“Did you know there’s a ghost of a hamlet here?” I ask, lowering my voice as we stand before The Botwell Inn. “Not a literal ghost, of course. But the spirit of Botwell, a lost village swallowed by Hayes town center, lives on in the name of this very pub.” The Botwell Inn isn’t just a place for a pint. It’s a vessel carrying centuries of local history, poured into the very foundations of this building. Once upon a time, in 1933, this very spot wasn’t a pub at all. It was the home of S Moore & Son, furnishers extraordinaire, who plied their trade here for a remarkable 65 years. Their legacy, like the hamlet’s, is woven into the fabric of this place. The Botwell Inn also holds echoes of another famous name, George Orwell. In 1932, the author, then known as Eric Blair, taught at a small school in Hayes. He found the area uninspiring, calling it “one of the most godforsaken places” he’d ever seen. Yet, even Hayes’ dreariness couldn’t stifle Orwell’s creativity. He penned a poem here, “On a Ruined Farm near His Master’s Voice Gramophone Factory.” His experience also fueled his famous work, “Down and Out in Paris and London,” published shortly after he left Hayes. Interestingly, Orwell later described his ideal pub, “The Moon Under Water,” in a 1946 newspaper article. This vision has influenced the design of many Wetherspoon pubs, including perhaps The Botwell Inn itself. Now, let’s journey even further back. Long before Orwell, before the furnishers, Hayes was a hub of brick-making, the sole industry until 1900. The Hayes Development Company changed everything, acquiring land south of Botwell and boosting transport links. This paved the way for the Gramophone and Typewriter Company, later known as HMV, whose iconic “His Master’s Voice” logo echoed through the area. So, as you raise a glass at The Botwell Inn, remember the ghosts of hamlets, the echoes of writers, and the legacy of industry that have shaped this unique spot.
Центральный дом работников искусств
Step through the grand wooden doors of the Central House of the Workers of Art, and you’ll be transported to