The Red Lyon was reported as being for sale in the Ipswich Journal on July 1765 as follows:

To be sold, the Publick Inn, called the Red Lyon, in Laxfield, consisting of a well-timber'd Messuage, containing several large convenient Rooms and Offices, with a Barn, Stable, Garden, and two convenient Hemplands or Orchards, also several good Pieces of very good arable, meadow and pasture Land, lying contiuous to the Dwelling-House, now in the Occupation of Mary Dowsing, under an Agreement which expires at Michaelmas next...The Premises are wholly or chiefly Freehold, subject only to a Rent of 5 Shillings a year, and moderately assessed to the Land-Tax.