With
the coming of the canal through Litherland c 1770s, the first
Red Lion Inn and Smithy were built to cater for the passing trade
of bargemen and passengers of the packet boats that ran the length
of the canal. A timetable from 1832 shows a daily canal packet
to Manchester leaving Liverpool at 6.00am and arriving at 8.15pm
at a cost of 6 shillings (30p). The cost from Liverpool to Litherland
was 8d (3p) and 1 shilling to Ford (5p).
The earliest recorded landlord of the Red Lion was a Robert Critchlow
c 1820s of Henry Blezard Brewery, Burnley. The
inn was owned by the brewery, the name 'Blezard' still visible
on the Red Lion in the photograph. The
initials 'RB' are inscribed on a decorative piece of stonework
on the front facade of the building, which stood for Robert Blezard
the head of the business at the time of the rebuilding of the
Red Lion. |
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