History of the Pub

The grandest Duke in the corner of Rutland and Nottingham so full of strawberry leaves that it was called the Dukeries was the Duke of Portland at least in the 18th century.

The 3rd Duke, Prime Minister in 1783, then had the finest park with the most ancient oak trees.

Two oaks stood guard at the side of the north gate, they were known as Large Porter and Little Porter. Their heights measured by a tree enthusiast called Major Rooke in 1790 were 98 feet and 88 feet respectively. A generation later London was informed by the 4th Duke's gardener Mr Mearns that both Porters had lost 10 feet and were in decline.

'At some far distant period they had been spreading, lofty and noble tree... they were still grand in decay.

'Today the Little Porter has somehow been given a new lease of life.

It greets you on the go down the drive towards the house, a burly, broad-shouldered tree that conceals its age-hardly less than 450 years if it was ancient in 1790 behind a fresh green beard and mutton-chop whiskers.

The Large Porter also survived till recently; then storm knocked it flat.

Much the most famous of all the Duke's trees was the Greendale Oak.

The two porters merely attended you drove through the gate; the Greendale Oak was a gateway itself.

The story was told that in 1724 the 1st Duke told a friend at dinner that he had an oak tree so large that you could drive a coach and four horses through it. 'Will you bet on it?' asked the friend. The Duke gave orders to his woodmen.

While the gentlemen lingered over their punch the woodmen cut an archway in the tree ten feet high and six feet wide. Next morning the Duke's narrowest carriage drove through the Greendale oak and won him the wager.

The mutilated tree was measured, described and engraved like anatomical specimen over the next 200 years gradually diminishing size but still painfully recognisable.

It is from this tree that the Greendale Oak pub gains its name.

Planned Events

Mar 2006:

Saturday 4th - The Edge ( Country/Folk Music)
Saturday 11th - Rob (Rock and Pop)

April 2006:

Friday 14th - The Soulman (Soul and Blues)
Sat 22nd - Dan Ashley (Rock and Pop)

June 2006:

Thurs 29th - Morris Dancers

Aug 2006:

Fri 25th - Dan Ashley (Rock and Pop)

To Be Arranged

Murder Mystery Party
Casino Night