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Needham Market Red Lion
Needham Market Red Lion
also traded as Lion
South West, 52.15267,1.05307
closed 1779
opened 1540
22-24 High St
grid reference TM 089 548
The Red Lion is first mentioned in 1540. In 1737 William Turner owned the inn whilst Simon Mayes took over the maltings. In 1758 the malt office and kiln at 20 High St was "belonging to, but separate from" the inn. Later in 1779, Hannah Turner sold the inn to John Marriott (grocer & draper) and sometime soon afterwards the inn closed, but the maltings and the brewery continued.
This tavern was only ever part of a large grouping of malting and residential buildings. In 1727 a William Carter pub inventory reveals the business comprised a kitchen, parlour, cellar, brew-house, 3 bed chambers, a stable and barn.
In 1860 the adjacent malt factory (20 High St) was rebuilt by George Stewart who sold it in 1867. Later this business was called the Needham Market Steam Brewery (run by George Clowes) and continued until about 1913 (last listed in 1904).
Later it was part of the Malga Factory and rebuilt in white brick. Now used as shops and residential.
(information from book "Needham Market Pubs" by Desmond and Shelagh Herring)
The building dates from the early or mid 16th century.
Gallery
Historical interest
1607 - Edward Knapp (later William Wood married Mary Knapp and they ran the pub unlicensed for a while)
1659 - James & Mary Withers
1711 - John King
1715 - Mary Wink
1723 - John Carter
1727 - William Carter
1746 - Thomas Eastwick
1754 - Susan Ward
(Most pub, location & historic details collated by Nigel, Tony or Keith - original sources are credited)
(information from book "Needham Market Pubs" by Desmond and Shelagh Herring)