By Mike Pentelow
The oldest pub in the area, dating back to 1708 when it was called the Farthing Pie House on account of its very popular mutton pies costing only a farthing each. Now the pies cost £8.15 each – for which you could have got 7,824 at the original price.
Radical MP John Wilkes washed down his pies with large quantities of claret and port while canvassing in the pub for votes in the 1760s and 1770s. Another regular in those days was landscape painter Richard Wilson who played skittles here.
Other regulars included authors Daniel Defoe and Alexander Pope. It was renamed the Green Man in 1809.
The Fitzrovia Crawl starts at the Green Man at 7pm, Monday 28 March 2011. See fitzrovia.org.uk/crawl
in 1958 till 1961 the mark 7 maniacs band (mostly from toc h hostel mark 7 in fitzroy sq.) trumpet, clarinet, guitar/ vocals , drums, tea chest bass. skiffle, jazz, and standards. played in the green man pub – 5 piece every thursday for no fee . it did not occur to us to even ask. in fact we just arrived one day and set up. could not do it now with music licence law. the landlord could now face up to £20,000 fine so i understand .
i have some pics. happy days ken ames
According to the 1911 census my Grandfather owned this pub. He employed around 6 staff at the time – all listed. Believe he retired to Ramsgate during the thirties due to ill health by my Grandmother.