Public houses named the Green Man
By Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2015-07-17. Revised by Henrik Thiil Nielsen, 2017-06-10.
'The Green Man' is a quite common pub or inn name in England, while the name of 'The Green Man and Still' is now much less common than it used to be. Public houses with these names usually have (or had) a sign showing a green-clad figure – now often hard to distinguish from a typical depiction of Robin Hood – or a "green man"[1] head. These pub names and signs were not originally connected with the Robin Hood figure, though in some cases they have later come to be. Since there are many Green Man pubs and their connection with the outlaw is only tangential, they are not given separate entries on this site. However, I include below a county-by-county list of map and literature references for such pub names found during my search for Robin Hood-related place-names, the sources being mainly the 6" O.S. map online at NLS. Unfortunately I only began to collect "Green Man" pub names after I had checked the maps of several – mainly northern – counties. The list therefore is not representative of all of England. A list of sources discussing "Green Man" pub names and the possibly related "green man" depictions follows the list of pub names.
Public houses named the Green Man
The map views linked to below are centered on the pub in question (or at least include it if it is too near an edge of the map to allow centering on it). Unless otherwise stated, the green men are indicated as "(P.H.)" (public house) on the maps. Where the pub is named "Green Man" eo nomine, I do not cite this. Where the map indicates the pub as "B.H.", i.e. a beer house, this is noted.
Bedfordshire
- 6" O.S. map Bedfordshire XXII.NE (includes: Chicksands; Shefford; Southill.) (1884; surveyed 1881-82)
- 6" O.S. map Bedfordshire XXII.SE (includes: Campton; Chicksands; Clifton; Meppershall; Shefford.) (1885; surveyed 1881-82)
- 6" O.S. map Bedfordshire XXVII.SW (includes: Arlesey; Hitchin Urban; Holwell; Ickleford; Letchworth; Stotfold.) (1887; surveyed 1880-81)
- Greenman Farm – 6" O.S. map Bedfordshire XXIX.SW (includes: Chalgrave; Houghton Regis; Tilsworth.) (1886; surveyed 1879-80)
Cambridgeshire
- 6" O.S. map Cambridgeshire XXXIV.SE (includes: Cottenham; Landbeach; Waterbeach) (c. 1887; surveyed 1887)
- B.H. – 6" O.S. map Cambridgeshire XLV.SW (includes: Gamlingay; Little Gransden; Tetworth; Waresley) (1887; surveyed 1886)
- Green Man Farm – 6" O.S. map Cambridgeshire XLV.SW (includes: Gamlingay; Little Gransden; Tetworth; Waresley) (1887; surveyed 1886)
- Green Man Inn – 6" O.S. map Cambridgeshire XLVII.SW (includes: Cambridge; Grantchester; Great Shelford; Harston; Haslingfield; Hauxton) (1886; surveyed 1885)
- Green Man Inn – 6" O.S. map Cambridgeshire XLVIII.NE (includes: Bottisham; Brinkley; Burrough Green; Carlton; Dullingham; Little Wilbraham; Swaffham Bulbeck; Westley Waterless) (1886; surveyed 1885)
- Green Man Inn – 6" O.S. map Cambridgeshire L.SW (includes: Cowlinge; Lidgate; Stradishall; Wickhambrook) (1903; rev. 1901)
- 6" O.S. map Cambridgeshire LVII.NE (includes: Abington Pigotts; Guilden Morden; Litlington; Steeple Morden) (1886; surveyed 1886)
- 6" O.S. map Cambridgeshire LVII.NE (includes: Abington Pigotts; Guilden Morden; Litlington; Steeple Morden) (1886; surveyed 1877-85)
Derbyshire
- 6" O.S. map Derbyshire XXIV.NW (includes: Baslow and Bubnell; Chatsworth; Edensor) (1883; surveyed 1876-78)
- Anonymous, compil. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Pub Names (Wordsworth Reference Series) (Ware, Hertfordshire, ©2006), s.n. 'Green Man and Black's Head Royal': In Ashbourne.
Essex
- Green Man Inn – 6" O.S. map Essex V (includes: Ashen; Belchamp St Paul; Clare; Ovington; Stoke by Clare) 1880; surveyed 1876
- Green Man Inn – 6" O.S. map Essex XVI (includes: Gosfield; Sible Hedingham; Wethersfield) (1881; surveyed 1876)
- 6" O.S. map Essex XXXI (includes: Great Hallingbury; High Wych; Little Hallingbury; Sawbridgeworth; Thorley) (1880; surveyed 1874)
- Greenman Pond – 6" O.S. map Essex XXXV (includes: Feering; Great Braxted; Kelvedon; Messing Cum Inworth) (181; surveyed 1874-1875)
- 6" O.S. map Essex XLV (includes: Great Braxted; Great Totham; Little Braxted; Little Totham; Tolleshunt Major) (1880; surveyed: 1874-75)
- 6" O.S. map Essex L (includes: Epping; High Ongar; North Weald Bassett; Stanford Rivers; Theydon Garnon) (1881; surveyed 1873-74)
- 6" O.S. map Essex LII (includes: Chelmsford; Writtle) (1881; surveyed 1874)
- 6" O.S. map Essex LVII (includes: Enfield St Andrew; Waltham Holy Cross) (1881; surveyed 1870-72)
- Green man Inn – 6" O.S. map Essex LIX (includes: Blackmore; Brentwood; Doddinghurst; Kelvedon Hatch; Stondon Massey) (1881; surveyed 1871-73); situated next to a green labelled "The Green" on the map
- 6" O.S. map Essex LXV (includes: Chingford; Walthamstow; Wanstead; Woodford) (1876; surveyed 1863).
Hampshire
Hertfordshire
- 6" O.S. map Hertfordshire XII (includes: Graveley; Ippollitts; Stevenage; Wymondley.) (1884; surveyed 1878-81)
- 6" O.S. map Hertfordshire XXXVII (includes: Great Parndon; Nazeing; Roydon.) (1880-82; surveyed 1870-80)
- 6" O.S. map Hertfordshire XLIII.SE (includes: Rickmansworth Urban; Uxbridge.) (1920; rev. 1912-13)
Huntingdonshire
- Green Man Inn – 6" O.S. map Huntingdonshire XVI.NE (includes: Brington and Molesworth; Catworth; Leighton; Old Weston.) (1887; surveyed 1884-87)
- Green Man Farm – 6" O.S. map Huntingdonshire XXVIII.SW (includes: Gamlingay; Little Gransden; Tetworth; Waresley.) (1903; rev. 1900)
Lincolnshire
- 6" O.S. map Lincolnshire LXIV.NE (includes: Asterby; Cawkwell; Maidenwell; Scamblesby; Tathwell.) (1887; surveyed 1887)
- Green Man Plantation – 6" O.S. map Lincolnshire LXV.NE (includes: Authorpe; Belleau; Burwell; Muckton; Swaby; Walmsgate.) (1888; surveyed 1888)
- Green Man Wood – 6" O.S. map Lincolnshire LXXXVI.NE (includes: Boothby Graffoe; Coleby; Navenby.) (1887; surveyed 1886)
- Green Man Wood – 6" O.S. map Lincolnshire LXXXVII.NW (includes: Blankney; Metheringham; Scopwick; Temple Bruer with Temple High Grange.) (1887; surveyed 1887)
- Green Man Lane – 6" O.S. map Lincolnshire LXXXVII.NW (includes: Blankney; Metheringham; Scopwick; Temple Bruer with Temple High Grange.) (1887; surveyed 1887)
- In Lincoln: Cameron, Kenneth; Field, John; Insley; Cameron. The Place-Names of Lincolnshire (English Place-Name Society, vols. 58, 64/65-66, 71, 73, 77, 85) (Nottingham, 1985-2010), pt. I, p. 167: recorded 1790, 1826, 1828.
London
- 6" O.S. map London II.NE (includes: Finchley; Hendon.) (1894-96; rev. 1893-95)
- 6" O.S. map London II.SW (includes: Hendon; Wembley; Willesden.) (1894-96; rev. 1891-94)
- Green Man Pond – 6" O.S. map London IV.SW (includes: Cann Hall; Leyton; Wanstead; West Ham.) (1894-96; rev. 1893-94)
- Anonymous, compil. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Pub Names (Wordsworth Reference Series) (Ware, Hertfordshire, ©2006), s.n Green Man: this is "[a] common sign, not only in rural areas (London has 30 such signs)".
- Anonymous, compil. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Pub Names (Wordsworth Reference Series) (Ware, Hertfordshire, ©2006), s.n. 'Green Man and Still': London EC1.
Middlesex
- 6" O.S. map Middlesex I (includes: North Mimms; Ridge; South Mimms.) (1868; surveyed 1866)
- 6" O.S. map Middlesex III (includes: Epping Upland; Waltham Holy Cross.) (1880-82; surveyed 1866-74)
- 6" O.S. map Middlesex IV (includes: Chorleywood; Rickmansworth Urban; Uxbridge.) (1868; surveyed 1864-65)
- 6" O.S. map Middlesex VI (includes: Arkley; Chipping Barnet; Hendon; Rowley; Totteridge.) (1868; surveyed 1863-66)
- 6" O.S. map Middlesex VI (includes: Arkley; Chipping Barnet; Hendon; Rowley; Totteridge.) (1868; surveyed 1863-66)
- 6" O.S. map Middlesex VIII (includes: Buckhurst Hill; Chigwell; Loughton; Waltham Holy Cross.) (1868; surveyed 1866)
- B.H. – 6" O.S. map Middlesex XI (includes: Hendon; Wembley; Willesden.) (1873; surveyed 1864-65)
- 6" O.S. map Middlesex XI (includes: Hendon; Wembley; Willesden.) (1873; surveyed 1864-65)
- 6" O.S. map Middlesex XXI (includes: Barnes; Fulham; Wandsworth Borough.) (1873; surveyed 1865-66)
- 6" O.S. map Middlesex XX (includes: Heston and Isleworth; Twickenham St Mary the Virgin.) (1869; surveyed 1864-65)
Norfolk
- B.H. – 6" O.S. map Norfolk XVI.SE (includes: Barsham; Fakenham; Great Snoring; Little Snoring.) (1886: surveyed 1885)
- 6" O.S. map Norfolk XXXVII.SE (includes: Bawdeswell; Bylaugh; Foxley; Sparham.) (1885; surveyed 1882-85)
- 6" O.S. map Norfolk LII.SW (includes: Rackheath; Salhouse; Wroxham.) (1887; surveyed 1881)
- 6" O.S. map Norfolk LXXIV.NE (includes: Great Melton; Hethersett; Little Melton.) (1887; surveyed 1881-82)]
- Green man Lane – 6" O.S. map Norfolk LXXXVIII.SW (includes: Brooke; Hedenham; Kirstead; Seething; Woodton.) (1884; surveyed 1883-84)
Oxfordshire
Suffolk
- 6" O.S. map Suffolk XXXIV.NE (includes: Bardwell; Langham; Stanton.) (1883; surveyed 1882-83)
- Green Man Inn – 6" O.S. map Suffolk XLVII.SW (includes: Earl Stonham; Little Stonham; Mendlesham; Mickfield; Wetheringsett.) (1884; surveyed 1884)
- Green Man Inn – 6" O.S. map Suffolk LIII.SW (includes: Cowlinge; Lidgate; Stradishall; Wickhambrook.) (1884; surveyed 1884)
- 6" O.S. map Suffolk LIV.SW (includes: Brockley; Hartest; Lawshall; Somerton; Whepstead.) (1884; surveyed 1884)
- 6" O.S. map Suffolk LXVIII.NE (includes: Campsey Ash; Rendlesham; Tunstall; Wantisden.) (1883; surveyed 1881-83)
- Anonymous, compil. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Pub Names (Wordsworth Reference Series) (Ware, Hertfordshire, ©2006), s.n. 'Green Man': near Snape, Tunstall.
Allusions
Discussion
Public houses
- Anonymous, compil. The Wordsworth Dictionary of Pub Names (Wordsworth Reference Series) (Ware, Hertfordshire, ©2006), s.nn. 'Green Man', 'Green Man and Black's Head Royal', 'Green Man and Still'
- A., S. 'Inn Signs', Notes & Queries, Series 1, vol. IX (1854), p. 494. A query, answered by Cooper, Thompson; R., M.H., below
- Cooper, Thompson. 'Inn Signs', Notes & Queries, Series 1, vol. X (1854), p. 33. Answer to query by A., S., above
- R., M.H. 'Inn Signs', Notes & Queries, Series 1, vol. X (1854), p. 214. Answer to query by A., S., above
The Green Man in folklore and architecture
The concept of the "Green Man" in folklore is problematical. There is, for instance, no evidence that gargoyles and similar architectural ornaments and figures are anything more than decorative. There is no compelling reason to regard them as representations of a quasi-mythological entity or other mental construct, let alone interpret green men of 19th century May Day processions as representations of this same speculative entity or construct. Still more unfortunate is the fact that the Green Man concept has been appropriated by New Age fringe writers.
- Anderson, William. Green Man: the Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth (London, 1990)
- Anderson, William. Green Man: the Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth (San Francisco, 1991)
- Anderson, William. Green Man: the Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth (Fakenham, 1998)
- Anderson, William. Green Man: the Archetype of Our Oneness with the Earth (New York; London, 1998)
- Anderson, William. Gurīnman: Yōroppashi O Ikinuita Mori No Shinboru (Tokyo, 1998)
- Anderson, William. 'The Green Man and the Goddess: Exploration of a Living Myth', Orion, vol. 14 (1995), pp. 7-15
- Basford, Kathleen. 'The Foliate Head', Folklore, vol. 79 (1968), pp. 59-61
- Basford, Kathleen. 'Quest for the Green Man', in: Davidson, Hilda Roderick Ellis, ed. Symbols of Power (Mistletoe Series) (Cambridge, 1977), pp. 101-20
- Basford, Kathleen. The Green Man (Cambridge, [England]; Totowa, N. J., 1978)
- Basford, Kathleen, review. 'A New View of Green Man Sculptures', Folklore, vol. 102 (1991), pp. 237-39
- Carter, R. O. M.; Carter, H. M. 'The Foliate Head in England', Folklore, vol. 78 (1967), pp. 269-74
- Carter, R. O. M.; Carter, H. M. 'Correction: the Foliate Head in England', Folklore, vol. 79 (1968), p. 47
- Centerwall, Brandon S. 'The Name of the Green Man', Folklore, vol.108 (1997), pp. 25-33
- Coulter, James. The Green Man Unmasked: a New Interpretation of an Ancient Riddle (Bloomington, IN; Milton Keynes, UK, 2006)
- Doel, Fran; Doel, Geoff. The Green Man in Britain (Stroud, 2001)
- Enigma of the Green Man; has very useful bibliography page.
- Ettlinger, Ellen E., review. '[Review of: Basford, Kathleen. The Green Man (Cambridge, [England]; Totowa, N.J., 1978)]', Folklore, vol. 90 (1979), pp. 108-109
- Grundy, Thirlie. The Green Man of Carlisle Cathedral (Carlisle, 1998)
- Grundy, Thirlie. Going in Search of The Green Man In Cumbria (Carlisle, 2000)
- Grundy, Thirlie. The Green Man in Northumbria and County Durham (Carlisle, 2001)
- Grundy, Thirlie. 'The Oaken Myths of Post-Conquest Britain: Symbolic Carvings from 1066 (Carlisle, 2003)
- Harding, Mike. A Little Book of The Green Man (London, 1998)
- Harte, Jeremy; O'Hanlon, Maggie, ed. The Green Man (Pitkin Guides) (Norwich, 2001)
- Hayward, Anthony. 'The Green Men of Birmingham' (Erdington, 2000)
- Hayward, L.H. 'The "Green Man" in Church Architecture', Folklore, vol. 50 (1939), p.188
- Hicks, Clive. The Green Man – A Field Guide (Fakenham, 2000)
- MacDermott, Mercia. Explore Green Men (Loughborough, 2003)
- Millar, Ronald. The Green Man Companion and Gazetteer: his Origins, his History, his Folklore, his Meaning and Where to Find him (Seaford, 1997)
- Negus, Tina. 'Medieval Foliate Heads: a Photographic Study of Green Men and Green Beasts in Britain', Folklore, vol. 114 (2003), pp.247-70
- Raglan, Lady. 'The "Green Man" in Church Architecture', Folklore, vol. 50 (1939), pp. 45-57
- Satchell, John. 'The Green Man in Cumbria', Folklore, vol. 110 (1999), pp.98-99
- Wikipedia: Green Man; sane.
- Willsher, Betty. 'The Green Man as an Emblem on Scottish Tombstones', Markers: Annual Journal of the Association for Gravestone Studies, vol. 9 (1992), pp. 58-77
- Wiltshire Green Men; has very useful bibliography page.
Notes