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Picture source: Nick Yarwood

The Red Lion was situated on the junction of Westbourne Street and Kidderminster Road. This pub closed in 2009.

Situated right next to the railway viaduct on a tight corner with Whispering Street now called Westbourne Street, this pub was lucky to survive the arrival of the railway. The viaduct was built in 1860. Information on the pub appears in Berrows Worcester Journal in December 1781. This was an auction held at the Pied Bull (now closed) in Kidderminster which states: "To be sold...that well known and good accustomed Public House known by the Sign of the Red Lion in Wribbenhall...in the occupation of Mr William Swann." In September 1786: "To be Let. And entered upon at Lady Day next , or sooner if required that eligible and well accustomed Publick House, situated in Wribbenhall near Bewdley ... called the Red Lion consisting of 4 cellars, 2 kitchens, a shop, 3 parlours, 4 lodging rooms, closets, 3 good garrets, brewhouses, stables a good yard and other conveniences together with the turning and ash chair trade, in which business 3 or 4 hands are in constant employ. For further particulars apply to Mr William Swann , the owner and occupier who is going to retire from the above business." An auction held in 1806 named the landlord as Richard Lane. During the 19th century several members of the Lane family were licensees. Richard Lane in the 1831 Census is a 'victualler & gardner.' By 1840 to early 1841 the publican was John Lane. John had gone by the 1841 census but Richard Lane aged 70 was still living at the Red Lion as 'independent' meaning he was retired. Both he and his wife Letitia died in 1842 within two months of each other. It stood empty during 1850 and early1851 so it is unclear whether it was still trading but by the 1851 to the 1871 census their son Willaim was the publican, dying in 1871. The Webb family then became licensees. Martha Webb was licensee by 1884 aged 39 and she occupied the inn until about 1904. On Nov 10th 1893 she was summoned for selling intoxicating liquor to a drunk who had already been refused at the Great Western. She was fined 1/- with costs and her licence was endorsed. During her reign the pub was owned by Spreckley Bros brewery of Worcester which in 1926 was absorbed into the Cheltenham & Hereford Brewery. Joseph Oakes, a haulier and furniture remover left the Coach & Horses and took over the pub in 1906 and Ellen Webb presumably his wife, was the licensee until 1912. Many public houses were meeting places for clubs and societies. The John Griffith Lodge of the Royal Ancient Order of Buffaloes met at the Red Lion sometime during the 20th century. Dinners and lunches were provided for even large parties as the railway and cycles brought in tourist trade from the West Midlands. The exterior of the pub remained unchanged apart from cosmetically such as a large wall corner lantern in the time of Ellen Oakes and signs mounted flat on the wall. The Red Lion finally closed in 2009 when the owner died.

Tony Dunn (September 2024)

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Picture source: Tony Dunn

Picture source: Nick Yarwood