The Red Lion Hotel, Fareham, Hampshire.

An 18^th Century Coaching Inn.

Malcolm Low

From a pen & ink drawing by Malcolm Low © January 2007

The Red Lion Inn stood in the centre of what was the busiest part of Fareham at the beginning of the 18th century. The earliest the Red Lion is mentioned is in the 1736 will of Thomas Eyre (Eior, 1736P17).

According to Mrs P Wenden, Joseph Woodman, one of her ancestors was once well known as a baker and seller of gingerbread in Fareham and became a property owner later in life. He died in 1751 at the age of 61/64 and was buried in the churchyard of Ss Peter & Paul Church. In his will Joseph left 'the messuages, land, and tenements from the will of the late Thomas Eyer of Fareham, Maltser. To his loving friend Mr. Peter Thresher the elder, of Fareham, Tanner'.

In the will of Thomas Eyre 1736 (Eior, 1736P17) he had left 'unto my thrifty friends Joseph Woodman, Gingerbread Baker and Henry Stanton, Gent, both of Fareham' messuages, land and tenements in West Street of Fareham, Malt House meadows, Brooks Close, meadows at Lysses, Red Lion, meadow near West Barn and a meadow called Pook Lane Mead. Henry Stanton who had shared the inheritance of properties from Thomas Eyre in 1736 died a few years before Joseph Woodman and makes no mention of this in his will (1784P106) Mrs Wenden suggests that Henry Stanton had sold his share to Joseph.

Although the author has not found any information about the Red Lion earlier than 1736, it does not mean that earlier documents do not exist. In the Archives of The Hampshire County Council Records Office there is reference for Quarter Sessions being held in the Red Lion. The Records Office holds certificates of Justices of the Peace swearing that they could qualify for the position as a Justice, which were held in the Red Lion, dated 1765-1838.

We have some idea of what the Red Lion looked like in the middle of the 19th century from an Auction Catalogue of 1867. The 'Red Lion' hotel contained an assembly or ball room at least 10 bedrooms and stabling for 40 horses.

In 1891 the Red Lion Hotel was put up for auction by the Executors of the late William Cawte, the property was sold by private treaty to Fred White. We now have a record of what the Hotel was like in 1891. A brief outline of the auction details are written below:

The Hotel accommodation...is complete and well-arranged as to leaving nothing wished for, and provides Bar, Bar Parlour, Coffee, Commercial, Gaming and Billiard Rooms, 3 Private sitting Rooms, with 15 bedrooms, large Market Room 27ft. x 18ft. and County Ball Room 60ft x 23ft. in which has been held all the County Balls in this division for many years. In the large Posting Yard is a well established Tap with Cottage Residence, stabling for 30 Horses, commodious Coach House, a Range of Piggeries and Fowl Houses, &c. The Freehold includes extensive Vegetable Garden and Bowling Green.

Today the building is Grade II listed and is quoted in the Department of the Environment's publication Buildings of Special Architectural or Historic interest, as:

18th century, stuccoed facade with parapet curved up in centre. Re-tiled roof. 2 storeys and 4 dormers. 4 windows, sashes with glazing bars and early c19 casements with cambered head linings. 2 bays on ground and 1st floor with slate roofs. Semi-circular porch. Behind hotel are the former Assembly Rooms, which have been converted into bedrooms.

The book - The Red Lion Hotel, Fareham an 18^th century Coaching Inn, researched and published by Malcolm Low is available from The Red Lion Hotel, East Street, Fareham, Hampshire, PO16 OBP. Telephone Number 01329 822640.

Malcolm Low can be contacted on email: m.low1@ntlworld.com