The Plough

"The Plow", later "The old Plough", later just "The Plough" was situated at Flowers Bottom, on the road between Lacey Green and Speen. Its first known mention is in the writings of Samuel Pepys in the 1700th centuary. It continued as a pub and later dining house until 2016 when it was sold and became a private house.

Ted Janes recalls the Plough Inn

SIGN OF THE GREAT BEAR

“The Old Plow Inn” or “Plough Inn” as it used to be called, the sign today is of the farm plough being pulled by horses, but at one time it was the seven stars of the Great Bear.  Standing in a very beautiful valley of the Chilterns, known as Flowers Bottom, and always regarding itself as part of Speen, but strictly speaking is Lacey Green.   It is known to have been an inn as early as 1610, when Samuel Pepys mentioned it in his diaries.

VISITING COACHES AT THE PLOW INN.

In 1936 it was really put on the map by a new lady licensee, Miss Ishbel Macdonald.  She had acted as hostess to her father, James Ramsey Macdonald, labour Prime Minister 1923/24 and 1929/31 and the head of the National Government 1931/35.  The national press interest in Ishbel (as we all came to know her) moving from no. 10 Downing Street to be the landlady of a country inn was enormous.

CHANGES & TEAS

She enlarged the premises, removing the old blacksmiths shop from the side and had a great car park made that was to become very full each Saturday and Sunday during the summer months for several years, particularly with coaches.  Teas on the lawn became more profitable than the bar itself.

ISHBEL MARRIES.  Just as the curiosity was on the wane and Flowers Bottom was returning to normal, Ishbel married a local unemployed painter and decorator, Norman Ridgley and the press, the cars, the coaches and the hullabaloo started afresh.   Drink was unfortunately Norman’s problem and although Ishbel bought Speen Farm (Now the Horses home of Rest) and tried to make a farmer out of him, it was not to be.   After a few short years of acting almost like the village squire in his pony and trap, he died a comparatively young man.

ISHBEL's THERAPEUTIC GAIETY.

My childhood memories were enriched with the coming of Ishbel to Flowers Bottom and making it such a busy and interesting place to visit, particularly after Chapel on a Sunday.   Her interest in village life and her gaiety in those early dark days of the war were very therapeutic to the R.A.F. Bomber Command boys.

Ted Janes P.S.

My interest in the inn probably stemmed from the unusual fact that my great, great grandfather and both my grandfathers were at one time licensees.   It was in the Janes family for 56 years.   My maternal grandparents, Mr & Mrs Pocock also had the pub for a couple of years in the early 1920s.