1978 LOCAL NOTES By John Zuill

For White Horse read Motte and Bailey

Those living in or near Pirton have something to look forward to this weekend – Len and Susan Roberts open their new pub, the Motte and Bailey. The enterprising couple bought the building, at Great Green, Pirton, several months ago from Whitbread’s.  Most people will remember it is the White Horse, which has been standing empty for two years. Len has renovated the century old building himself, for he is a builder by trade, and he hope soon to start on an extension.  Susan – who, after 10 years, has given up a part-time nursing job at Lister Hospital, will look after the running of the pub because Len wants to continue his small building trade in Pirton.

A selection of beers are available because the pub is a free house, and for “real ale” connoisseurs there is Abbot Ale and bitter from Greene King.  Sue intends to provide food at lunchtimes and, hopefully, by next summer a section of the large expanse of land at the back will be turned into a pub garden.

The name Motte and Bailey comes from the Norman castle which used to be at the back of the pub – a motte is the mound on which a castle is built and a bailey is the outer wall and courtyard.

Len and Susan, pictured at their pub, used to live in Ickleford before moving to Pirton and they still have children still at school – Martin 8 and Lisa 10.  Obviously they are too young to help behind the bar so they hope to recruit some part time help.  It’s the first time the Roberts have run a pub, but they do not foresee any problems – Susan’s father has run the Three Moorhens in Hitchin for 20 years and he is around to give advice if and when it is needed.

Len wants his pub to have a homely atmosphere, “I hope we can cater for people from all walks of life, village people and Hitchin people,” he said.