Hi Keith
There's actually quite a bit about "The Cock" PH.
Extracted from;
Hertfordshire Inns & Public Houses an historical gazetteer, by Graham Joliffe & Arthur Jones. Published by Hertfordshire Publications. ISBN 0-901354-79-1.The Cock
8 High Street
Hitchin
Earliest know reference 1616
The Cock was built in 1563 and occupied a much larger area than the present building. The part of the High Street that it occupied was known for 300 years as Cock Street.
The Capital Counties bank obtained the use of the building around 1900, and business continued in the room that is now the public bar until 1914.
Two-thirds of the Cock was demolished in the 1930's to make way for a new Woolworths! This site is now occupied by Boots the Chemist.
A sale notice of 1841 describes the Cock thus. "Containing 3 parlours, cellars underground, dairy, pantry, mangling room, large market room, dining room, kitchen, ten bed chambers and soldiers room, together with two large yards and a range of stables and outbuildings.
The site formed part of the parish of Shillington in Bedfordshire until an Act of 1868 abolished such extra-parochial holdings.
The "Uppingham" the Kettering to London stage coach, called at the Cock three times a week in each direction, and Richardson's stage wagon from Broad End, Bedfordshire to London called here every Friday and on its return from Islington on Sunday.
A stone marking 34 miles from London stood against the front of the building.
In the early 1900's, the Cock welcomed cyclists as the coaching business declined, and called itself the headquarters of the Cyclists Touring Club.
There is no reference to the Dog in the volume.
Rick
