London Colney: The White Lion public house

Image: © Nigel Cox Taken: 27 Mar 2008

Having photographed Image it would be unfair not to submit an image of its very close neighbour, located about 200 metres away down the High Street, but in a different grid square. Although not marked as such on the old Ordnance Survey mapping the pub has existed since at least 1881 when the Census enumerator recorded the following occupants: Robert FROST, Head of the household, married, age 56, born Necton, Norfolk, occupation Farm Foreman (Bailiff) Mary A. FROST, wife, aged 56, born Necton, Norfolk Christina FROST, daughter, unmarried, aged 26, born Necton, Norfolk, occupation Dressmaker Walter FROST, son, unmarried, aged 18, born St Albans, Hertfordshire, occupation Agricultural Labourer Agnes FROST, granddaughter, aged 7, born London Colney, Hertfordshire Charles BENNETT, boarder, widower, aged 57, born Shenley, Hertfordshire, occupation Agricultural Labourer It is interesting to see that the head of the household did not give his primary occupation as the publican. However the old maps show that Sheephouse Farm was just over the road from the pub (where the 1960s flats with the pale orange brickwork are), so maybe Robert Frost was the foreman at that farm. Update August 2011 A correspondent has written to say that the pub closed in late 2009, and by August 2011 the outbuildings beyond the pub had been demolished and new houses were being built. The pub itself is due to be converted into a house. (Pictures of this redevelopment are at Image, Image and Image)

Images are licensed for reuse under creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0