‘I can remember Black Lion Street, opposite the Cricketers, there was a notorious downstairs gents there which has long since been closed by the police. Cottaging, of course, had almost an attraction to it. The risk element gave it a bit of a thrill, the risk of getting caught. There was very little mugging threat in those days, it was nearly all risks of policemen hiding in the broom cupboard and peering out through the grating in the top, things like that. And yet people used to be quite outrageous in their cottaging. Most people didn’t do anything down there, they merely had a look to see what was being flashed at them and maybe picked someone up and took them home. There wasn’t a lot actually went on, even in cubicles, to my knowledge.

‘What killed the cottages was the 1960s when women got the Pill, and all of a sudden, women became available. Because they weren’t available in those days; you were either married and you’d got a wife — in that case you were alright — or if you weren’t married your girlfriend usually wouldn’t let you do anything, so I think that’s why all this activity went on in the cottages. We always called it trade and that’s what it was. They weren’t gay these people, they were just randy and wanted serving. And there were always people like me that were willing.’

Opposite the Cricketers Public House turn right into Nile Street and walk to the junction with Brighton Place. Turn left and then take a diagonal right down Market Street. The old Golden Fleece is on the corner on the right hand side.