(Wingham)

Red Lion at Wingham, 1960, from WHLS Collection.

Red Lion date unknown.

During the 17th century an The Civil War, the Palmers and the Oxendens, two great families of Wingham were deciding whether to follow the King or Parliament in the Civil War. However, John Boys of Trapham, a member of Parliamentary Committee which governed the district under the rule of Cromwell, sat at the Red Lion, where they held their meetings, to the embarrassment of Thomas Palmer, an avowed Royalist, who lived opposite. It was the Oxenden family who managed to keep the temperature down and the community alive and the village remained neutral.

Right up until 1886 the Petty Constables responsible for public order, served writs and escorted offenders to Petty Sessions held at the Red Lion.

The houses between the Old Canonry and the Red Lion are the only visible remains of the houses occupied by the canons. They were erected in the 14th Century or 15th Century as residences for the canons. Hence, in the 19th Century they were called Canon Row.

LICENSEE LIST

WHITE Thomas 1839

WHITE Harriett 1847-58+

ANDREWS Elizabeth Mrs 1882+

CLARK Joseph W ( Referred to as the Lion)

ALEXANDER Albert Percy 1934

From the Pigot's Directory 1839

From Bagshaw Directory 1847

From Melville's Directory 1858

From the Post Office Directory 1882

From the Post Office Directory 1913

From the Post Office Directory 1914

From the Kelley's Directory 1934