St Giles pub history index
A listing of historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in St Giles in Fields, London. The St Giles in Fields , London listing uses information from census, Trade Directories and History to add licensees, bar staff, Lodgers and Visitors.
Residents at this address.
I have recieved a record of the Red Lion, or Red Lyon, in Drury lane dating back to 1654 in a probate (will).
A Francis Symonds, Innholder, had the lease to the Red Lion in Drury Lane of the Earls of Bedford. His will was granted probate 21 April 1654. *
It is often difficult to assess whether this is the same building, as there is at least one other Red Lion in Drury lane (near to Princes street, which is later renamed Kemble street), and there is also a Red Lion court, this is off of White Lion yard, Drury lane.
Researching early Red Lion or Red Lyon in Drury lane.
Newspapers mention a Mr Groomes at the Red Lion, Drury lane in 1774 when he is killed upon a ship in Limehouse!
I then looked at early maps, and the best i could find was on the 1799 Horwoods map which shows 172 Drury lane, and I have already attached a record in the Layers of London site - it is near the top east side of Drury lane.
Searching on the national archives, I found a mention of Groomes, but the Red Lyon is producing more detail and definitely links to this Red Lion, and I am still trying to prove which Red Lion it was.
By researching the National archives site for various terms, e.g. Red Lyon Drury lane brings a few possibilities. It also mentions the Earl of Bedford owning this land and selling off chunks; and then possibly buying it back later.
The British history site is amazing when you know what you are researching, and this page references the Earl of Bedford and lands he owned on the east side of Drury lane, which does fit with either of these Red Lions, and also desribes the area as being quite unsavoury. So we now have the following:
1649/Letter endorsed Mr. Hodkinson 2 Feb 1649 and addressed Hugh Anderton at Mr. Symons, sign of the Red Lyon Drury Lane London. - Wigan archives
1649/Letter from Edward Hodgkinson [to William Anderton] Preston 26 Oct. 1649 [suggesting a writ of Error] The sheet being turmed a letter from William Anderton to Mrs. Symons at the sign of the Red Lyon in Drury Lane dated - 25, 1649 commencing "My Deare Harte" "J am so mudled I doe not know what to doe". - Wigan archives
1654/Francis Symonds in his probate leaves the Red Lyon to his wife Mary, and daughters Frances and Elizabeth.
The Red Lyon Inn in Drury Lane sold by the Earl of Bedford 1659 and repurchased from Stephen and Richard Spink, 1669 - Records held at the LMA
John Groomes in Drurys Rents in 1759
1774/Death of Mr Groomes, Red Lyon, Drury lane.
Red Lion & Still, 172 Drury lane :
1805/Matthew Peck, wine and brandy merchant, 172 Drury lane/../../Holdens
Directory
1811/John Moyler, the Red Lion & Still, 172 Drury lane/../../Holdens
Directory
March
1814/Daniel Wheeler, victualler, 172 Drury lane/../../Sun Fire Office Record
- LMA
February
1817/Charles Richards, victualler, 172 Drury lane/../../Sun Fire Office
Record - LMA
February
1818/Charles Richards, victualler, 172 Drury lane/../../Sun Fire Office
Record - LMA
1822/Mr Richards, Red Lion and Still, Drury lane/../../Licensed
Victuallers Association
1827/Thomas Grason, Red Lion & Still, 172 Drury lane/../../Pigot's
Directory
February
1827/Joseph Johnson, victualler and spirit dealer, 171 Drury lane/../../Sun Fire Office
Record - LMA
1833-34/Joseph Johnson/../../../Pigot's Directory
In 1837, John Cowley is at the Red Lion & Still, 172 Drury Lane; but by 1839
he is at the Kings Head,
40 Bridge Road, Lambeth. *
1837/John Cowley/../../../Son James birth certificate *
1839/Richard Cockhead/../../../Pigots Directory
1841/Rd Cockhead/../../../Post Office Directory
1851/George Savill/../../../Kellys Directory
1851/George Savill/Licensed Victualler/31/Camden Town, Middlesex/Census
1851/Henry Savill/Brother, Barman/34/Camden Town, Middlesex/Census
1851/Elizabeth Burgess/House Servant/33/Canterbury, Kent/Census
1851/William Brook/Pit Boy/18/Berkshire/Census
January 1853/George Saville/Outgoing Licensee/../../Era
January 1853/George Mason Clarke/Incoming Licensee/../../Era
1856/G M Clarke/../../../Post Office Directory
1861/Stephen Usher/Licensed Victualler/41/Campden, Gloucestershire/Census
1861/Mary Usher/Wife/41/Blackway, Herefordshire/Census
1861/Eliza Usher/Daughter/10/Buirmingham, Warwickshire/Census
1861/Jane Usher/Daughter/6/London, Middlesex/Census
1861/Ann Usher/Daughter/5/London, Middlesex/Census
1861/Margaret O Callaghan/House Servant/22/Limerick, Ireland/Census
1861/Charles Larkin/Barman/21/London, Middlesex/Census
June 1861/Stephen Usher/Outgoing Licensee/../../Holborn Journal
June 1861/Timothy Edward Dunn/Incoming Licensee/../../Holborn Journal
An ancestor of mine, John Edward Rose, was born 1864, at St Giles. His birth
certificate lists his parents residence as 172 Drury Lane, St. Giles, also
lists his fathers occ. as publican, so they may have operated this pub
during that period. Their names were William Rose and Mary Ann Rose (nee
Mudd) ***
1864/William Rose/../../../Birth certificate ***
1869/G Stanier/../../../Post Office Directory
1873/George Albert Stanier/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1874/George Albert Stanier/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1875/George Albert Stanier/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1876/George Albert Stanier/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1877/George Albert Stanier/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1878/Frederick Hurdle/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1879/Frederick Hurdle/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1880/Charles Dodd/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1881/Charles Dodd/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1882/Thomas Mills/../../../Holborn Petty Sessions
1884/Henry Colkett/../../../Post Office Directory
1891/James Wm Cain/../../../Post Office Directory
1895/James Wm Cain/../../../Post Office Directory
1899/Chas Alfred Cain/../../../Post Office Directory
1910/Francis Henry Forsyth/../../../Post Office Directory
London Evening Standard 22 June 1910
Licensing Act 1904 Notice of principal meeting to discuss by the Compensation authority on 12th July 1910
Holborn
Red Lion and Still, 172 Drury lane, St Giles, Full, Francis Henry Forsyth
* Provided By Mark Bland
*** Provided By Daniel Rose