Red Lion Inn
Overview
The Red Lion is (probably) the oldest pub in the village of Paulton - it is at least the earliest for which specific mention is made in the local papers. It seems to have been known interchangeably as the "Red Lion" or the "Paulton Inn", although this is likely to be because it was the only Inn in Paulton, there was therefore no ambiguity. The original building was demolished and rebuilt in (largely) its modern form in 1848, and was substantially expanded in the 1970s.
Photos
Location
Licensees
- ????-1851-1853-???? John Wilcox - ????-1860-1861 George Carter - 1861-1866-???? Grace Slade Carter - ????-1869-1871-???? Thomas Towill - ????-1874-???? William Ashman - ????-1879 James Heatherleigh - 1879-1881-1891-???? Frederick Pow - ????-1935-???? Thomas Simmonds - ????-1938-1965 Ernest Brent - 1965-???? E. Slater - 1976-???? Mike and Norma Lockyear
Owners
- ????-1957-???? Oakhill Brewery - ????-1965-???? Courage
Timeline
| Date | Detail | Source |
|---|---|---|
| 07/10/1790 | Earliest mention I can find in the British Newspaper Archive - an auction is happening at the Red Lion Inn | Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - 07 October 1790 |
| 02/05/1811 | Paulton Manor is for sale by auction, including Red Lion Inn, along with Coal Mines, Cottages, Farm Houses and 550 acres of land | Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - 02 May 1811 |
| 25/11/1841 | Red Lion to be Let for 7 years from 25th March 1842 - along with the brewery and adjoining 9 acres of land. Apparently it is the "only Licensed House in the place" - which must refer to being fully licensed. Previous tenant is retiring after 14 years. | Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - 25 November 1841 |
| 06/06/1847 | Baptism of George James Willcox, son of John Willcox, in Paulton. John is a Licensed Victualler - so probably at Red Lion. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 29/06/1848 | Advert for builders to contract to take down and re-build the Red Lion. Not exactly certain when this happened, or how long it took - although auctions were again happening at the Red Lion by mid 1849, so it was completed by then at the latest. | Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - 29 June 1848 |
| 30/03/1851 | John Wilcox (age 32, from Bath) is living at the Red Lion Inn with his wife (age 32, from Bath) and their son George I (age 3, from Paulton). He is a Brewer and Victualler. | 1851 Census |
| 02/10/1851 | A burglary was committed during Thursday night last, on the premises of Mr John Wilcox of the Red Lion Inn, Paulton. The thieves stole a quantity of beer, and about forty pairs of boots and shoes, which had been left in the landlords care by the owner James Penny of Clandown. | Bath Chronicle and Weekly Gazette - 02 October 1851 |
| 11/11/1853 | Burial of Elizabeth Willcox, wife of John Willcox in Paulton. | Paulton Parish Records |
| 17/12/1853 | Red Lion to be let - present proprietor declining business. House is "newly built" and brings in about £1600. Apply to Mr JOHN WILLCOX, Red Lion, Paulton. Presumably this decision follows the death of his wife. | Bristol Mercury - 17 December 1853 |
| 1860 | George Carter, Red Lion, Paulton | The Draper and Clothier, 1860 - guide to principal Hotels and Commercial Inns |
| 07/12/1860 | Public Dinner of Clutton Union -dinner was provided by Mr. George Carter of the Paulton Inn | Shepton Mallet Journal - 07 December 1860 |
| 23/02/1861 | EAST MENDIP RIFLE CORPS, No. 22 - Wanted a Person qualified to INSTRUCT BOYS for a DRUM and FIFE BAND - Application with terms to be sent to Mr Carter, Red Lion Inn, Paulton, of whom any further particulars may be obtained. | Bristol Mercury - Saturday 23 February 1861 |
| 07/04/1861 | George Carter (b. 1819, Warminster) is living with his wife Grace (b. 1821, Warminster) with their two children Timothy (b. 1844, Warminster) and Bessie (b. 1854, Warminster). He is an Innkeeper. Note - this slightly confusingly, seems to be a George Carter who is not (immediately at least) related to all the many other Carter families from Paulton and the surrounding area. | 1861 Census |
| 26/06/1861 | Death of George Carter, of the Red Lion, Paulton, aged 42. | Warminster Miscellany and Local Advertiser - 01 July 1861 |
| 23/08/1864 | Unjust measure convictions: Grace Carter, Paulton Inn | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 24/10/1865 | Elizabeth Tucker of Newtown convicted of stealing several items (including a salt cellar and glasses), the property of Grace Slade Carter, Paulton, Innkeeper. | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 01/02/1866 | Elizabeth Beecham of Hallatrow and Mary Manby of Paulton, two servants at the Red Lion Inn, Paulton, charged with stealing wines and spirits, the property of Grace Carter. Remanded until petty session on Tuesday next | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 06/02/1866 | Elizabeth Beachim of Paulton charged with stealing a bottle of wine from the Paulton Inn, the property of her mistress Mrs Grace Slade Carter. Another vixen (!) also charged with stealing a glass bottle from the Paulton Inn - property of the landlady Mrs Grace Slade Carter | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 19/06/1866 | Joseph Walsh of Paulton, stoker and John Burkeley of Camerton, labourer - brought up under remand for stealing a gun from a stable at the Paulton Inn during night of 16th inst., property of Timothy Carter | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 24/07/1866 | William Maggs, a tailor, of Paulton was fined 14s 6d and costs for assaulting Albert Knee, the ostler of the Red Lion Inn there, and in default 14 days imprisonment. Sarah Maggs, a daughter of William Maggs, was also fined 8s for violently assaulting the said Albert Knee with a carving knife and shovel, and breaking his head, and in default of payment was sentenced to seven days imprisonment. | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 05/11/1867 | William Creese, Mary Creese, James Rose, Silverthorne Stokes, Eliza Stokes - of Newtown, Paulton - drunk in front of the Red Lion Inn | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 11/05/1869 | Thomas Towell, inkeeper of Paulton. Assaulted by Henry House - extensive story. | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 03/08/1869 | Thomas Towill of Red Lion - keeping a dog without a license | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 03/09/1869 | Red Lion Hotel, Paulton Inn and Simon Carter of Plummers Hill all mentioned in an article about Paulton Harvest Festival | Western Daily Press - 03 September 1869 |
| 28/02/1871 | Disorderly conduct at Red Lion - and refusing to quit: Charles Dando, Jonah Weeks of Hallatrow and Francis Dodson, Joseph Rogers and George Wyatt of Farrington Gurney | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 02/04/1871 | Thomas Towill (age 24) is living with his Sister Frances? Towill (age 26) in the Red Lion Inn, Paulton. He is an Innkeeper. | 1871 Census |
| 05/12/1871 | Red Lion: Mary Creese, of Paulton, fined for being drunk and refusing to quit | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 02/04/1872 | Red Lion Inn - George Banfield and Henry Collier disorderly conduct | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 30/06/1874 | Red Lion Inn, Paulton: William Ashman, landlord. William Jones stole milk. | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 31/08/1875 | Annual Licensing Session - all licenses renewed except for Red Lion, Paulton, Waldegrave Arms, East Harptree and Old Down Inn, Ston Easton. These were adjourned. | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 21/09/1875 | Adjourned annual licensing session - license granted to Mr. James Hatherly of the Red Lion Inn, Paulton | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 27/05/1879 | Red Lion Inn, Paulton: William Pearce charged with stealing a beer glass - propert of James Heatherley of the Red Lion. | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 16/12/1879 | Temporary license to sell until next transfer day given to Frederick Pow of Red Lion Inn, Paulton - late of the Greyhound, Midsomer Norton | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 13/01/1880 | License of Red Lion transferred to Frederick Pow | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 03/04/1881 | Frederick Pow (age 40, Clandown) is living with his wife M. A. W (age 41, Welton), two daughters and his mother, at the Red Lion Inn, Paulton. He is a Licensed Victualler. C. H. Boulton is a Barman (Servant) at the Red Lion. | 1881 Census |
| 24/05/1881 | Occasional license granted to Frederick Pow of Red Lion, Paulton to sell excisable liquors in a tent in a field on Whit-Monday | Temple Cloud Petty Sessions |
| 1883 | Frederick Pow. Red Lion, Paulton | Kelly's Directory of Somerset 1883 |
| 1889 | Frederick Pow, Red Lion P. H. | Kelly's Directory of Somerset 1889 |
| 05/04/1891 | Frederick Pow (age 51, widower) is living with three of his children at the Red Lion, Paulton. He is an Inn Keeper and Farmer. | 1891 Census |