The other day I needed to go to a shop in Hampstead High Street - a location I am not really fond of. To make things a little more palatable, I decided to head past Jack Straw's Castle to see what they have done with the place since I last paid it a visit when it was a pub.
The journey wasn't going to be far as it was only a little over a mile and a half. It would however involve cycling across the Heath and some of its gravelly paths. Making it safely to the other side I headed up to the location.
It has been quite a while since Jack Straw's Castle made its transition from pub to - yes you guessed it - luxury flats. (I think it has more than just flats thought I think). Being tea total, a pub is wasted on my for anything alcohol related but I do remember that they did rather good pots of tea, that I happily drank while my friends had something stronger.
The former pub got its name from Jack Straw, leader of the Peasants' Revolt in the late 1300s. There is almost a little bit of artistic licence on his involvement - if at all - but he supposedly took sanctuary at/near this location before being captured and executed.
Apart from myself, there have been many famous patrons. Charles Dickens (he really did get about) visited the pub as did Wilkie Collins and William Makepeace Thackeray. Even Professor Van Helsing paid a visit! A shame on several levels that it isn't still a pub but hey that's progress as some people say.
Until next time, stay safe out there people!
No comments:
Post a Comment
Thank you for leaving a comment.