Oct 24

Oak Corner


One of Mermaid Street’s earliest houses

Oak Corner. on the corner of Mermaid Street and Traders Passage, dates back to the 15th Century or even earlier. It was a favourite hang out for smugglers, supposedly having hidy holes and entrances to a tunnel system used for storing and moving on contraband under the very noses of the revenue men who operated from a building just a stones throw away from it.

In more modern times it was used as a guest house and during the 1950′s, when it was owned by the Cooper-Keys , Oak Corner played host to many film stars including Dennis Price.  John Mills stayed there during the making of the film  Dunkirk.

In the depth of each winter it played host to players competing in the President’s Putter, a competition that still takes place annually, weather permitting. The knock-out competition is open to all golfing enthusiasts who attended Oxford and Cambridge Universities.

Now, as a private house, it is enjoying its retirement.