Red Lion Public House, Milton Bryan 

The first mention of the Red Lion public house| in a document in Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service is in 1886 though the documentation refers to incidents in 1823. In that year the publican Thomas Paxton| died. He was related to Joseph Paxton, designer of the Crystal Palace and interestingly at the time of Thomas's death most of his estate was noted as credits for beer sold to men labouring on the new fish ponds at Battlesden House - Joseph's first public commission. Thomas was an old man who had married a young Irish woman, a cook at Milton Bryan Manor, who appeared to be carrying on an affair with one Pilpot or Philpot, a carpenter who was in debt to Thomas. Thomas Paxton ran a small drapery business as well as the Red Lion and after his death Philpot took both over and made a failure of them. Some years later, one of Thomas Paxton's daughters unsuccessfully pressed for money she claimed had been left by Thomas' estate which was, in fact, insolvent from shortly after the time of his death.

Morris & Company (Ampthill) Limited were leasing the property from the Duke of Bedford in 1924 and this lease passed to J.W.Green Limited of Luton when that firm bought Morris out in 1927. Greens merged with Flowers Breweries in 1954 and took that company's name. Flowers were then bought by Whitbread in 1962. Whitbread sold its brewing concerns and public houses in 2001. At the time of writing [2006] the Red Lion remains a public house, owned by Greene King.

In 1927 the Red Lion was valued for rates under the 1925 Valuation Act. At the time it consisted of a bar, tap room, smoke room, tea room, kitchen, scullery and dairy downstairs, with a cellar beneath. Upstairs were four bedrooms and outside were a coachhouse, stable and barn. The beer consisted of two eighteen gallon barrels on tap, two on pull and a further nine gallon barrel on tap. In a week the house sold just over half a barrel of mild, 4 and a half gallons of bitter and an eighth of a gallon of spirits, however, the valuer noted "Got trade from Mr.L[each] who was very doubtful about the figures. If necessary verify". Rent was £35 per annum, which was high in comparison with other public houses in the district.

In the early nineteenth century, Milton Bryan had another public house, the Greyhound. This is traceable only in directories, from which the following licensees have been identified:

1822-1847: Richard Reddall;
1853: John Willison (also farmer);
1854: John Wilson

Licencees: note that this is not a complete list and that dates in italics are not necessarily beginning or end dates, merely the first/last date which can be confirmed from sources such as directories and deeds:

1822; Thomas Foxton;
1823: Thomas Paxton| (d.1823);
1823: Mrs.Paxton and/or Philpot;
1828 Richard Burrows - (d.1841);
1847: Mrs.Elizabeth Burrows;
1850-1900: William Burrows;
1900-1901: Harriett Burrows;
1901-1906: John Mole Cowell;
1906-1907: John Parnell;
1907-1914: Mrs.Louisa Parnell;
1914-1914: Charles John Kilby;
1924: Walter Blois Wnitbread;
1924-1927: Thomas James Leach;
1927-1947: Lancelot Harry Horton;
1947-1950: Christina Horton
1950-1953: Thomas William Mead

References of Documents held by Bedfordshire & Luton Archives & Records Service

- HN10/273/Paxton5-7: notes on Thomas Paxton (d.1826): c.1886;
- WB/M4/1/MB/RL1: lease from Duke of Bedford to Morris & Company (Ampthill) Limited, Red Lion and three closes called Red Lion Fields totalling 10a 0r 30p: 21 Oct 1924;
- WB/M/4/2/1: mentioned on list of properties of Morris & Company (Ampthill) Limited: c.1926;
- WB/M/4/2/2: mentioned on list of properties of Morris & Company (Ampthill) Limited (licensee T.J.Leach): Jun 1926;
- WB/Green4/1/VP11: assignment of leases from Morris & Company (Ampthill) limited to J.W.Green Limited; landlord Duke of Bedford: 1 Jul 1926;
- WB/Green4/2/2: payments by J.W.Green Limited to landlords of various properties for premises, wayleaves etc.: 1927-1953;
- WB/Green/6/4/1: J.W.Green Limited trade analysis ledger for various properties: 1936-1947;
- WB/Green4/2/4: Certificate of title of J.W.Green Limited to various properties: 1936-1952;
- WB/Green4/2/5: list of properties of J.W.Green Limited, tenant: T.W.Mead: c.1936;
- WB/Green4/2/9: Schedule of deeds of properties owned by J.W.Green Limited: 1949;
- Z549/107: photograph: 1952
- WB/Green4/2/16: list pf properties owned by J.W.Green Limited: 24 Jul 1952;
- WB/Green4/2/19: lists of properties owned by J.W.Green Limited: 1954;
- Z1105/1: Liquor Licence Traders Survey Form: 1962;
- WB/Flow4/5/MB/RL1-2: photographs taken for Flowers Limited: 1960s