Alnwick (Bailiffgate) - Red Lion Inn

Name: The Red Lion Inn

Address: 16, Bailiffgate, Alnwick 

c.2026

The Red Lion was first documented in 1760 when advertised by James Hindmarsh. The pub was later managed around 1790 by Matthew Mills, a local mason noted for his work on Alnwick Castle and other regional landmarks and whilst it closed in the 1870s the building still stands and is part of a historic row (Nos. 22–26), the structure being a Grade II listed building.

Listed landlords at the inn were James Hindmarsh (1760), Matthew Mills (1790), George Davison (1827-), Robert Hobbs (1851), Robert Harris (1855-59) and Ann Harris (1859-).

1827 History, Directory & Gazetteer George Davison

1864 Map

1834 Pigots Alnwick George Davison

1841 Census George Davison

1851 Census Robert Hobbs

Following the pattern of landlords working as masons, Mark Harris was also a mason by trade and moved to Bailiffgate from Percy Street in the early 1850s.

1855 Whellan's Directory Mark Harris

1859 Probate Mark Harris

Following Mark Harris' death in 1859 his widow Ann carried on the business into the 1870s before the inn seems to have finally closed.

1861 Census Ann Harris

1871 Census Ann Harris

It's final recorded event as a pub was in 1871 on the census above, but there is no trace on the 1881 census and the building was serving as a curate's residence by 1886.

The Licensed Victuallers in The Publicans Alnwick and district have off Alnwick. recently formed themselves into an association for the better protection as well as promotion of their interests as a trading community. Perhaps the time has arrived when they feel it necessary they should do so, for it is apparent that the publicans' business in the ducal town is not near so lucrative as it was formerly. There are many causes to account for this ; but one point is obvious, people nowadays have not so much idle time to while away in a public-house, nor have they as much money at command. A retrospect of the last quarter of a century shows that more than half of the public-houses in Alnwick existing during this period have been closed, and are now the private residences of respectable townspeople. As it may be interesting to some of our readers, we will commemorate those fully-licensed inns which have been closed during the past twenty years. Canongate Street: Black Horse, Stag Inn, Crown and Globe. Bailiffgate Street: Red Lion. Narrowgate Street: Alnwick Castle Inn, Half Moon Inn. Pottergate Street: Ship Inn. Paike Street: Shakespeare Tavern. Bondgate Street (North Side): Northumberland Arms, Post Boy. Bondgate Street (South Side —from the Tower): Masons' Arms, Cattle Market Tavern, Cross Keys, King's Arms. Corn Market: George and Dragon. Clayport Street (South Side): William IV., Pack Horse. Clayport Street (North Side): Clayport Tower Inn, Anchor Inn. Green Batt: Queen's Head Hotel (now the site of the police barracks.) South Road: Royal Oak, Willow Tree. 
There have also been several beer shops closed. Thirty-one public-houses are still licensed in Alnwick (including the Bee Hive in the Market Place, which has been shut up for several years, and the Pickwick Inn —formerly a brewery —in Roxburgh Place, which has been wanting a tenant since November last.) It, however, cannot be said that temperance has made any great incur upon the publicans' trade in Alnwick, if we take a similar retrospective view. Sixteen and seventeen years ago, Good Templarism flourished in Alnwick—like all novelties—there being three distinct lodges of the brotherhood, and upwards of 600 members. Now there only exists one lodge, the youngest of the three, which has had a very fitful life, but is now, we understand, in more improved circumstances than it has been for several years. There is a mighty lot can be said, for and against the liquor traffic. In our opinion prohibitory measures have a far more demoralising effect than a free unlimited sale. 
Saturday,  Mar. 21, 1891 Morpeth Herald