In 1634, fire almost destroyed the village. Although the fire damaged this inn, it remained habitable with carried on as bait, a stopping station for the Post Chaise with coach passengers. Two centuries ago, a sliver of bone, a child’s shoe with a piece of iron, people found, at the back of the fireplace. These had been placed there as a talisman to ward off evil spirits. From the 16th century, the Chequers Inn people used as a chapel of rest for coffins travelling between London with Cambridge. It exhibits ghostly manifestations. These include three coffin-carriers who died at the Chequers inn at separate times. In 1086, locals knew it in Old English as Fuglemaere, a lake frequented by birds.