The name of this Inn has puzzled many, and its meaning must to certain extent be a matter of surmise. There is no doubt that it was taken from it's being situated in The Hundred of Catash or Catt-aish. These "Hundreds," of which there is a group situated around that of catash, were territorial divisions on which originally one hundred families were settled, possibly soldiers in a conquered country.

According to authorities consulted, they were originated by the danes. Each division had its own Court of Justice, which met periodically to settle disputes, collect fines, rents and give judgements on all local matters. It is known that they continued for hundreds of years, and the Rev. Prebentary Daniel, in a pamphlet published on the subject, gives extracts from rolls to which he had access, extending over five years, from 1598 to 1603, when local business was still almost entirely in the hands of the Hundred Courts. These Courts obviously must have had a place of meeting, and Rev. Daniel quoted J. A. Bennett as giving about a mile from the present Inn as the probable place.

Several of the other Hundreds took their names from some natural object, such as Whitstone, from a white stone still to be seen on the edge of the Mendip Hills, and in the Hundred of that name.
It is, therefore, more likely that some notable Ash Tree was the place of a meeting of The Court of Catash, especially as Cad, or Cat., said to be early British for War, joined to the Anglo-saxon Ash or Aish, makes War Ash; possibly in commemoration of a battle.

The Inn Sign depicts a meeting of the Court, under the Ash Tree to collect rents and fines, the costume is of the period 1600 - 1605; it is made of tin and was painted by hand.