Bedworth pub history index
Earlier references are to the New White Lion, High Street to distinguish it from the Old white Lion, Market Street. The entry in 1871 is at Cleaver street, although un-named. This is listed as at Coventry Road in the 1891 census. This pub is now demolished. **
Directory of Pubs in the UK, historical public houses, Taverns, Inns, Beer Houses and Hotels in Bedworth, Warwickshire.
The following entries are in this format:
Year/Publican or other Resident/Relationship to Head and or Occupation/Age/Where Born/Source.
1815/[White Lion] William Poole / Victualler /../../Warwickshire County Council victualler records **
1835/William Hadden, White Lion, Bedworth/../Pigots Directory
1839/[New White Lion] Wm. Haddon/../../../Robson’s Directory **
1842/[New White Lion] William Hadden/../../../Pigot’s Directory **
1850/[New White Lion] James Smith/../../../White’s Directory **
1871/Sarah Cleaver/Publican, Widow/40/Hooley, Leicestershire/Census
1871/Elizabeth H Cleaver/Daughter/19/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1871/Ann T F T Cleaver/Daughter/18/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1871/Hannah Cleaver/Daughter/14/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1871/Arthur F Cleaver/Son, , Saddler and Harness Maker/17/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1871/John Cleaver/Son/11/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1871/Eliza Cleaver/Daughter/6/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1871/James Gamble/Boarder, Saddler and Harness Maker/23/Abbots Bromley, Staffordshire/Census
1871/Mervic M Mercer/Boarder, Saddler and Harness Maker/23/Harlaston, Staffordshire/Census
1875/[New White Lion] Sarah Cleaver/../../../White’s Directory **
1881/Sarah Cleaver/Licensed Victualler/49/Wolvey, Warwick/Census
1881/Arthur Wm Cleaver/Son, Sadler/27/Bedworth, Warwick/Census
1881/Hannah Cleaver/Daughter in Law, Washerwoman/24/Bedworth, Warwick/Census
1881/John Thos Cleaver/Grandson/2/Bedworth, Warwick/Census
1881/Elizabeth Harriett Cleaver/Grand Daughter/1/Bedworth, Warwick/Census
1881/Arthur Perkins/Nephew/11/Birmingham, Warwick/Census
1881/Elizabeth Cleaver/Sadlers Wife, Assistant/31/Bulkington, Warwick/Census
1891/Sarah Cleaver/Licensed Victualler, Widow/58/Wolvey, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Arthur Cleaver/Son, Saddler & Harness Maker/37/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Elizabeth Cleaver/Wife/40/Bulkington, Warwickshire/Census
1891/John T Cleaver/Son/12/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Elizabeth Cleaver/Daughter/11/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Kate Cleaver/Daughter/9/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Mary M Cleaver/Daughter/3/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Eliza Jones/Visitor/26/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Anne E Jones/Daughter/3/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Agnes H Jones/Daughter/2/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Sarah C Jones/Daughter/1/Foleshill, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Florance A Jones/Daughter/1 month/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1891/Arthur Perkins/Boarder, Saddler & Harness Maker/21/Birmingham, Warwickshire/Census
1896/Mrs Sarah Cleaver/New White Lion & saddler, High Street/../../Kellys Directory
1908/John Cleaver/New White Lion, High Street/../../Kellys Directory
1911/John Cleaver/Licensed Victualler/51/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1911/Priscilla Cleaver/Wife/48/Bedworth, Warwickshire/Census
1911/Leonard J Cleaver/Son/23/Leamington, Warwickshire/Census
1911/Ethel J Cleave/Daughter/21/Leamington, Warwickshire/Census
1911/Helena J Cleaver/Daughter, Dressmaker/16/Leamington, Warwickshire/Census
1911/Sarah Cleaver/Mother, Widow/78/Wolvey, Warwickshire/Census
1912/John Cleaver/New White Lion, High Street/../../Kellys Directory
In 1939 electoral register at the White Lion, High street, Bedworth are
John Cleaver, Publican Retired, Widowed, born 29 May 1859
Joseph Bolstridge, Manager Public House, born 12 Oct 1893
Helena I Bolstridge, Domestic Duties, born 2 Apr 1894
Arthur J Bolstridge, Machine Tool Fitter Apprentice, born 27 Jan 1920
James D Bolstridge, Die Caster, born 06 Jul 1921
1940/Joseph Bolstridge/../../../Kellys Directory
When Joe Bolstridge passed away in the late 1950’s/early 1960s, I believe the licence was transferred to one of his sons (John). John and his wife Nora had actually run the pub for some years although Joe held the licence.
John and Nora ran the pub for a couple more years after Joe’s death. A Welsh couple took over the White Lion for a short while in about 1961/62 but vacated it in about 1963. *
Joe Bolstridge's wife was Annie Bolstridge (Nee Cleaver), Annie passed away before Joe.
Their son John Bolstridge and his wife Nora continued to run the pub after Joe's death, up until about 1960, so the Cleaver family (Bloodline) were actually tennants of The White Lion Bedworth from 1875 to around 1960. *
My Father and Mother (Dennis and Vilma Chrichlow) took over The White Lion in 1963 and vacated in 1972/73 when a proposed new development indicated that the pub was to be demolished to build a new ring road. During the ‘Notice’ period my Father had given to vacate the ‘Lion’, the development plans were changed and the new ring road was re-scheduled to be built about twenty feet to the right of the pub, leaving the pub standing. Had my Father known that the development plans were to be changed, he would not have give notice to vacate but it was too late to withdraw his ‘Notice’ as the brewery had already reallocated the pub. *
The landlord that took over from us was a Mr Fred Phillips. *
The row of cottages behind the White Lion (That ran down to the Zion Strict Baptist Chapel cemetery) has been known as 'Cleaver's Yard' since around 1900 maybe even earlier. All evidence of all the small yards that ran down behind the main buildings of High Street, including the Zion Strict Baptist Chapel & cemetery and virtually all the building in High street, is now gone. All demolished during the 1960s when most of the heart of Bedworth was subjected to a 'Modernisation project'.
The only two buildings to survive in High Street are 'The All Saints C of E Church', and directly opposite, 'The Nuneaton Co-operative Society Ltd building' which has been built onto and all the lower part altered and is now various shops etc. The upper part of the Co-Op building still has its original 'Facade' with a plaque showing 1929 when it was originally built. *
* Provided By John Chrichlow
** Provided By Stephen Harris
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