White Lion Inn, Stratford-upon-Avon
Encyclopedia
The White Lion Inn was a public house
located in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon
, an example of Elizabethan architecture
that first appears in historical records in either 1541 or 1591. The building mentioned both by Harriet Beecher Stowe
and Rupert Graves
.
In its heyday the White Lion Inn was considered to be on a par with some of the better eating establishments in London and was reported to offer “a bill of fare equal to that of the Piazza Coffee House”. In 1785 members of the household of Louis XVI of France
stayed here and in 1806 the Prince Regent
(later George IV of the United Kingdom
) stayed in specially prepared apartments. During the English Civil War
the building was taken over by parliamentary soldiers.
The Garrick Jubilee of Shakespearean performances in 1769 came about because of an idea by John Payton, the landlord of the White Lion. Payton was a genuine Shakespeare enthusiast and a friend of the Shakespearian editor George Alexander Steevens. In 1768, when Steevens was staying at the White Lion, Payton invited some of his friends from the town corporation to meet him. The new Town Hall had just been finished and it was regretted "that an open niche had been constructed on the north side of it without any prospect of obtaining a statue or even a bust to grace it". A statue of Shakespeare was suggested as the most fitting adornment and Steevens offered to persuade David Garrick
to present one. The corporation elaborated on his suggestions by offering to confer on Garrick the freedom of the borough in a box made from the wood of Shakespeare's mulberry
tree. This led Garrick not only to present a statue of Shakespeare, but to come down and organize a Shakespearian festival at Stratford.
The remaining portions of the building were added to the English Heritage list of protected buildings in 1994.
and Wizardology from pre-Christian times to the present day. Concentrating on providing a fair and balanced viewpoint that remains family orientated whilst retaining the darker and more sinister aspects of human sacrifice and the Knights Templars link to the craft.
Amassed over 40 years, this collection of articles, rituals and ephemera challenges the accepted stereotypes of witches whilst avoiding the standard "everything behind a glass case" approach. Encouraging a hands on approach to the more traditional aspects of witchcraft it provides a focal point for discussion and those seeking knowledge in a non threatening environment.
Regularly described as one of the most haunted buildings in the country by the owner and visited by paranormal
investigators, parapsychology
groups and ghost hunters, it continues to offer a glimpse into the world of the supernatural
and the unknown.
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
located in Henley Street, Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
, an example of Elizabethan architecture
Elizabethan architecture
Elizabethan architecture is the term given to early Renaissance architecture in England, during the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. Historically, the period corresponds to the Cinquecento in Italy, the Early Renaissance in France, and the Plateresque style in Spain...
that first appears in historical records in either 1541 or 1591. The building mentioned both by Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe
Harriet Beecher Stowe was an American abolitionist and author. Her novel Uncle Tom's Cabin was a depiction of life for African-Americans under slavery; it reached millions as a novel and play, and became influential in the United States and United Kingdom...
and Rupert Graves
Rupert Graves
Rupert Graves is an English film, television and theatre actor. He is best known for his role as DI Lestrade in the critically acclaimed television series Sherlock.-Early life:...
.
History of the White Lion Inn
The earliest references to the White Lion Inn date to either 1541 or 1591. The original building, which was at nos, 16, 17, 18 Henley Street was demolished and rebuilt in 1753 making it one of the largest inns on the Holyhead Road by its landlord at the time, John Payton.In its heyday the White Lion Inn was considered to be on a par with some of the better eating establishments in London and was reported to offer “a bill of fare equal to that of the Piazza Coffee House”. In 1785 members of the household of Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI of France
Louis XVI was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre until 1791, and then as King of the French from 1791 to 1792, before being executed in 1793....
stayed here and in 1806 the Prince Regent
Prince Regent
A prince regent is a prince who rules a monarchy as regent instead of a monarch, e.g., due to the Sovereign's incapacity or absence ....
(later George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
) stayed in specially prepared apartments. During the English Civil War
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
the building was taken over by parliamentary soldiers.
The Garrick Jubilee of Shakespearean performances in 1769 came about because of an idea by John Payton, the landlord of the White Lion. Payton was a genuine Shakespeare enthusiast and a friend of the Shakespearian editor George Alexander Steevens. In 1768, when Steevens was staying at the White Lion, Payton invited some of his friends from the town corporation to meet him. The new Town Hall had just been finished and it was regretted "that an open niche had been constructed on the north side of it without any prospect of obtaining a statue or even a bust to grace it". A statue of Shakespeare was suggested as the most fitting adornment and Steevens offered to persuade David Garrick
David Garrick
David Garrick was an English actor, playwright, theatre manager and producer who influenced nearly all aspects of theatrical practice throughout the 18th century and was a pupil and friend of Dr Samuel Johnson...
to present one. The corporation elaborated on his suggestions by offering to confer on Garrick the freedom of the borough in a box made from the wood of Shakespeare's mulberry
Mulberry
Morus is a genus of flowering plants in the family Moraceae. The 10–16 species of deciduous trees it contains are commonly known as Mulberries....
tree. This led Garrick not only to present a statue of Shakespeare, but to come down and organize a Shakespearian festival at Stratford.
The remaining portions of the building were added to the English Heritage list of protected buildings in 1994.
Witchcraft and Wizardology Museum
The Witchcraft and Wizardology Museum at 21 Henley Street is a privately amassed collection of ephemera and articles that reflect on the history of WitchcraftWitchcraft
Witchcraft, in historical, anthropological, religious, and mythological contexts, is the alleged use of supernatural or magical powers. A witch is a practitioner of witchcraft...
and Wizardology from pre-Christian times to the present day. Concentrating on providing a fair and balanced viewpoint that remains family orientated whilst retaining the darker and more sinister aspects of human sacrifice and the Knights Templars link to the craft.
Amassed over 40 years, this collection of articles, rituals and ephemera challenges the accepted stereotypes of witches whilst avoiding the standard "everything behind a glass case" approach. Encouraging a hands on approach to the more traditional aspects of witchcraft it provides a focal point for discussion and those seeking knowledge in a non threatening environment.
Regularly described as one of the most haunted buildings in the country by the owner and visited by paranormal
Paranormal
Paranormal is a general term that designates experiences that lie outside "the range of normal experience or scientific explanation" or that indicates phenomena understood to be outside of science's current ability to explain or measure...
investigators, parapsychology
Parapsychology
The term parapsychology was coined in or around 1889 by philosopher Max Dessoir, and originates from para meaning "alongside", and psychology. The term was adopted by J.B. Rhine in the 1930s as a replacement for the term psychical research...
groups and ghost hunters, it continues to offer a glimpse into the world of the supernatural
Supernatural
The supernatural or is that which is not subject to the laws of nature, or more figuratively, that which is said to exist above and beyond nature...
and the unknown.
External References to the White Lion Inn
- http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=57015
- http://www.british-history.ac.uk/report.asp?compid=57017
- http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0037-3222(195007)1%3A3%3C129%3ATGJAS%3E2.0.CO%3B2-Z
- http://links.jstor.org/sici?sici=0013-1989(196205)14%3A2%3C135%3ATSJDTG%3E2.0.CO%3B2-H
- http://shakespeare.folger.edu/other/html/dfostrat.html
Museums in Warwickshire
- http://www.warwickshire.gov.uk/museum
- http://www.cwn.org.uk/tourism/museums/index.html