Old Harlow & Mulberry Green: A Rich History for Ghostly Tales
Mulberry Green in Old Harlow, home to the 14th-century Green Man Hotel, boasts a history stretching back to medieval times, providing a fertile ground for legends and ghost stories.
Historical Timeline
A church existed in Harlow, and medieval Harlow began to grow around the market place and Mulberry Green.
The Green Man is established as a coaching inn.
A monk journeying to London was said to have dined at a Harlow inn, possibly The Green Man.
Mulberry Green becomes an important stopping place for travellers. The 18th century is the era associated with the 'Bereaved Mother' ghost story.
Mulberry Green House is built.
The Green Man and other local inns are popular stops for horse-drawn coaches. Harlow connected to the railway in 1841.
Harlow Town Football Club played its first match on the Green Man Field.
The Green Man hosted fairs and a carnival on Mulberry Green.
Mulberry Green House, a historic building near the pub, suffered serious fire damage.
Old Harlow, where The Green Man Hotel is situated on Mulberry Green, is the historic heart of Harlow, with roots tracing back to before the Domesday Book. Mulberry Green itself (formerly Mudborrow Green) was a key area around which medieval Harlow grew, alongside the marketplace and the church. By the 17th and 18th centuries, it had become an important stopping place for travellers on routes between London and East Anglia, including journeys to Dunmow and Bishop's Stortford.
The Green Man, established as a coaching inn possibly as early as the 14th century (a monk was said to have dined at a Harlow inn for four pence in 1444), played a vital role in this traffic. In its prime, it handled numerous coaches, especially on busy market days. It competed with other local inns like The George Hotel in serving the needs of those travelling by horse-drawn coach throughout the 19th century. The area around Mulberry Green was home to several notable buildings, including the Grade II listed Mulberry Green House (a late 18th-century structure that sadly suffered fire damage in 2000 but was later converted).
The 18th century, the period associated with The Green Man's primary ghost story of the 'Bereaved Mother', was a time when Harlow was establishing itself as a small town with significant coach traffic along the Newmarket Road. This era also saw local industries like malting thrive. The presence of a blacksmith's forge near The Green Man, a key element in the ghost story, is historically plausible for such a village hub catering to travellers and their horses.
Mulberry Green was also a centre for community life, hosting events, fairs, and even a carnival in the 1920s-30s, with traditional games like climbing a greasy pole. Harlow Town Football Club played its first match on the adjacent Green Man Field in 1879. The combination of centuries of travellers passing through, the lives and deaths of local villagers, and the very fabric of ancient buildings like The Green Man provide a rich tapestry from which folklore and ghost stories naturally emerge.
Why This History Matters
Local Heritage
Understanding the historical context enhances your appreciation of The Green Man Hotel's significance to the local community.
Paranormal Context
Historical events often provide the backdrop for paranormal activity, helping explain why certain spirits might linger.
Cultural Preservation
These historic buildings serve as living museums, preserving centuries of British heritage for future generations.
Location Significance
The strategic locations of these buildings often reflect historical trade routes, defensive positions, or social centers.