The Definitive Guide to the History of
Pubs and Beerhouses in Coventry

Drinking in an Old English Town

White Lion, Birmingham Road, Allesley

Alternative Addresses:	Wall Hill Road
These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	1636	1692	KINGS ARMS
	1692	c1772	WHITE HORSE
	c1772	c1871	WHITE LION
This property is thought to date to before 1626, though the first mention of a license was in 1636, when Robert Hinkes was granted a license to keep an inn in the 'fair house on the great road in Allesley where he do now live'. In 1661 this inn was in the possession of Richard Swaine. In 1692 it was an inn formerly called the KINGS ARMS, now the White Horse. In the eighteenth century George Barnes held a long tenancy until 1786 and during this time the name was changed to the WHITE LION. This was the WHITE HORSE until late eighteenth century. In January 1771 there was a curious case involving this pub. A pauper and his wife and child were passing as vagrants from Birmingham to St Albans. During the journey they stopped at a pub in Meriden and the man and woman drank together. The driver stayed behind tippling and did not re-join his wagon until it was nearly at Allesley and when enquiring about his charges the husband revealed that his wife was dead. Her body was left at the White Lion, Allesley, with sufficient money to satisfy the charge of internment and the husband and child were taken forward by the carrier. Next day an examination of the body revealed that the woman had been destroyed by hanging; it was then recollected that a cord was about her body at the time of being taken from the wagon and with this strong suspicion a pursuit was raised after the husband and waggoner, to be returned to Allesley to attend a Coroner's Inquest. The inquest took place at the White Lion, Allesley, in February and the husband, one Michael Grove, was examined for eight hours after which he was found guilty of strangling his wife and was committed to Warwick Gaol. At the end of March Grove appeared at Warwick Assizes but was acquitted, the evidence being circumstantial and the case admitted of some doubt. The surgeon, however, persisted in his opinion that the woman died from being strangled. In 1772 a main of cock was to have been fought at the Three Kittens in St Johns Bridge, Coventry, between the gentlemen of Coventry and Meriden. The Mayor banned the event, so it took place at the White Lion in Allesley instead. It is interesting that the Rainbow in Allesley is also reputed to have been the haunt of sporting men. Allesley was obviously just far enough away to be beyond the reach of Coventry's law. In 1868 the Manor of Allesley's lands were for sale and the White Lion was priced at £675. It was withdrawn, but sold in 1871 to William Barr, who converted it into two dwellings. By 1878 the sign had disappeared and it was described as follows: 'the old inn where Coventry citizens in olden times held picnics and consumed cheesecakes has been metamorphosed into a double dwelling house.' The White Lion had been famed not only for its home brewed beer but also its cheesecakes! The White Lion is now divided into two houses called Park House and Lion House. This is a heraldic reference to Edward IV, or the Earls of March or Duke of Norfolk.
LICENSEES: 1835 - 1850 Joseph Barrs & butcher & farmer 1863 - 1868 Edward Walker & butcher & farmer
OWNERS: 1805 Mary Neale 1871 William Barr