Red Lion Inn

CLOSE	A view of the west side of the Red Lion prior to conversion in 1885 Photo taken about 1910 showing the shop on the west side of the site	The Red Lion Inn In 1851 the Red Lion stood where the Townsend Memorial Hall and the Post Office now stand. The Inn, its stables, outbuildings, cottages and butcher's shop were owned by John Higgs, aged 70 and a widower. John had inherited when his father died in 1816. It is not clear whether John ran the Inn himself, it seems likely that at his age he did not. The census shows that he employed only one servant, a housekeeper, which would not have been sufficient help to run the place. Thomas Higgs, John's brother owned the Bull Inn just over the road and that was operated by a tenant, perhaps his brother did likewise. The Inn continued in the ownership of the Higgs family until it was sold to Dr. T. S. Townsend in January 1885. Dr. Townsend then converted the Inn into three cottages with a new shop on the west side. The east side of the Red Lion yard was rebuilt to form the Clifton Working Men's Club. The work was carried out by a Mr. E. Tew, a local builder, at a total cost of £895 paid by Dr. Townsend. The Club was opened in September 1885. The Club was initially owned and run by a Management Committee. Mortgage repayments of £20 per year were to be paid to Dr. Townsend, but by 1889 the committee were in debt to Dr. Townsend to the amount of £49 and he bought the building back from them. It was then run by the family for the benefit of the village. The Club was presented to the village by Mrs. Frances Roscoe, daughter of Dr. Townsend in memory of her brother Captain T. A. Townsend who was killed in First World War. The Club was then renamed "The Townsend Memorial Hall".

A view of the west side of the Red Lion prior to conversion in 1885

Photo taken about 1910 showing the shop on the west side of the site

The Red Lion Inn

In 1851 the Red Lion stood where the Townsend Memorial Hall and the Post Office now stand.

The Inn, its stables, outbuildings, cottages and butcher's shop were owned by John Higgs, aged 70 and a widower. John had inherited when his father died in 1816. It is not clear whether John ran the Inn himself, it seems likely that at his age he did not. The census shows that he employed only one servant, a housekeeper, which would not have been sufficient help to run the place. Thomas Higgs, John's brother owned the Bull Inn just over the road and that was operated by a tenant, perhaps his brother did likewise.

The Inn continued in the ownership of the Higgs family until it was sold to Dr. T. S. Townsend in January 1885. Dr. Townsend then converted the Inn into three cottages with a new shop on the west side. The east side of the Red Lion yard was rebuilt to form the Clifton Working Men's Club. The work was carried out by a Mr. E. Tew, a local builder, at a total cost of £895 paid by Dr. Townsend. The Club was opened in September 1885.

The Club was initially owned and run by a Management Committee. Mortgage repayments of £20 per year were to be paid to Dr. Townsend, but by 1889 the committee were in debt to Dr. Townsend to the amount of £49 and he bought the building back from them. It was then run by the family for the benefit of the village. The Club was presented to the village by Mrs. Frances Roscoe, daughter of Dr. Townsend in memory of her brother Captain T. A. Townsend who was killed in First World War. The Club was then renamed "The Townsend Memorial Hall".