Longton - Red Lion Inn

Name: The Red Lion Inn

Address: 138, Liverpool Road, Longton

The Red Lion stands on Liverpool Road only a short distance from the Golden Ball and opposite Longton's micropub, Wilkins & Pye (named after Longton's two breweries of yesteryear). The pub has been a going concern since the early 1800s and remains one of the iconic landmarks in the village to this day.

First reference to the Red Lion I can find dates back to the 1824 directory below and listed landlords since that time were Jas (James) Stephenson (1824-), William Whittle (1839-54), James Wilkins (1859-65), George Jackson (1869), William Bannister (1871), Peter Hacking (1881), John Latham (1885), Mary Ainsworth (1889-93), Albert Gilleade (1900-01), Enoch Rimmer (1905-11),  Edward Payne (-1919), Annie Payne (1919-24), Margaret Edmondson and Mr Squires (1945).

1824 Baines Directory - Jas Stephenson

MULTUM IN PARVO

Thursday last a fine pig, belonging to Mr. William Whittle, 
Red Lion, Longton, was brought out...

27 December 1839 - Liverpool Mercury - Liverpool, Lancashire, England

KILLING MURDER

Thursday last a fat fine pig, belonging to Mr. Wm. Whittle, Red Lion, Longton, was brought out its sty, condemned to share the common lot of the swinish multitude. The fatal blow was struck... 

04 January 1840 - Leeds Times - Leeds, Yorkshire, England

EXTRAORDINARY FECUNDITY

Mr Whittle, of the Red Lion public-house, Longton, has a duck which on the Ist of May hatched, bringing forth eleven ducklings, which she tended for a short time.

30 June 1840 - Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser

The above press articles suggest William Whittle had more than passing interest in livestock so it comes as no surprise that having moved on from the Red Lion in the mid-1850s he returned to farming, still remaining in Longton village.

1841 Census

1842 Map

1851 Census

 

1854 Mannex Directory

Births, Deaths, Marriages and Obituaries
 By the Rev. L. Preston, M.A., incumbent, Mr. Robert Wilkins, of this town, eldest son'of Mr. James Wilkins, of the Red Lion Inn, Longton, to Miss Ann Riding, of Longton.
15 January 1859 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

1861 Census

James Wilkins was the son of Richard and Mary Wilkins, Richard being a founding member of W & R Wilkins Maltsters and Brewers on Marsh Lane and by the 1861 census was running the Red Lion Hotel having previously been the landlord at the Ram's Head further up Liverpool Road.

PROPERTY IN LONGTON FOR SALE.

 To be Sold Auction, by Mr. RICHARD DUCKETT, at the house of Mr. Wilkins, the Red Lion Inn, Longton, on Monday, the 12th day of January, 1863, at six o’clock in the evening, and includes the following lots and subject to conditions.

10 January 1863 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

Red Lion c.2006 courtesy of Gordon Small

107th CLEARANCE SALE.

 ...several tenants will show the lots. Full information is published in the particulars of sale, which may be had at the Red Lion, Longton; at the Auctioneer's Offices, Fishergate, Preston; from Mr. William Wilkins, Longton.

03 June 1865 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England 

FREEHOLD HOUSE AND GARDEN HUTTON, AND A PEW IN HUTTON CHURCH, FOR SALE
To be Sold Auction Mr. HENRY P. WATSON, at the house of Mr. James Wilkins, the Red Lion Inn, Longton, on Friday, the Ist day of September, 1865, at six clock in the evening.
26 August 1865 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

1869 Slater's Directory

1871 Census

On the 1871 census there is no mention of the Red Lion but living two properties along Liverpool Road from the Golden Ball Inn was William Bannister, the manager of the brewery (W & R Wilkins) and due to the earlier associations with the Wilkins family I am fairly certain this was the Red Lion, William choosing to use his occupation as a manager ahead of being a publican.

c.2013 courtesy of Gordon Small

James Wilkins, who had been running the pub until the mid-late 1860s was now running the Golden Ball but records show he died only a month after the census of 1871 was taken. Within 20 years James had run the Ram's Head, Red Lion and Golden Ball making him one of Longton's most prolific landlords.

1871 Probate record for James Wilkins.

1881 Census

DISTRICT NEWS

 ...charged, at the Leyland Police-court, with stealing a pair-of bowls, value l0s. the property of John Latham, of the Red Lion Inn, Longton. Prosecutor stated that on the 10th inst. he had 14 pairs of bowls on his bowling green, and on the following day... 

27 June 1885 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

POLICE STATION, EPWORTH

 ...Longton, on the 24th April, stolen 18 brass checks, value ls. 6d., the property of Mary Ainsworth, keeper of the Red Lion public-house, Longton. Prisoners went to the Red Lion on that date, and whilst Mrs. Ainsworth was drawing beer in the cellar the boy...

18 May 1889 - Epworth Bells, Crowle and Isle of Axholme Messenger

1891 Census

LEYLAND
The magistrates granted an extension of the licences of the 
Golden Ball (Joseph Hull), Longton: the Red Lion (Mary Ainsworth), Longton: the Black Bull (Ishmael Preston), Longton; the Ram's Head (Mary Carr) and the Walmer Bridge Inn.
14 June 1893 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

LEYLAND, FARINGTON, & DISTRICT.
 Before Messrs. J. Stanning and Norris Bretherton, John Griffin was charged, 
on remand, with stealing a whip from the Red Lion Hotel, Longton, 
on the 25th belonging to Thos. Howcroft, of Brinscall.
08 July 1893 - Preston Chronicle - Preston, Lancashire, England

The following pictures have been provided by Gordon Small and are a reminder of the previous ownership of the pub by Nuttall's Brewery of Blackburn who were later acquired by Matthew Brown & Co Ltd in the 1920. Etched pub windows are a fabulous part of pub history and something that is sadly disappearing from our streets at an alarming rate. The "Commercial" still remains to this day and pays deference to the other uses of public houses in the early 20th century.

c.2006

Nuttall & Co. Ltd

c.2006

LEYLAND PETTY SESSIONS.
 Bench were taking a lenient view of the case in fining the defendant and costs. Mary Ainsworth the licensee of the Red Lion, Hotel, Longton, was summoned for having certain jugs representing pint measures, in use for trade purposes.
12 July 1893 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England 

EXPEDIENCES OF SUNDAY DRINKING AT LONGTON.
 GOOD SORTS HAVE A DAY OUT. THEY TAKE POLICEMEN WITH THEM. 
At Leyland, on Monday, Mary Ainsworth, landlady of the Red Lion Hotel, Longton, was summoned for keeping her licensed promises open during prohibited hours.
19 August 1893 - Lancaster Gazette - Lancaster, Lancashire, England

RED LION HOTEL, LONGTON

Under entirely New Management. ALBERT GILLEADE Proprietor, late of the Talbot Inn, Preston, and formerly Blackburn. 

ALL SORTS BURTON AND OTHER ALES AND STOUTS,WINES, SPIRITS, and 

CIGARS of the best quality. Visitors, Cyclists, Picnic, and other Parties welcome.

20 October 1900 - Preston Herald - Preston, Lancashire, England

The Talbot Inn was located in Chapel Yard, Friargate, Preston and Albert Gilleade was landlord there in 1899 having reportedly played one first team game for P.N.E. over the Christmas period in 1888.

1901 Census

1905 Kelly's Directory

c.2008 courtesy of Gordon Small

1911 Census

 IN MEMORIAM
 In loving memory of EDWARD PAYNE, who died October 15th, 1919. Treasured our memory. From his loving Wife and Family, Red Lion Hotel, Longton Bridge, near Preston.
15 October 1920 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England

1924 Kelly's Directory

Any person knowing the present whereabouts of Margaret Edmondson, late of the Running Pump Hotel, Catforth, and the Red Lion Hotel, Longton, please communicate with W. H. Winder, Solicitor, 23, Sun Street, Lancaster. 

17 March 1939 - Lancaster Guardian - Lancaster, Lancashire, England

LONGTON D.F.C. HELPED AIRCRAFT TO RETURN

Flying Officer Harold Squires, of the Red Lion Hotel, Longton, near Preston, has been awarded the D.F.C. for “outstanding courage'’...

27 March 1945 - Lancashire Evening Post - Preston, Lancashire, England
(Harold SQUIRES (177365), Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 158 Sqn)