Red Lion

Name: The Red Lion

Address: 47, Main Street, Barton-under-Needwood

The Red Lion Inn has been a feature of life in Barton-under-Needwood since the mid-1800's. However, the Inn on Main Street was not the original Red Lion, as directories confirm the existence of an earlier Red Lion Beer House at Barton Turn(ing)s when it was run by an Elizabeth Cash (1834-42).

1834 White's History Gazetteer and Directory of Staffordshire

1842 Pigot's Directory of Staffordshire

Listed landlords at today's pub were Francis Hardy (1860-61), John Porter Capper (1868-76), Thomas Henry Bunting (1880-84), Fanny Bunting (1884-88), Charles Hackett (1891-96), Charles Price (1901-40), Reginald Alfred Price (1953), Harry Elson (1970) and Mick Heathcote (2014).

The Red Lion sign can be seen protruding centre right
on this Victorian image

I believe the first landlord at the Red Lion was Francis Hardy Jnr.  He was brought up at Barton Turn by his parents Francis and Isabella who later ran the Vine Inn and on the 1860 directory both father and son are recorded as working in the village.  Francis Snr is not recorded as a beer retailer but the census return of 1861 (see the Vine page) shows it was the beer house.

1860 Directory

1861 Census Francis Hardy Jnr

On the 1861 census Francis Jnr and his wife Martha were living on Main Street and he is recorded as a Grocer and Rope Maker; it is only the directory that confirms he was also a beer retailer.  By the time of the 1868 directory he is again recorded as a Grocer and by this time John Porter Capper is listed at the Red Lion.

1871 Census

John Porter Capper was the landlord from around 1866 to 1876 but moved to Aston sometime later in the 1870's where he is recorded as running the Dog Inn.  By the time of the 1881 census John had been replaced behind the bar by Thomas Henry Bunting and his wife Fanny, who had previously lived two doors up Main Street on the 1871 census.

1881 Census

Huddersfield Chronicle 30 September 1882

Lincolnshire Chronicle 03 October 1882

Thomas Bunting Probate 1884

1891 Census

In the late 1880's the Hackett brothers, Charles and his younger brother Alfred entered the beer house trade, Charles running the Red Lion and Alfred continuing to run the family business at the Robin Hood further up Main Street after their father William Hackett's death around the start of 1888.

Red Lion ready for the Coronation Celebrations in 1953 - Mr and Mrs Reg Price (Landlords)

In the late 1890's the Red Lion was taken over by Charles and Mary Price.  Charles originated from Tutbury and beer was in the blood as both older brothers worked in the breweries.  Charles and Mary were to remain behind the bar for about half a century and when he finally hung up the tankards his son, Reginald Alfred Price (pictured above) took over, continuing the family business. 

Charles actually died whilst still living at Red Lion on 31st January 1952 as his probate below attests: -

Charles Price Probate 1952

1901 Census

1911 Census

Derby Daily Telegraph 24 October 1933

Harry Elson behind the bar at the Red Lion c.1970

Red Lion staff and regulars bare all in after-hours naked calendar

Loyal customers and staff at a pub near Burton have bared all for a naked calendar shoot in aid of charity. The Red Lion, in Barton under Needwood, recently became the set of a naked photo shoot with the aim of producing an 'after hours' calendar to be sold in aid of St Giles Hospice. More than 30 members of staff and regulars posed in the nude to make the calendar, which, following a launch party is now being sold for £10. This is the latest fund-raising attempt by the pub, which landlord Mick Heathcote described as a 'community'. He said: "Our photographer put a notice up on the board and encouraged as many people to take part as possible. We ended up with more volunteers signed up than are actually in the calendar in the end. The pub is like a community – everyone sticks together. They're a great crowd that come in and they would help anyone out."

And this isn't the first time the pub has been charitable. Mr Heathcote said: "We do quite a few events to raise money for St Giles – we've done the coast to coast and the three peaks challenge. This is the second time we've done a naked calendar. We did one three or four years back. St Giles is a local charity and cancer is something that affects a lot of people. The work they do is fantastic. I take my hat off to them. Things like Children in Need show how generous people can be. Perhaps not everyone would put £10 in a bucket, so this way they get something back for it too."

The calendar has been sponsored by 13 local businesses and with 300 copies it is hoped it will raise £3,000 for St Giles. It has been shot in the style of the famous Calendar Girls film, based on a group of Yorkshire Women's Institute members who posed naked for a calendar.

Burton Mail Posted: November 25, 2014 By Alanna Lintin