The Red Lion Langley

This article on the origins of the Red Lion public house was kindly donated by Judith Hunter. A local historian, lecturer, adult tutor and honorary curator of the Royal Borough Museum Collection, Windsor.

When the Red Lion was built, some four hundred years ago, Langley Village hardly existed. The building by the church we know as the Red Lion one of few. Almost certainly built for the church, as a church house, not an inn or alehouse.

In the 16th century, most parishes had a church house. The main purpose being to raise money for church maintenance and poor relief, through the sale of church ales. Parishioners were expected to buy the ale, made from corn given to the church by the same parishioners.

Such houses were often two storey buildings, the downstairs room used for brewing and baking, upstairs for feasting, or drinking. The most important of the church feasts, or "ales" was Whitsun. They could also be held at other times, or the house rented for individual festivities.

The church house not so different from a modern church hall. A place for fund raising and merrymaking, a focus for social life in the parish. A church ale could be compared to a bring and buy, or coffee morning. Ale was then the everyday drink for rich or poor, coffee and tea barely known in England.

In earlier centuries, church ales had usually taken place in the church itself, or the churchyard but changing attitudes and the provision of pews made this no longer acceptable. Using a separate building, a church house, seen as a better arrangement. However, by the mid 17th century, church houses themselves were disappearing for several reasons.

Church ales had come under attack from puritan churchmen and were prohibited in 1640. The introduction of rates by Parliament gave an alternative way to raise parish income, the beginning of licensing the sale of ale added yet another twist to the story.

From 1552, all sellers of ale and beer needed a licence. In order to obtain a licence, the prospective alehouse keeper had to undertake not to allow his house to be used for unlawful games, such as bowls, football, shove halfpenny and backgammon.

Over a century passed before the law became truly effective but during this period, it became increasingly difficult for old style church houses to function. Some were sold or pulled down. In other parishes, the church retained ownership but leased the property.

What could be more convenient than the church house becoming an alehouse. The rent bringing income to the church, while the house continued to sell ale and provide a meeting place for the community.

We can not be sure this is the early history of the Red Lion, no 16th, or early 17th century records survive to provide the evidence. The oldest parts of the building are however 16th century and the location, close to the church, yet so far from the other hamlets in the parish, suggest a church house origin.

Moreover, for at least two hundred and fifty years, the Red Lion was referred to as the Church House in manorial and parochial accounts. In mid 18th century Victualler’s Registers, the name is given almost as an alternative to that of the Red Lion.

The names in the Buckinghamshire Victualler’s Register are:

1753 - 1756 Red Lion
1757 - 1766 Church House
1767 - 1768 Red Lion Church House
1769 - 1797 Red Lion
1798 - 1828 Old Red Lion

The registers were begun in 1753, in response to a new Licensing Act. The Clerk of the Quarter Sessions Court kept a register of the licenses granted annually. Buckinghamshire County Record Office hold a full set. The earliest reference to the Red Lion occurs in the first volume, the licensee being William Miller. He was landlord for at least 30 years but for how long before 1753 is unknown.

In the manor court rolls the property is also known as the Church House and in a 1778 entry, William Miller is named as the occupier. Although the Red Lion/Church House was owned by Langley Marish Parish Church, this was not freehold property but copyhold.

The Church House Estate (the formal name for the property) was held from the Lord of the Manor. Instead of deeds in the usual sense, the church held a copy of the entry made in the manor court rolls.

Trustees acted on behalf of the church. In 1778, when there was only one surviving trustee, the manor court rolls provide evidence for the appointment of four new trustees. According to custom, the property was surrendered into the hands of the Lord of the Manor (the Duke of Marlborough) or his steward. Following this, new trustees could then be admitted as tenants of the manor.

Other entries in the court rolls record earlier changes of trustees, in 1753 and 1699. From the wording, the change 3rd November 1699 was of particular importance in the history of the Red Lion. On this occasion, not only trustees changed but a change in the way trustees could let the property for the benefit of the parish.

The occupier at that date was a Sarah Miller, a widow. There is no indication whether or not she was an alehouse keeper but hardly a coincidence she bears the same name as the earliest known licensee, William Miller.

Evidence of the church house tenancy does exist from earlier times. In the churchwarden's accounts of 1629, the fourth item records the receipt of £1 "for the rent of the Churchowse". Unfortunately, there is no information to indicate how it was used, or who lived there.

From 1753, the names of the landlords and the use are easier to trace. The Red Lion clearly an important public houses in the parish, with a role in work and leisure activities of the community.

The property ceased to be copyhold land in 1937 but remained in the ownership of the church until sold in 1948. Now a grade II listed building and recently renovated, revealing more of the 16th century origins. A tied house of a brewery but thankfully still a public house known as the Red Lion.