Dendrology and Cruzcampo
A local walk from a pub detailed in my 1960s pub guide "Historic and New Inns of Interest". Got to get in quick, as Marstons have the Mitre Oak up for sale. Who can guess at its future?
 |
| The Mitre Oak today |
The chosen walk is my first from the Ramblers web site. Not 100% successful. The sections around Acton Hall badly overgrown. But hey, I survived.
 |
| One of the least overgrown sections |
Acton gets it's name from the old English of "Farm by the Oak", so there is a theme emerging here.
The pub is named after an oak, reputed to be more than 500 years old and subject to a couple of Internet based stories. It could have the oak tree where St Augustine met the Welsh bishops in 603AD. Thrashing out the date of Easter, apparently. Its never the same date two years running, so it represents the outcome of my typical meetings. This would put it more like 1500 years old. Perhaps the story of it being recorded by Charles II in his fleeing from the Battle of Worcester is more believable.
Incredibly, having lived in the town for 53 years, I did not know that the tree is still standing.
 |
| No Major Oak, but it does have some supports |
Things you learn rambling (and drinking).
The pub? Well, lets have a look at the 60's blurb first and make a note of what to spot.
 |
| When Harlebury had only 237 telephones |
 |
| The recommended dining room fireplace |
It's maybe not too hard to see its in the last days of Marston ownership. Three handpulls with no clips, showing that there is no cask. Hottest day of the year, so Eurofizz is welcome but £6.15 a pint would not be affordable to any wannabe regulars.
At least I made it whilst I could.
 |
| Mental arithmetic used to determine the cost per sip |
Walk Details
Distance - 4.5 Miles
No comments:
Post a Comment