History of the Dark Horse Restaurant



		The authentic stable and coaching house formally served Stowlangtoft Hall. The Hall was built in 1859 by H Hakewill for the Fuller Maitland Wilson family. Many famous people stayed at the Hall including the Prince of Wales who later became King Edward VII. Many shooting and riding parties were held at the Hall and the current Dark Horse Restaurant housed 6 stables and the coaching house. The servants quarters surrounding the courtyard and overlooking the stables (now converted to flats) were used by the head groomsman, house-keeper and gardener -with many a tale to tell.
				In 1939 the Hall was leased to the London Council and was used for children who were evacuated from Tower Hamlets.The Restaurant housed their bicycles. The Dark Horse Restaurant was converted in 1994 from three internal stables which are now used as the bar and lounge areas. The three outside stables are used as the water closets and storage purposes. The coach house itself is the restaurant and the workshop is now the sweatshop - alias the kitchen! Outside to the front there is a pretty walled garden with lots of colourful plants and climbers. To the rear in the courtyard an awning is erected in the summer where guests can take pre or after dinner drinks or even eat al fresco if the weather permits.