to navigate the area.

The sign sits at a central street intersection and is easily accessible on foot. It underwent restoration work in 2020 following its Grade II heritage listing in 2018.

The sign marks the location of the former The Cock Hotel, which was once owned by boxer John Johnson and served as both a hotel and post office. This connection to a notable sports figure from past times is often overlooked by visitors.

Location: London Borough of Sutton

Inception: 20 century

GPS coordinates: 51.36119,-0.19206

Latest update: December 14, 2025 09:42