Dick Turpin38 Bridge Street – the Griffin, the Red Lion, the New Red Lion
History of 38 Bridge Street
West of Bridge Street in the Nineteenth Century
For detailed information on this site see T E Faber ‘An Intimate History of St Clement’s Parish’, 2006.
1279: Cecily Plumb who married Walter Wyne
1283: William Pittok
1343: John Pittok / Piscator
1365: Stephen Morice junior tenant
1371; daughter Agnes Morice tenant
1374: Thomas Spore occupant
1397: John Brigham occupant
end of 15th cent: Geoffrey Fisher and wife
1556: death of John Richardson who left property to his nephew Christopher
1641-63: Thomas Sowersby inn keeper
1673-74: not listed in Victuallers’ Book
1676: John Curtis taxed for 9 hearths
1688: Christopher Green the Elder, college cook of Caius owned nos 38-41 Bridge Street. In 1688 estate temporarily split between his two children but by 1706 properties reunited and stayed in ownership of Edward Green I, cousin of Christopher. John Curtis named as holder of Griffin.
1697: Christopher Green bequeaths Griffin, now or late in occupation of Sarah Godfrey
18th cent: the Red Lion was reputed to be one of the haunts of the highwayman Dick Turpin (1706-1739)
1738: Another Christopher Green bequeathes Griffin ‘ now in occupation of …. Stanton’. Thomas Stanton licensed in 1708; Allen Stanton licensed in 1742.
1750-55: William Linsdell, for Red Lion in 1752 and 1755.
1750: In the Old Red Lion Yard Alderman Nutting carried on his business as a coal merchant and dealer in corn, deals, iron, timber and salt. he may also have kept the inn. (Vanishing Cambridge, Mike Petty)
1756: Griffin late in occupation of Thomas Whitby
1756-67: William Lindsey for Red Lion
1768-95: William Lindsey for New Red Lion
1796-1821: New Red Lion listed continuously
1795: nos 39-41 sold to Charles Finch I, ironmonger.
1803: according to T E Faber it is likely that the name of the original Red Lion in Bridge Street at no.47 was transferred to no.39.
1821: Edward Green II sold no. 38 (‘heretofore called the Griffin Inn and now and for some time past the Red Lion‘) to Richard Foster, brewer for £1,000.
1821-46: old Red Lion was revived and the designation’New red Lion’ was needed.
1822-56: New Red Lion listed contonuously
1855: the ‘Red Lion or New Red Lion’ sold to St John’s by Richard Foster, son of Richard Foster, for £950.
Old Red Lion Yard, bridge Street, date unknown (photo L Cobbett)