Red Lion Inn, Warwick Lane
| Alternative Addresses: | 64 Greyfriars Lane | ||
Greyfriars Lane c1860.
The most common of all pub names. Its early use was due to John of Gaunt, the most powerful man in England for much of the fourteenth century. A red lion is also a heraldic reference to Scotland. When James I (also James VI of Scotland) came to the throne, he ordered that a red lion should be displayed in public places.
In 1534 this property was owned by Pisford's Charity, otherwise Ford's Hospital. It is again mentioned in 1576 and in 1655 Mayor Beake issued a warrant against the ostler at the Red Lion for tippling (that is serving alcohol) on a Sunday. In 1708 it is said to have been given to charity by John Downes.
In 1774 an unfortunate accident happened when the landlord, his wife and another woman were all killed by the falling-in of an upper chamber which was overloaded with grain used in brewing. Dr Troughton, in his PLATE XXV of Derby Lane, shows that such a garrett, used probably as a store-house, clearly surmounted the solar. The first floor chambers have open lids and a crane ready to hoist up goods, the use which the upper storeys were put in the mediaeval houses, presumably because of the lack of building space in Coventry due to its encirclement by the City Walls and then common land.
In c1775 the Red Lion was owned by T. Dullison and adjoined the Turks Head, Warwick Lane.
In 1818 there was a lease of the pub and a malthouse, both on the north west side of Greyfriars Lane. In 1835 it was a BEERHOUSE. J. B. Shelton says that it was at the rear of the Queens Hotel and that Nos 64 and 65 Greyfriars Lane were joined to become the Greyfriars Inn. It is also said that the Stoneleigh Abbey and the Red Lion stood next to each other and both were demolished in 1879, the Queens Head being built on the site. | |||
LICENSEES:1822 - 1823 W. Walker 1835 Charles Price 1841 Samuel Gardner 1850 William Lovatt (See also at Dolphin, Cross Cheaping in 1861) 1861 Samuel Hunt 1868 - 1871 James Hatton 1874 H. Kemp | |||
OWNERS:1534 Pisford's Charity to 1708 John Downes 1818 J. Miller, H. Miller & W. Farnell 1823 T. Hayes c1823 Joseph Hayes to 1834 Miss E. Hayes 1834 R. Mallabone & E. Mallabone (marriage) 1877 J. S. Whittem (or J. S. Sibley?) | |||
 Street plan of 1851 | |||
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