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The Red Lion
The Red Lion Inn.

Photo CDM 2014

The Red Lion, 11 Bank Road, [1 Abbey Road], Gornal Wood.
This mid-Victorian pub looks across the bus station in Abbey Road, the gable end of the building has a distinct cut-away look.
Thomas Malpass was nicknamed the 'Pokey Mon' or 'Pokey', locals often referred to the Red Lion as Pokey's.
He became much a local character because of his love for practical jokes.
Thomas 'Tummy' Booth, already an established Back Country brewer, purchased the Red Lion from William Elwell in 1935, the property costing Booth £3,650, he then set about re-establishing and extending the Lion's brewery to help suppy his other licensed establishments.
After 1937 he had also aquired The Crown Inn, Holloway Street, Ruiton and The Cross Keys and Miner Arms both in Ruiton Street, Lower Gornal, among other pubs around the Black Country.
In 1939, Thomas Booth moved to Pensnett and set up his brewery in Corbyn's Hall Road.
Booth sold the Red Lion to Julia Hanson Breweries in 1942.
Both Thomas Malpass and Thomas Booth issued brass tokens from the Red Lion.
Next door to the Red Lion, a toilet block was built.
Responsibility and maintenance for this was transferred from the brewery to Sedgley UDC in 1956.
The Public Convenience finally closed sometime around 2010 and remains closed.
1942: Evening Despatch, Monday 16 March.
ILLICIT BEER FLOOD ANKLE DEEP: £205 MIDLAND FINES
When charges respecting illicit brewing were heard at Sedgley to-day, the prosecution alleged that Customs and Excise officers found a washhouse ankle deep in beer, "masses of it flowing down steps".
Thomas Booth aged 59 brewer, and licensee of Red Red Lion Inn, Abbey-road, Gornal Wood, was fined a total of £165 and ordered to pay £26 5s. costs. He admitted nine charges respect illicit brewing, including one of obstructing officers. He denied a further charge.
His son George Booth, aged 27, of the same address, pleaded not guilty to four charges of aiding and abetting his father, and one of obstructing Customs and Excise officers in the execution of their duty. He was fined £4O on two charges, the other three against him being dismissed.
Mr. A. C. Ryves, prosecuting, alleged that wort (malt after mashing) was removed from a legal brew before the Excise officers were able to assess duty.
Pipe discovery To do that a wash house was used. Discovery of a pipe which had previously been conceiled revealed the use of a fermenting vessel in the washhouse.
When the officers visited the brewery they were refused admission and both defendants were very truoulent and defient. One of the officers broke a glass window and saw the floor covered with a frothy liquid.
"The beer", said Mr. Ryves, had been let out of the vessel, and the whole of the wash-house floor was ankle-deep in it. There were masses of it flowing down steps into other rooms.
To gain entrance to the room police assistance was obtained, but the son was again abusive. As one officer tried to take a sample of beer from the floor the bottle he was using was kicked out of his hand by the father. The other officer managed to get a sample, and later a further sample was taken. These samples revealed brews of different gravity.
For the defence, Mr. Gilbert Griffiths stated that on the day the officers called defendants made a large brew, and the surplus was taken in buckets to the vessel in the wash-house. As regards the obstructing of the officers. Mr. Griffiths said the elder defendant was provoked by the officers and he lost his temper.
Licensees:
1841, Edward Guest.
1880, Edward Guest. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1882, Edward Thomas Guest.
1890, Elizabeth Guest.
1890, Licence transfered to Thomas Malpass.
1891, Thomas Malpass. [Census]
1896-1904, Thomas Malpass. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1901, Thomas Malpass. [Census]
1911, Thomas Malpass, publican aged 50. [Census]
1921-1927, Thomas Malpass, beer retailer. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1927, Inn was sold.
1928-1931, William Jones.
1937-1939, Thomas Booth, beer retailer. [Kelly's Trade Directory]
1939, George Booth, brewer. [Register]
George Booth was Thomas Booth's son.
1942, Inn was sold.
1927 Sale notice, Dudley Chronicle, 15th September.
TO HOME BREWERS, BREWERS, BUILDERS AND OTHERS.
Important announcement of Sale by Auction of a valuable well known HOME BREWING LICENSED PROPERTY, BUILDING LAND AND COTTAGES at
LOWER GORNAL
Alfred W. DANDO amd Co.
Have received instructions from the owner, Mr. T. Malpass. who is retiring from the business, to SELL BY AUCTION (unless disposed of in the meantime by private treaty) at
THE DUDLEY ARMS HOTEL
On TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4th, 1927.
Lot 1.
A well known Freehold On-Beerhouse with Wine Licence.
THE "RED LION" INN. ABBEY ROAD and
BANK ROAD. LOWER GORNAL.
being most substantially erected, standing in an important and prominent position and containing Entrance Passage, Front Bar 20ft., by 14ft., leading into private Sitting Room. Smoke Room front 14ft. by 12ft., Ground Floor Club Room 38ft., by 13ft., Scullery, four Bed-rooms, and excellent Cellar, together with spacious and lofty Brewery with side approach from Bank Road, the property being in an excellent state of repair, built and fitted throughout in the best possible manner, electric light and gas installed, and admirably arranged to command a large trade: also the three brick built and tile-roofed Cottages adjoining.

1842 Sale notice.

At Gornal Wood, in the parish of Sedgley.
TO BE SOLD BY AUCTION
All that well-accustomed Messuage or Dwelling House, used as a Beer Shop and known by the sign of the RED LION, now in the occupation of Edward Guest; and also two other Messuages or Dwelling Houses adjoining thereto, in the several occupations of Samuel Dean and Henry Fisher, together with the Shop, Gardens, and Premises thereto respectively belonging and containing, and including the site of the buildings.

Origin of the pub name 'Red Lion'.

This is currently the most popular pub name in Britain, with over 500 pubs so named.
Heraldic origins, perhaps taken from the coat-of-arms or crest of landed gentry.

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this aye fur noggin yeds