Wednesday 4 May: CHEQUERS, WOOLMER GREEN ( Chris Haden, Mike Horsman, Elvis Pile, John Westwood)
COMMENT: The Chequers is a really old pub name, probably brought to Britain by the Romans nearly 2,000 years ago. Evidence from Pompeii suggests it was already in use there (before 79AD) perhaps referring to a game such as draughts played on the premises. In Britain it was associated with a money table, hence the word "exchequer". Some inns used the sign to indicate that they were willing to change money or act as bankers in some way.
There isn't much information about the origins of the Chequers at Woolmer Green, but the website says it was a coaching inn (on the Great North Road) which suggests a 17th or 18th century foundation. The Chequers was certainly in existence in 1807 when it was the scene of a tragedy typical of the harsh penal laws of those days. The story is told in the famous diary of John Carrington of Bacons Farm, Bramfield. The diary entry for 4 June 1807 reads (I have kept Carrington's idiosyncratic grammer and spelling):
"To London on Dunn poney to present a Pittition for Mrs Pellom of Woolmergreen at Checkers their, now in Hartford Geoal under Sentance of 14 years Transportation for buiing 2 Silver tea Spoons [knowing them to be stolen]_ _ Judge Heath_ _sent us to Ld Hauksburys, the Secretaris of Stats office the Treasury for the home Department_ _Delivrd my Pittition to one Mr Copper their, Clerke of the office at the Treasury, was Recved very kindly & he promised to Give it to Ld Hauksbury & his Majesty. Then to Mr Horsmans Sallopin Coffhouse _ _ _"
Who this coffee house owner "Mr Horsman" was I do not know, but generally it seems a good effort by the eighty-one year old Carrington to be taking a petition to the Home Secretary (effectively, though under a different title, what Lord Hawkesbury was). Carrington clearly thought fourteen years transportation a vicious punishment. Did the petition help Mrs Pellom? I don't know, but on December 6 she was still in Hertford gaol and Carrington was still trying to get the local gentry to help her. Things went better for Lord Hawkesbury, as they usually do for people at the top. Under his later title of Lord Liverpool he was Prime Minister from 1812 to 1827, longer than anyone since, even Mrs Thatcher.
Anyway, the Chequers is currently a nice pub with a cage of chipmunks in the garden (an unusual touch), and an admirable attitude towards charities. (While we were there the landlady was in negotiation over the phone about a big charity ride for the Air Ambulance to be organised from the Chequers in July. Six of our wives rode in another charity ride for the Isabel Hospice from the Chequers the Sunday after our visit.) Also, the pub's award winning pies were excellent!
