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From an article by Edward James Gilbert.
THE RED LION PUBLIC HOUSE ON ST JOHN'S ROAD
Written by: Edward James Gilbert-Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada
Date: September 30, 2014
The Red Lion Inn was located at 66 St John's Road, on the east side
of St John's Road just north of Culverden Down between Somerset and
Newcomen Road and was the second building south of Skinners School.
The Red Lion began under this name in about 1860 and continued by
that name well into the 20th century. During the period of 1862 to 1938
the pub was run by a total of seven different licensed victuallers, with
the longest serving one being John Pollard who was its first keeper.
Although the building still exists, and operates as a pub, it has
changed hands many times since 1938 and today (2014) is known as "St. John's
Yard". Before that it was called "Spanner In The Works" and before that
the "Lava Bar".
This article traces the history of the pub from 1862 onwards.
THE RED LION PUB AND ITS KEEPERS
Opened in about 1860, its first licensed victualler, as noted in a
1862 directory, was John Pollard. John was born 1806 in Goudhurst, Kent.
He is found at the Red Lion at 66 St John's in the 1871 census with his
wife Frances, born about 1818 in Bow, London and some servants. The 1874
directory, taken at the same location (but given as No. 64) lists John
Pollard as a publican and a brick maker. The 1881 census at ‘The Red
Lion Inn' 66 St John's Road recorded the presence of John Pollard; his
wife Frances and two lodgers. John was still listed at this
establishment in the 1882 Kelly directory. By 1891 the pub had been
taken over by William George and John Pollard passed away in Tunbridge
Wells in the 1st qtr of 1893.
The presence of William George as the publican of the Red Lion is
noted in the 1891 census taken at 66 St John's Road. Present there was
William George, born 1827 in Kingston on Thames, Surrey. He is given as
‘publican and proprietor'. Living with him was his wife Susannah, born
1828 in Aynho, Northamptonshire. His children George, age 34, born 1857
at Egham, Surrey and Fanny, age 32, born 1859 at Egham were also
present. In addition William's son on law Frank Don and two
grandchildren were there. William George died at the Red Lion in the 3rd
qtr of 1893.
When William George passed away in 1893 the pub was taken over by
Thomas Lefevre, who remained there until at least 1903 when he appears
in a directory for that year. Thomas was also recorded there in an 1899
directory. Thomas had been born 1851 in Tunbridge Wells and by 1882 at
the latest he had married Elizabeth, who was born 1846 in London. The
1901 census, taken at the ‘Red Lion Hotel' recorded the presence of
Thomas (as licensed victualler, owner) and his wife Elizabeth and a
daughter Daisey T. Lefevre, age 19, born 1882 in Penshurst. Probate
records give the death of Thomas Lefevre at the Red Lion on November 15,
1903. His 296 pound estate was left to his wife Elizabeth Hannah Lefevre.
It is not known who took over the pub after the the death of Thomas
Lefevre in 1903 but the pub was taken over by George Cowley not long
after.
The next publican noted was James Thomas Dunn who is found there in
the 1913 and 1918 Kelly directories. Nothing more is known about him.
After Dunn came Edward Henry Cross, who is found there in a 1922
Kelly directory. Edward had been born 1884 at Chatham, Kent, the son of
Henry Cross. On December 13, 1906 Edward married Maud Florence Robins,
born 1884 at Sherness, Kent. The marriage took place at St Mary's Church
in Chatham. The 1911 census, taken at the ‘Golden Eagle” pub at 1
Station Street in Sittingbourne recorded Edward as a beer retailer.
Living with him was his wife Maude Florence Cross, age 27; his two
daughters Dorothy Maud, age 3; and Edith May, age 1, both born at
Gillingham, Kent. Also present in this seven room building was one
domestic servant. The census recorded that the couple had been married
four years and that they had two children. Probate records give Edward
Henry Cross of the Red Lion Inn, Tunbridge Wells died August 9, 1924.
The executor of his 398 pound estate was his wife Maud Florence Cross.
Maud continued to run the pub on her own after her husband's death and
is recorded at the publican there as Mrs Maud Cross in the 1930 Kelly
directory. Probate records gave Maud Florence Cross of 112 Victoria Park
Road, South Hackney, Middlesex, widow, died August 22, 1935 at 230 High
Street Homerton, Middlesex. The executor of her 1,288 pound estate was
Albert Scoger, a retired grocer.
The last person of note at the Red Lion was Patrick Walter Berkeley,
who is listed there in a 1938 directory. Those who ran the pub after
1938 were not researched but I conclude my coverage of the history of
this pub in the next section when it was run under different names.
AFTER THE RED LION
The Red Lion became the ‘Spanner in The Works', a pub that also
offered food and seemed to be well liked ,according to reviews, by those
who went there for a drink and something to eat. It was later renamed
the Lava Bar.
Shown opposite are two photos of the Lava Bar, one showing the
exterior and one the interior.
This bar served a variety of beverages and food and under that name
the business changed hands several times. It had lunch and dinner menus
and they advertised themselves as a restaurant and bar. Those who
visited the premises stated ‘they had a good range of lagers and a great
atmosphere”.
The Lava Bar became ‘St John's Yard' just a few years ago and still
operates at 66 St John's Road today.
It has a small modern bar area with comfortable and quirky furniture.
There is also a large area for drinks on the rear patio, a spot which
comes into its own when occasional beer festivals are held there. There
is a function room seating fifty people available free of charge. They
offer lunch and evening meals with the paved back area uses as the pub
garden.
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