Cambridge Easter egg
The Eagle pub, Cambridge: the RAF ceiling and the secret of life
Wartime names on a pub ceiling, and the secret of life.
The story
The Eagle on Bene't Street has been serving drinks since the 17th century. Two of its stories are written on the walls and ceiling.
In the back bar, airmen from the RAF and other Allied air forces wrote their names and squadron numbers on the ceiling during the Second World War. They used cigarette lighters, candles and lipstick.
On 28 February 1953, Francis Crick walked in at lunchtime and announced that he and James Watson had found the secret of life. They had worked out the double helix structure of DNA.
Their work relied on X-ray images made by Rosalind Franklin at King's College London. A plaque by the door marks the moment.
Look out for
The plaque outside on Bene't Street, then the scorched ceiling in the RAF bar inside.
Questions
Where did Crick and Watson announce the discovery of DNA?
Who wrote on the ceiling of The Eagle?
Where to find it
The Eagle, 8 Bene't Street, Cambridge
Free to see from the street, at any time.
Good to know
The scorched ceiling is in the back room, known as the RAF bar. It's a working pub, so a quiet weekday afternoon is the best time for a look.
Nearby with your City Pass
- Fitzbillies, free Chelsea bun with any hot drink
- King's College Chapel, entry to the Chapel and college grounds
More Easter eggs nearby
- Cambridgeshire's oldest building, a minute's walk
- The Corpus Clock, a minute's walk
- A car on the Senate House roof, about 2 minutes' walk
Let the app find them for you
The City Pass app tells you when you walk past an Easter egg. £50 for the day, with entry to 9 places included.