Old Eagle, London

This Victorian pub retains an original counter and mainly original bar-back, plus some inter-war features.

The two entrances greet you with mosaic flooring; the right-hand one with the name of the pub, the corner one hosting a rather malevolent-looking eagle. They are difficult to date; they could be original or even as late as inter-war. The main feature inside is the L-shaped panelled bar counter, quite likely dating from Victorian days; evidently it has been cut back slightly on the left-hand side. Parts of the back fitting seem of similar age with the most distinctive feature being the coving at the top and its now indistinct relief decoration (the detached balusters and of course the wine rack seem modern additions). At some stage a conservatory-style extension has been added at the back, quite possibly in the inter-war period which seems to be the date for the leafy stained glass (the mighty eagle in the skylight is much more recent). Originally the pub would have had several internal divisions, including one in the centre entered by a now-blocked-in doorway (possibly to a jug and bottle bar). Around the internal perimeter are sturdy iron columns; note that the semi-circular lunette window over the corner entrance still has a working opening arrangement.