Seat of House Oakheart, standing where the ocean road runs along the western shore of the Reach on its way north toward the lands of the westermen. Whoever holds Old Oak holds the coast road, and so its lords have ever been the first to feel the fury of ironborn reavers and western hosts alike.
John the Oak
The Oakhearts claim descent from John the Oak, the First Knight, a giant of a man sprung from Garth Greenhand who is said to have brought chivalry to Westeros. The three green oak leaves of his line have flown over the castle since the Age of Heroes, and the lords of Old Oak have died in nearly every war the Reach has fought, from the ancient border strife with the Kings of the Rock to the wars of the dragonlords.