John..King of France was detained in a house on this site after his capture at Poitiers in 1356 and before his removal to Hertford Castle...between 1420-1440 an was built here by the Abbey of St. Albans. Part of a window of the original building is in the County Museum Hatfield Rd. The inn faced the market square and was a meeting place for farmers and cattle dealers. In the sixteenth century it was considerably enlarged and the courtyard was formed.