Without a doubt the Green Man is one of the
remotest public houses in this part of the country. Standing in the
forecourt on a cold winter’s evening it is possible to imagine the days,
five centuries ago, when it was a farmhouse in the depth of the great forest
which then stretched from London to Dunmow.
There are still four acres of land attached to the house and Alf Wittey, the
landlord, who spent his boyhood in Tottenham and learned his trade at the
Lord Raglan in Poplar, would now be the first to agree with the Elizabethan
poet who wrote:Oh, the sweet
contentment
The countryman doth find.
From Poplar, Alf moved to the Golden Harp
at St. Albans, and 13 years ago he came to Magdalen Laver.
During the Civil War a detachment of Cromwell’s forces were quartered at
“Wynter’s Armourie,” a house within half-a-mile of the Green Man, which
still exists.
In a field adjacent to the Green Man, some years ago, the landlord recovered
a set of quoits. This game has distinct Olde Englishe flavour and was once
as popular as skittles, which even today, is a feature of many public houses
in the West Country. It had its origin in the pitching of horse shoes, which
was apparently one of the chief forms of relaxation enjoyed by soldiers in
camp during the early Christian era. There is evidence to show that the game
was played at the Talbot in North Weald right up to 1914.
The champions carried their heavy iron rings around with them in the same
way as the modern darts player has his own set of “arrows.” How embarrassing
it must have been if, like the lady with the harp, nobody asked them to
play!
Today the Green Man has a flourishing darts team which plays in the Courage
League (Harlow District). Although the team has been beaten in this season’s
News of the World championship, Bob Peck is still in the Courage League’s
knock-out singles competition.
West Essex Caravan Club held a rally at the Green Man last year which was a
great success. Certainly the area proved to be an ideal situation and it is
hoped that the club will use the house as its headquarters in a future
event.
The customers still remember Stan Beard who, for many years, was the council
roadman, and sage, soothsayer and friend to everyone. Stan was a regular
drinker at the Green Man for over 40 years and his passing has left a big
gap, for real characters appear to be a rare commodity in this material age.
For many years the Green Man has entered the floral decoration competition
organised by the brewers. So far Alf Wittey’s window boxes have not found
favour with the judges, but perhaps 1966 will prove to be a vintage year. |
