EVENTS

Our village setting of Weston Underwood is pretty and well-kept little place appeared on the map in 1381 in the form of an estate owned by John de Olney. Parts of his grand residence can still be seen today, in private house the Clock House, Weston House, The Chapel and quaint Laundry Cottage. After de Olney died, the estate passed into the hands of the Throckmorton family who built the stone pillars you see upon driving into the village, known locally as The Knobs.

The poet William Cowper, who translated Homer and helped kick-start poetry's romantic movement, lived here in the late 1700s as a guest of the Throckmortons. Their beautiful gardens and the surrounding farmland inspired much of his poetry. To work out up appetite for some hearty pub food, try walking to nearby Cowper's Alcove, where the poet sat to compose his thoughts whilst gazing over the estate.

Our Buckinghamshire pub dates from the late 18th century or early 19th century and our slate roof, brick frontage and latticed bay windows help make it a Grade II listed building. Its name – Cowpers Oak – comes from the ancient oak tree made famous by Cowper's poem of 1791, Yardley Oak, located not too far away in Northamptonshire.

Aside from this, the origins and early years of the Cowpers Oak remain a bit of a mystery – at least to us. We're trying to find out all we can about our lovely country pub, so if you've got any inside information that can't be found on the web, do get in touch!