A grade II listed timber-framed complex of buildings known collectively as Churchgate House is one of Ware's finest medieval buildings. Occupying a prominent position adjacent to St Mary's Church and town square, the distinctive form of the building with its jettied upper flors, moulded corner dragon post and irregular roofline immediately suggests a structure of considerable age and complexity. Churchgate House consists not of one structure but at least four, all of which originated at various times for various reasons and were gradually grafted together to create the unique silhouette in existence today.

Dating from the late 15th century and known to be used at various times throughout its long history as an inn, a public house, a bakery/maltings and more recently, a motorcycle repair shop.

At some point during the 17th century, Churchgate House, or more likely part of it, had become an inn. A deed of 1699 decribes it as the Eagle and Child, an inn sign associated with the Stanley Family, Earls of Derby, who held property in Ware during the 17th century.

The next reference to Churchgate House shows it to be in the posession of James Wiggs, Victualler of Ware, in partnership with Thomas Glover. On Christmas Day, 1725 they took out a mortgage for £200 at 2.5% interest from Thomas Rumbold, a maltster from Royston. James Wiggs, however, seems to have found the inn too large or too expensive to run and sold part of it on 4 May 1730 to a baker named Edward Fugion.

Written evidence that, although the site may have been generally referred to as the Eagle and Child, only part of it was used as an inn. While the Bakery thrived due to its proximity to the Church, back street, away from the passing trade in the high street, was not the most auspicious place for an inn. A deed of 1749 shows that the inn had been divided and part of it let for some years to a Blacksmith named Samuel Siggins, whilst the rest of the much reduced inn was known as the Eight Bells.

The Eight Bells survived under a variety of publicans until about 1830, when it was absorbed into the business activities of the Page family who now ran the bakery.

By 1860, following the death of Henry Page, a further change of use had taken place. The site was acquired by Robert Jaggs, a baker and Churchgate House was wholly given over to the bakery business. Joined later by George Edwards, the shop of Jaggs & Edwards became one of the best known bread and cake businesses in town.

The bakery survived until just after the Second World War, run by another George Edwards but still trading under the name Jaggs & Edwards. Post-war Ware, however, was a depressed town. As a result of proposals to construct an urban motorway and civic centre in the town centre, many of Ware's historic buildings were demolished. Others including Churchgate House, stood empty and neglected, awaiting their fate.

Churchgate House was purchased in an empty and forlorn state by John Whitfield, the retired Deputy County Archivist, who took a keen interest in old buildings. He also purchased Place House and intended to restore both properties. Sadly, he died before work could begin on either of them. In his last years, Mr Whitfield let and sold Churchgate House to Richard Rainbow who ran a motorcycle repair business. The business continued at the site for nearly 30 years, until Mr Rainbow emigrated to New Zealand in the early 1990's.

The building stood empty until December 2000. After a major re-fit taking 16 months to complete, the doors at Churchgate House opened once again on 24th April 2002 as Jacoby's Bar & Restaurant.