The Standing Order

Stevenage High Street has many fine old buildings, but is really difficult to photograph. There are cars everywhere. The street is especially wide - plenty of space for markets and the manouevring of stage-coaches. And now plenty of space for parking cars. 

In the eighteenth century this was the first stop from London on the Great North Road, as it was the furthest the horses could get to before they had to be changed. And now the town is the first stop from London for inter city trains heading north on the east coast line.

It's a place I grew up with - and so much has changed over the years. 

This pub used to be a bank. Thus the name. It is now owned by the Weatherspoons chain. I hadn't realised until I read a recent copy of the "Big Issue" that the carpets in each Weatherspoons pub are different, and are especially made to represent the location.
And looking - it's true. The interior of this pub is a bit like a little museum, telling the story of Stevenage. Which has a lot going for it.