Guidebook: Red Lion Inn

[Charles Rex]

 

The Red Lion Inn is located at Charring Cross. Solidly built in grey stone the inn has an air of permanence and protectiveness. The three storied building displays a shield-shaped sign of a red lion rampant guardant on a white ground. The legend above the door reads "Red Lion Inn. Hezekiah Golightly, lndld."

At the eastern end of the building is the great arch, twice the height of a man, giving on to the coach yard. Sturdy wooden gates stand open during the day but are locked with the coming of night. The main entrance can be accessed from the street or from the yard.

Yard

The coach yard is large - there is room for a coach to turn and stabling sufficient for a dozen horses. Four stalls are permanently taken by the coach horses. The tack room, hay loft and a room for the 2 ostlers are located above the stables. There is insufficient room for a guest to keep a coach here.   The inn's privies are located in the yard

Ground Floor

The main entrance is situated at the eastern side of the building. A room of whitewashed walls and dark oak beams, a cheery fire burns in the fireplace on the west wall. A desk is located here, behind which sits a tall, thin blonde lad with merry eyes and a ready smile.

The tap room is located in the centre front of the ground floor. A great fireplace is set on the east wall; at the north end of the room is the serving counter. A door behind the counter gives access to the kitchen area; a door beside it give access to the guests' stair.

In order to pay his enormous bill, artist Isaac Fuller has decorated the walls of this room with paintings of lions. Behind the serving counter is a depiction of Hercules fighting the Nemean lion. On the east wall, around and over the fireplace Aesop's lion has the thorn removed from his paw. The south wall has a painting of Daniel in the lion's den: this painting incorporates the door to the street. The west wall has a depiction of the goddess Cybele in her lion-drawn chariot.

The taproom is furnished with an oak settle before the fireplace and tables and stools are scattered in congenial groups around the room. The floor is covered with the finest sand which is changed weekly.

The dining room is on the south western corner of the building. Although open to the public, the dining room is accessible only from within the inn. A door in the north wall leads to the kitchen area, a door in the east wall to the rest of the inn. Sturdy but comfortable oak tables and chairs furnish the room.

The dining room is graced with three large windows - one in the south wall and two in the west. The depth of the sills show that the walls of the inn are a good foot thick. A fireplace is located on the west wall between the windows. A jug of spring flowers sits on the mantle piece. In combination with the windows, the whitewashed walls give an impression of space and light, punctuated by the dark wooden beams. As in the taproom, the floor is covered with the finest sand which is changed weekly.

The Red Lion is noted for the excellence of Mistress Golightly's cooking and the dining room is redolent with beguiling savoury fragrances. Particularly famed are the Carrot and Oyster Pie and the Grilled Beefsteak.

A typical table description:      It was a prettily arranged table, with clean cutlery and fresh table linens, with a posy of panises in middle next to pottery salt and pepper (one in shape of a ship, the other a light house.  

The private parlour is in the centre of the north wall of the ground floor, adjacent to the kitchen. A door in the parlour's west wall allows the unobtrusive entrance of a servant: a door in the south wall leads to the main corridor and guest stair. A fireplace and the room's small window are both located in the north wall. The window admits but little light, so despite the gleaming white walls the little room has an air of twilight secrets.

The parlour has a carpet of good English wool covering the floorboards. 3 chairs and a chaise longue are upholstered in sturdy burgundy wool. A small table, of a size suitable for dining, stands in one corner.

The parlour can be hired for taking meals, business meetings or other private arrangements...

The guest stair is located on the north wall of the inn, next to the private parlour. This stair leads to the first and second floors but does not extend to the inn's attic.

In the northeast corner of the ground floor is a store room. The room is kept locked and Hezekiah Golightly holds the only key.

The servant's stair is located at the eastern end of the building and runs from ground floor to attic.

Cost

• Room only:
  • One night = 1 shilling
    One Month = 1 pound 8s

[*] Bed and Breakfast

• 2pounds 2s (2 guineas)/month

 

 

For Apartments double the price.

[Charles Rex]

The first floor is given over to accommodation. It has 5 rooms and a small sitting area on the landing. The sitting area features a small table and two burgundy upholstered chairs, identical to those in the private parlour.

The Hunt Room:

The room is on the first floor in the southeast corner of the inn. The floors are covered with a claret-coloured woollen carpet. A solid oak wardrobe stands against one wall and a small writing table and chair against another. The table has good quality paper, a delft-ware ink well and a few quills. A small mirror hangs over the mantlepiece and a comfortable chair upholstered in claret coloured wool stands beside the fire.

The room is dominated by the canopied bed. The bed curtains, canopy and coverlet are of crewel work linen, that is linen embroidered in wools. The embroidery design is of a Hunt, the stag and the horses all depicted marvellously with attention to detail on the riders and the hounds. The bed is dressed with Irish linen sheets, starched crisp and soft blankets of claret coloured English wool.

The Yacht Room:  Lodgings of Baron Grey of Codnor

The room is on the first floor on the the south side of the inn. The floors are covered with a claret-coloured woollen carpet. A solid oak wardrobe stands against one wall and a small writing table and chair against another. The table has good quality paper, a delft-ware ink well and a few quills. A small mirror hangs over the mantlepiece and a comfortable chair upholstered in claret coloured wool stands beside the fire.

The room is dominated by the canopied bed. The bed curtains, canopy and coverlet are of crewel work linen, that is linen embroidered in wools. The embroidery design is of a yacht, ruling the waves during a storm. The bed is dressed with Irish linen sheets, starched crisp and soft blankets of claret coloured English wool.

The Apollo Room: Isaac Newton currently in residence

The room is on the first floor in the southwest corner of the inn. The floors are covered with a claret-coloured woollen carpet. A solid oak wardrobe stands against one wall and a small writing table and chair against another. The table has good quality paper, a delft-ware ink well and a few quills. A small mirror hangs over the mantlepiece and a comfortable chair upholstered in claret coloured wool stands beside the fire.

The room is dominated by the canopied bed. The bed curtains, canopy and coverlet are of crewel work linen, that is linen embroidered in wools. The embroidery design is of Apollo playing the lyre in a contest with the satyr Pan, all depicted marvellously with attention to detail on the nymphs surrounding them. The bed is dressed with Irish linen sheets, starched crisp and soft blankets of claret coloured English wool.

The Tree of Life Room: Lady Ballater

The room is on the first floor in the northeast corner of the inn. The floors are covered with a claret-coloured woollen carpet. A solid oak wardrobe stands against one wall and a small writing table and chair against another. The table has good quality paper, a delft-ware ink well and a few quills. A small mirror hangs over the mantlepiece and a comfortable chair upholstered in honey coloured wool stands beside the fire. 

The room is dominated by the canopied bed. The bed curtains, canopy and coverlet are of crewel work linen, that is linen embroidered in wools. The embroidery design is of a Tree of Life, a tree of no known species surrounded and bedecked by exotic flowers and fantastic birds and animals, existing in seasonless and perfect harmony. The bed is dressed with Irish linen sheets, starched crisp and soft blankets of undyed English wool in it's soft creamy-white.

The Pegasus Room 

The room is on the first floor in the northwest corner of the inn. The floors are covered with a claret-coloured woollen carpet. A solid oak wardrobe stands against one wall and a small writing table and chair against another. The table has good quality paper, a delft-ware ink well and a few quills. A small mirror hangs over the mantelpiece and a comfortable chair upholstered in honey coloured wool stands beside the fire.

The room is dominated by the canopied bed. The bed curtains, canopy and coverlet are of crewel work linen, that is linen embroidered in wools. The colourful embroidery design is of the winged horse Pegasus flying alone carrying thunderbolts for Zeus. The bed is dressed with Irish linen sheets, starched crisp and soft blankets of undyed English wool in it's soft creamy-white.

The second floor is given over to accommodation. It has 5 rooms and a small sitting area on the landing. The sitting area features a small table and two burgundy upholstered chairs, identical to those in the private parlour.

The East Mithras Room - Lodgings of John Burgoyne

The room is on the second floor in the southeast corner of the inn. A solid oak wardrobe stands against one wall and a small writing table and chair against another. The table has good quality paper, a delft-ware ink well and a few quills. The room features a window and a small fireplace. The floors are covered with a woollen carpet of English manufacture the shade of claret. A wardrobe stands against one wall and a small writing table and chair against another. A small mirror hangs over the mantlepiece and a comfortable chair stands beside the fire.

The room is dominated by the canopied bed. The bed curtains, canopy and coverlet are of crewel work linen, that is linen embroidered in wools. The embroidery depicts Mithras slaying the bull. The bed is dressed with Irish linen sheets, starched crisp and soft blankets of claret coloured English wool.

The West Mithras Room - Lodgings of Mr Arthur Cadogan

The room is on the second floor in the southwest corner of the inn. A solid oak wardrobe stands against one wall and a small writing table and chair against another. The table has good quality paper, a delft-ware ink well and a few quills.  The room features a window and a small fireplace. The floors are covered with a woollen carpet of English manufacture the shade of claret. A wardrobe stands against one wall and a small writing table and chair against another. A small mirror hangs over the mantlepiece and a comfortable chair stands beside the fire.

The room is dominated by the canopied bed. The bed curtains, canopy and coverlet are of crewel work linen, that is linen embroidered in wools. The embroidery depicts Mithras slaying the bull. The bed is dressed with Irish linen sheets, starched crisp and soft blankets of claret coloured English wool.

The East Apartment - Lodgings of Willoughby & Wife

East Apartment, first room (Willoughby's own)

On the second floor; The first room: The floor was covered with a honey coloured woollen carpet of English manufacture, a comfortable chair sat in front of the fireplace, and above the mantelpiece a mirror hung. A wardrobe stood against one wall and a small writing table and chair against the other, another. The room was dominated by the canopied bed dressed in fine crewel work linen resembling a pleasant collection of exotic flowers and Greek goddesses.

There is a small door, kept locked, which goes through to a second room which has it's own access out onto the hall. A near invisible door near the wardrobe opens to a staircase to a loft room in for her servant.

East Apartment, second room (that of Meg Tressider-Willoughby)

On the second floor; The second room: The floor was covered with a honey coloured woollen carpet of English manufacture, a comfortable chair sat in front of the fireplace, and above the mantelpiece a mirror hung. A wardrobe stood against one wall and a small writing table and chair against the other, another. The room was dominated by the canopied bed dressed in fine crewel work linen depicting St. George conquering the dragon.

There is a small door, kept locked, which goes through to another room room which has it's own access out onto the hall. A near invisible door near the wardrobe opens to a staircase to a loft room in for his servant.

 

The West Apartment -

West Apartment, first room

On the second floor; the first room: The floor was covered with a honey coloured woollen carpet of English manufacture, a comfortable chair sat in front of the fireplace, and above the mantelpiece a mirror hung. A wardrobe stood against one wall and a small writing table and chair against the other, another. The room was dominated by the canopied bed dressed in fine crewel work linen resembling a pleasant collection of exotic flowers and Greek goddesses.

There is a small door, kept locked, which goes through to a second room which has it's own access out onto the hall. A near invisible door near the wardrobe opens to a staircase to a loft room in for her servant.

West Apartment, second room:

On the second floor; the second room: The floor was covered with a honey coloured woollen carpet of English manufacture, a comfortable chair sat in front of the fireplace, and above the mantelpiece a mirror hung. A wardrobe stood against one wall and a small writing table and chair against the another. The room was dominated by the canopied bed dressed in fine crewel work linen depicting St. George conquering the dragon.

There is a small door, kept locked, which goes through to another room which has it's own access out onto the hall. A near invisible door near the wardrobe opens to a staircase to a loft room in for his servant.