The Eagle, formerly known as the Eagle and Child, is the second oldest pub in Cambridge. With its rich and colorful history, it is a pub like no other.
The Eagle was originally established in the early 17th century as a coaching inn, serving travelers on the Great North Road. Over the centuries, the pub has played an important role in the life of Cambridge, serving as a meeting place for students, scholars, and locals alike.
During World War II, The Eagle became a popular hangout for RAF pilots who flew bombing raids over Germany. The ceiling of the pub's RAF Bar is covered in graffiti left by these pilots - they used wax candles, petrol lighters and lipstick to write their names, squadron numbers and other doodles onto the ceiling of the rear bar. The tradition is believed to have been started by RAF Flight Sergeant P. E. Turner, who climbed up on the table one night to burn his squadron number on the ceiling.
The pub is also famous for being the place where the discovery of the structure of DNA was first announced. At the time, the university's Cavendish Laboratory devoted to experimental physics was located at nearby Free School Lane and the pub was a popular lunch destination for its staff. On February 28, 1953, pub regular Francis Crick came to The Eagle and announced to the pub’s guests, some of whom were fellow scientists and researchers, that he and James Watson had "discovered the secret of life" after they had come up with their proposal for the structure of DNA. This event is commemorated on a blue plaque next to the entrance, and two plaques in the middle room by the table where Crick and Watson lunched regularly. Today the pub serves a special ale to commemorate the discovery, dubbed "Eagle's DNA".
In addition to its role in the discovery of DNA and its association with the RAF, The Eagle has also been the site of many other historic events. It is said that Oliver Cromwell once stayed at the pub, and it was also a favorite haunt of famous writers such as C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien.
As if all that wasn’t enough, The Eagle is also thought to be haunted. During a fire in the upper part of the building over 300 years ago, a barmaid is said to have lost her life when she was unable to open a window. Ever since, the window is kept open, with staff reporting a feeling of suffocation if it is ever closed.
Today, The Eagle continues to be a popular pub, with a lively atmosphere and a strong connection to Cambridge's history. Visitors can still see the RAF Bar and the graffiti left by the pilots, as well as the original fireplace and other historic features.
Photo by Keith Edkins, licensed for reuse under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 license.
