The Red Lion Hotel (2) - sign, 1-3 Corn Street, Witney

Image: © P L Chadwick Taken: 25 Jun 2011

The Red Lion Hotel is now a Greene King (Bury St. Edmunds, Suffolk) house. They probably acquired it when they purchased Morlands of Abingdon in 2000. It used to be known as the Red Lion Inn. The Red Lion remains the most common name given to public houses, inns and hotels. The name derives from King James VI of Scotland, who inherited the English throne in 1603, on the death of Queen Elizabeth I. He became King James I of England, and to reinforce his authority to rule, he decreed that all public buildings (including taverns) must display a heraldic red lion in a prominent position. This resulted in many pubs acquiring the Red Lion name. This particular Red Lion pub wasn't built until much later in the 17th century, but the tradition of using this name seems to have carried on for a long time. According to The Inn Sign Society's website, there are thought to be about 600 Red Lion pubs still in business, and over the years many more of the same name have closed. Image Image Update:- now called the Rocket. Image

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