The Green Man is a public house in Putney in the London Borough of Wandsworth, on the edge of Putney Heath, parts of which date back to around 1700. The pub was once frequented by highwaymen and was a popular place for participants to fortify themselves before or after a duel on nearby Putney Heath.
The pub is on the north side of Wildcroft road, between Putney Hill and Putney Heath roads.
A pub has stood on the spot since around 1700. [1] It is located opposite the grade II listed village pound. [2]
Notable regulars have included the poet, playwright, novelist, and critic Algernon Charles Swinburne, who lived at The Pines, Putney, and is said to have always stopped in for a drink en route to the Rose and Crown in Wimbledon. [3]
The pub is close to what was a location for duels, and according to legend, participants would visit the pub before or afterwards [1] giving rise to the local saying "pistols for two and breakfast for one". [2]
In 1667, the Earl of Shrewsbury was killed by the Duke of Buckingham with a single blow from his sword, leaving him free to pursue Lady Shrewsbury. [4]
In May 1798, the then Prime Minister, William Pitt fought a duel with George Tierney, the MP for Southwark, on Putney Heath. Each fired twice and all the shots missed but the event was the talk of the pub. [3] [5]
In 1809, future Prime Minister, George Canning fought a duel with fellow Cabinet member Lord Castlereagh, and was shot in the thigh, and Castlereagh helped him limp from the scene. [5]
Putney Heath was also known for the activity of highwaymen. Joseph Witlock and William Brown preyed on the intoxicated as they went home from the Green Man. Both were hanged at Tyburn in 1773. [2] Dick Turpin is said to have hidden his guns in a room upstairs, but this may only be a legend. [4]
Fellow highwayman Jerry Abershawe was based there, [6] and after he was hanged on 3 August 1795 on Kennington Common, his corpse was gibbeted (displayed on a gallows) outside the pub, the last hanged highwayman's body to be so exhibited. [3] Nearby Tibbet's Corner is thought to be a corruption of the word gibbet. [2]
The pub is managed by Young & Co. [7] The once common pub game, ringing the bull, was still played at the pub in 1998. [3] The pub is inside the Putney Heath Conservation Area. [2] In recent years it has undergone considerable modifications and enlargement of the interior and garden.
The pub is served by Transport for London buses 14, 37, 85, 170, 493, 639 and 670 which stop at the Putney Heath Green Man stop just outside. East Putney tube station (District line) is a 22-minute walk, and Putney railway station (Southwestern Railway) is a 16-minute walk down Putney Hill. [8]
The Santander Cycles Putney station docking station is a 16-minute walk. [9]
Putney is a district of south London, England, in the London Borough of Wandsworth, five miles southwest of Charing Cross. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.
A highwayman was a robber who stole from travellers. This type of thief usually travelled and robbed by horse as compared to a footpad who travelled and robbed on foot; mounted highwaymen were widely considered to be socially superior to footpads. Such criminals operated until the mid- or late 19th century. Highwaywomen, such as Katherine Ferrers, were said to also exist, often dressing as men, especially in fiction.
Louis Jeremiah Abershawe, better known as Jerry Abershawe, or Abershaw, was a notorious English highwayman who terrorised travellers, mostly along the road between Kingston upon Thames and London, in the late eighteenth century.
Wimbledon Common is a large open space in Wimbledon, southwest London. There are three named areas: Wimbledon Common, Putney Heath, and Putney Lower Common, which together are managed under the name Wimbledon and Putney Commons totalling 460 hectares. Putney Lower Common is set apart from the rest of the Common by a minimum of 1 mile of the built-up western end of Putney.
Putney Lower Common is an open parkland space in the London Borough of Wandsworth between the town centres of Putney and Barnes. It is part of Wimbledon and Putney Commons, lying 1.5 miles from the rest of the common area.
The Jolly Farmer, formerly the Golden Farmer, is a former pub and roundabout on the boundary between Camberley and Bagshot in Surrey, England. The pub derives its name from a gold-robbing farmer, William Davies who spent years plundering various sections of the country's main south-west turnpike road including this area before being hanged in 1689 at this location.
Putney Pier is a pier on the River Thames at Putney, in the London Borough of Wandsworth.
The Half Moon is a public house and music venue in Putney, London. It is one of the city's longest running live music venues, and has hosted live music every night since 1963.
Wandsworth Park is a Grade II listed public urban park on the banks of the River Thames in the London Borough of Wandsworth, situated between Putney and Wandsworth town centres.
Putney Old Burial Ground is a public urban park and former cemetery in the London Borough of Wandsworth near Putney town centre.
The White Lion is a Grade II listed public house in Putney, in the London Borough of Wandsworth.
Putney Library is a Grade II listed public library in the London Borough of Wandsworth.
Putney Exchange is an indoor shopping centre in Putney, in the London Borough of Wandsworth. The venue is renowned for its lifts.
Putney Lower Common Cemetery is a cemetery on the edge of the London Borough of Wandsworth between Putney and Barnes town centres.
Leader's Gardens is a public urban park on the banks of the River Thames in the London Borough of Wandsworth, between Putney and Barnes town centres.
Putney Park Lane is an unmade road and public urban park in the London Borough of Wandsworth between Putney and Roehampton town centres.
Putney Pocket Park is a public pocket park in the London Borough of Wandsworth near to Putney town centre.
The Antique Breadboard Museum is a small museum in Putney, London dedicated to breadboards.
The Arab Boy is a pub in Putney, London.
