Red Lion / Ladson House, Mepal

History of the Red Lion

In Mepal Vignettes (2005) Mrs Maggie Clarke (EMC – Eva Margaret Ladson) describes life as a child in a pub in Mepal where John Waters, the ferry boatman, lived in the tied cottage. She describes how her grandfather would ferry parishioners over the Washes when the causeway was flooded. The farmworkers could be ferried but as the maximum depth was 3ft 6ins the horses drawing carts could wade across. The wooden bridges over the rives were not replaced until 1930.

1881

Sarah Ladson, widow, 70, publican, b Sutton

Joseph Bell, lodger, 53, carrier, b Sutton

Alice Thurlborn, lodger, 16, b Mepal

Robert Cheeswright, lodger, 54, ag.lab., b Welches Dam

Walter Spencer, lodger, 40, ag.lab., b Norfolk

Daniel Atkin, 49, lodger, ag.lab., b Witcham

Jonah Painter, lodger, 40, ag.lab., b Coveney

 

Cottage:

Lorenzo Foster, 32, drayman, b Mepal

Jane, 28, b Sutton

Elisa J L, 8, b Sutton

George A, g, b Mepal

Moses Lenton, lodger, 20, ag.lab., b Sutton

 

Cottage:

John Waters, ag. lab., widower, 65, b Mepal

Mary, 34, housekeeper, b Mepal

Charles, 23, ag.lab., b Mepal

Hannah, 13, b Mepal

Charles Hitch, nephew, 13, b Witcham

George Jacobs, grandson, 4, b Balsham

---

1911

Red Lion:

Tom Ladson, 51, innkeeper, b Mepal

Sarah, 55, b Mepal

Eva Margaret, 12, b Mepal

James Palmer, boarder, 70, retired, b Mepal

George Lenton, boarder, 57, b Sutton

Charles Hitch, boarder, 46, b Mepal, totally deaf and dumb age 5 years

 

The Bridge:

Charles Waters, 53, widower, ferryman and bridge carpenter, b Mepal

Fanny, 24, housekeeper, b Benwick

Charles, 11, b Mepal