Chequers

After the Great Fire of London in 1666, the first buildings to be erected were in St James, Southwest of the Old City. One of these buildings was an ale house called ‘The Masons Arms’ and it was situated next to the ‘Cavendish House’, home to Lady Cavendish the ‘Duchess of Duke St’ and mistress to King Edward VII who resided at the Palace of St James.

At the rear of Cavendish house and the Masons Arms, was ‘Masons Yard’, where stonemasons prepared the stones for the building of Westminster Palace. The coachmen and grooms would park their coaches and horses in Masons Yard. As they waited for their masters, who were being entertained in Cavendish House, they whiles away their time, drinking ale and playing chequers on the steps of the alehouse. So, in time, the Masons Arms became known as “The Chequers Pub” and soon had a new sign depicting a chequers board.