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Ye Old Green Man/The Lad in the Lane

Frothblower

Frothblower

Lubrication In Moderation
Earliest known photo of Ye Old Green Man (Lad In The Lane) Erdington about 1895.
Second photo stripped down to it's timbers and rebuilt in 1915
 

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Hi there group,

I am trying to find any graphic details on the history of Ye Old Green Man/The Lad in the Lane public house in Erdington, I have heard that is the oldest pub in Birmingham?
I realise it hasnt always been a pub and I would like (if possible) info on its pre-pub history . . . . .
ive been told it dates from 1400's?

I hope someone out there has history or knows where I could obtain the history?

Many thanks in advance guys

Rano82
 
Thanks for the tip Arthur,

Thats where I actually started my search . . . good old Wiki
But that seems to be the limit of info the web has to offer?
 
The Lad in the Lane/ Green Man has been confirmed as Brums oldest pub by using carbon dating of the wood beams in the pub. Len.
 
I could be wrong but I thought the Old Crown in Digbeth was the oldest pub in Brum.
 
From what I gather the crown is the oldest pub for the fact it has always been a pub?
The Green Man/The Lad in the Lane however is an older building and hasnt always been used as a pub?
Im trying to find out its pre pub history but there is nothing in the historical archives unfortunetly
 
Rano, I was in the Central Library yesterday checking on Electoral Registers for "my area" which includes Bromford Lane and I came across these 2 bits.

1906/06 Register of Electors
Frederick Charles Wiseman
Green Man, Bromford Lane. Also The Gate, Lichfield Rd, Aston Manor.

1912/13 Register of Electors
William Garratty
Old Green Man, Bromford Lane. Also 17 Alleyene Rd, Erdington.

Funnily enough some of my relations were living in Alleyene Road at the same time. Also, my Grandad played football for the "Lad" in the early 1900s. This photo still hangs in one of the pub's rooms. I have it thanks to a regular visitor, Frothblower!
 
Rano82 said:
Hi there group,

I am trying to find any graphic details on the history of Ye Old Green Man/The Lad in the Lane public house in Erdington, I have heard that is the oldest pub in Birmingham?
I realise it hasnt always been a pub and I would like (if possible) info on its pre-pub history . . . . .
ive been told it dates from 1400's?

I hope someone out there has history or knows where I could obtain the history?

Many thanks in advance guys

Rano82
Click to expand...

Dendrochronology testing at The Lad In The Lane puts it's start date as Spring 1400.
Dendrochronology testing was tried at the Old Crown at Digbeth unsuccessfully. Historians put it as 1480's.
The Lad as only been a pub since 1780's while the Crown goes back to 1589.
This makes the Crown the oldest pub in Brum and the Lad the oldest building.
of course there older Churches.
 
Rano82 said:
Hi there group,

I am trying to find any graphic details on the history of Ye Old Green Man/The Lad in the Lane public house in Erdington, I have heard that is the oldest pub in Birmingham?
I realise it hasnt always been a pub and I would like (if possible) info on its pre-pub history . . . . .
ive been told it dates from 1400's?

I hope someone out there has history or knows where I could obtain the history?

Many thanks in advance guys

Rano82
Click to expand...
I had a book, "Inns and Ales of Old England". It has some of the history of the Green Man. Perhaps it may be available in the Library.
Steve
 
Hi,

Interesting few facts from David Fowler in the thread regarding William Garraty.

I had been told that William (Billy) www.billygarraty.com had run the pub but then could find no evidence of the same. However, at least one of his children was apparently born in the pub this being Gwen. I have just received this info from Gwen's daughter in law who was told the story sometime before Gwen's death.

My Mother has an original photo hanging up of the Aston Villa team in front of the pub which I will hope to add to my website at some point. I would like to establish exactly when William ran the pub.

Does anyone have an idea where I can find out this info perhaps from any old records. Is there an official Ansells historian? If you have any pointers could you please mail me through my website as I am really on this website.

Kind regards - Joe Burke
 
Hi Joe
you will find William Garraty (1879) his wife Annie(1882) born Goldenhill Staffordshire. sister Edith (1886) barmaid daughter Doris(1911) living at the Ye Olde Green Man Bromford lane on the 1911 Census
 
Lad in the lane ( Ye old green man ) Bromford lane Erdington.
In 1931 and 2010.

Image5.jpg
 
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While researching my family tree today, I found a reference to one of my Great Grand Mothers (Margaret Butler - Nee Webb) leasing the Old Green Man from Heneage Legge in 1758.
 
I also have Margaret Butler in my tree and I remember reading a will which mentions the Green Man being left to one of the children. There is another member on this forum who has a lot more information, Keith Salisbury. Maybe he can help.
 
robert said:
Very sad Chris, how long has it been like that. Where do yo go now.
Click to expand...
It's been closed since before the pandemic. It's had lived in security, but it was boarded up last week :(.
I pop up town now and then. Would be nice to meet up some time.
 
very sad froth but it was only a matter of time...i dont know what the stats are for england but i was reading today that from 2005 to 2021 1829 pubs in ireland have closed....349 of that total closed during the pandemic so we cant blame that entirely... in my opinion the pub trade as we remember and love it has been going downhill for a good 30 years... :(

lyn
 
Astoness said:
very sad froth but it was only a matter of time...i dont know what the stats are for england but i was reading today that from 2005 to 2021 1829 pubs in ireland have closed....349 of that total closed during the pandemic so we cant blame that entirely... in my opinion the pub trade as we remember and love it has been going downhill for a good 30 years... :(

lyn
Click to expand...
You are right.
How are you keeping?
 
I've recently been reading a couple of old(ish) articles about The Old Green Man / The Lad In The Lane, Erdington, and saw a couple of mentions that the name of the pub changed after the skeletal remains of a boy were discovered within the fabric of the property, during renovations. I believe it was mentioned that the discovery was made around 1930, perhaps? (Which, of course, isn't all that long ago, really?)

I've subsequently tried to find any information about this matter, but cannot seem to find any? Does anyone know whether this was indeed a real occurrence, or perhaps just some colourful, pub lore, maybe?

Many thanks and a Happy New Year to you all!
 
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