Waltham Cross

The Falcon

By Paula Lachanudis

Licensed as the Falcon to William Foster in 1617, it appears to have been a small house at first, with stabling for only three horses. After 1756, it developed its post-chaise business and became a coaching stop. By 1830, the Royal Mail Coach from Hull, the fastest and safest mode of transport of its day, was stopping at the Falcon Inn as its last stop before London. 1889 saw the restoration of the Eleanor Cross and the Old Falcon Inn was demolished and rebuilt, in order to leave a roadway between the Eleanor Cross and the new hotel. The new Falcon Hotel became home to the South Herts Automobile Club. Sadly, the Falcon was pulled down in 1974 to make way for new developments

This page was added on 27/08/2010.

Add your comment about this page

Your email address will not be published.

  • My grandmother Olive Hine grew up in The Falcon in late 1890s to sometime after 1911, her parents ran it. She holidayed in Lowestoft and cycled to Wormley Woof

    By Jane (09/07/2023)
  • I want to the dance school here late 60s/early 70s. It was Charlie Brown and his wife Olive.

    By M Wilson (25/02/2023)
  • In 1970, I remember going to learn ballroom dancing upstairs. I think it was the Dave Jones ballroom dancing school??

    By Mel Emery (11/01/2021)
  • My Grandparents, Jack & Elsie D’Arcy ran the Falcon at some stage between mid to late 50’s.

    By Helen Hunter (24/04/2019)
  • There is an image in the Jack Edwards collection at HALS which shows The Falcon just before demolition. It is dated 1890. The HALS reference is DE/Je/2/526

    By Colin Wilson (01/03/2019)