In reply to HappyTrundler: At the risk of more UKC backlash:
Back in the 1970s and 1980s HVS did not mean the same as it does now. I’m not referring to grade creep here, but back then without the fast track progression afforded by indoor walls, modern gear etc it took some time to progress from VS to HVS, by which time more climbers would have had time to gain the nouse etc to assess and manage a situation like the Mousetrap traverse , or recognise when to stay away from it, even if they hadn’t the strength or skills to progress to E1 etc. That’s certainly the situation myself and my peers would have been in back then. Also the peg would probably have given some assurance back then too.
So I’m not at all suggesting that Mousetrap be downgraded from E2 considering the current consensus on how routes are graded.