Tuesday 15 February: COWPER ARMS, DIGSWELL (Malcolm Allen, Gerry Murphy, Elvis Pile, Bob Polydorou, Andrew Swift, Roger Toms, John Westwood)
COMMENT: I missed this one so nothing to say about food, discussion etc (other comments welcome!) But in terms of Hertfordshire history this pub is an interesting place. Once again, it shows the close connection between pubs, transport and trade. Already we have been at pubs closely connected with river trade (Old Barge, Hertford) and stagecoach trade (Waggoners, Ayot Green and White Horse, Welwyn). With the Cowper Arms the connection is of course with the railways. The pub was built in 1850 at the same time as Welwyn North station by the same navvies who built the station and Welwyn Viaduct and with the same bricks. (Welwyn North station was known as Welwyn station until 1926 when Welwyn Garden City station was opened.) The pub therefore was a speculation to make money out of railway traffic just as the others had been for river and road traffic. Perhaps the local landowner, Lord Cowper of Panshanger, had a hand in it since it was named after him. Victorian enterprise, therefore, but the pub also showed the harsh side of unrestrained Victorian capitalism. In the 1850s there was an appalling accident in the railway tunnel and the bodies were brought to lie in the Cowper Arms in preparation for the inquest.
As I was there I can comment on the food and service. I had a delicious root vegetable tart. Naturally this gave rise to some cracks along the lines of "who's the tart?" when brought to table. Gerry had steak and frites - a continental touch! Everyone seemed content with their meals, no doubt encouraged by some discount vouchers. The staff were friendly and helpful. Altogether a pleasant occasion.
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