About the Green ManPub

The Green Man is a traditional family run freehouse. Serving homemade fresh local produce, accompanied by an extensive range of fine wines, beers and spirits. We cater for individuals dining out as well as private parties, weddings, christenings, funerals and Christmas parties. Situated in the beautiful Essex Countryside ideal for cyclist and walkers alike.

The Green Man pub originally dates back to 1730 making it Grade II listed. The Green Man was called Long's in 1730 when it was mentioned in the will of Augustine Finch who was a Margeretting Butcher. In 1758 John Willment bought Long's, then known by the sign of the "Green Man" with barns, stables, yards, orchards, gardens and lots of land from Henry Finch, the son of Augustine Finch the Butcher for the sum of £500. Somewhere around 1812 George Williams pulled down parts of the original structure and erected a new building.

Click here to view our Picture Gallery 1
Click here to view our Picture Gallery 2
Click here to view our Festive Gallery 3

A Brief History of Public Houses
The inhabitants of Great Britain and Ireland have been drinking ale since the Bronze Age, but it was with the arrival of the Romans and the establishment of the Roman road network that the first inns, in which the weary traveller could obtain refreshment, began to appear. By the time the Romans left, the beginnings of the modern pub had been established. They became so commonplace that in 965 King Edgar decreed that there should be no more than one alehouse per village.

In 1393 King Richard II compelled landlords to erect signs outside their premises. The legislation stated "Whosoever shall brew ale in the town with intention of selling it must hang out a sign, otherwise he shall forfeit his ale." This was in order make them easily visible to passing inspectors of the quality of the ale they provided (during this period, water was not always good to drink and ale was the usual replacement).

Another important factor was that during the Middle Ages a large percentage of the population would have been illiterate and so pictures were more useful than words as a means of identifying a public house. For this reason there was often no reason to write the establishment's name on the sign and inns opened without a formal written name—the name being derived later from the illustration on the public house's sign. In this sense, a pub sign can be thought of as an early example of visual branding.
A free house is a pub that is free of the control of any one particular brewery. A free house usually stocks a selection of quality cask ales, but it may also sell only keg beer.