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The Plough in Elstree

For #MemoriesMonday this week, it's good to return to this famous local hostelry. Back in the news because of plans to refurbish it and reopen as a pub after 7 years of neglect.  So here are just a few of our many photos of the original Plough over the years. 

First known as The Swan it was established in 1637, and became The Plough in the mid 1700s. Thomas Clutterbuck, brewer of Stanmore and owner of the HollyBush, the Artichoke and the Crown in Boreham Wood, took over ownership in around 1816 when it was occupied by James Pegler.  The inn was a coaching stop en route to and from London, and from about 1830 it became fronted in yellow brick when the present building was constructed. It had many publicans over the years, and became a stop for cars, charabancs and cyclists on Watling Street.

It became the regular for many stars from the studios who lived or rented along Barnet Lane, and Alfred Hitchcock was a well-known imbiber there in the 1930s. After The Plough closed it became an Italian restaurant, but that didn't last either, and it has been closed for too long.  One photo shows local historian Stephen Castle with the horse mounting block still in place outside the pub.  I wonder if any of the pub visitors missed their footing while mounting their horses after a night in the snug!  Let's hope the refurbishment keeps this unique feature.