The Old Cage, Lingfield, Surrey 1978

This authentic 1970s colour photograph, captured in 1978, features the exterior of The Old Cage Free House located in Lingfield, Surrey. The archival image documents this historic establishment, which prominently displays the date “1592 A.D.” on its facade, denoting its origins as a 16th-century structure. The building is characterized by its white weatherboarded gable end, dark tiled roof with dormer windows, and a long white-painted brick frontage accented with bold black lettering. A traditional hanging sign featuring a parrot and the text “The Old Cage Free House – Natural Beers” is visible, along with a stone lion statue mounted above the entrance. A low white wall runs along the foreground, partially obscuring a red period car parked in the pub’s lot. While the establishment closed in 2015, this factual record preserves its well-maintained appearance and traditional English pub character as it stood during the late 1970s. This photograph captures a significant piece of Lingfield’s social and architectural heritage.