Red Lion & Still, 172 Drury lane WC2B

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

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

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  • And Last updated on: Thursday, 25-Jan-2024 10:26:48 GMT