Memories of Red Lion Street

In Old Redditch Pubs, Alan Foxall writes of the The Red Lion:

"At the rear of the old pub stood, for many years, what must have been one of Redditch's major landmarks - The Malt House - built in the mid 1700’s. Its outbuildings became the Rifle Volunteer's Drill Hall and eventually a theatre. The 'New Theatre Assembly Room, Red Lion Inn' was flourishing in the 1830’s. Known as the 'Lion Big Room’, it was used by visiting theatricals and local amateurs alike.The pub licence was withdrawn in 1937." The Rifle Corps Room was the scene of many a public meeting. Once, a Frenchman called a gathering to try and persuade needle-makers to found the industry in France. A few went but soon returned.  A well-known Redditch character. Alfred Birch, lived in Red Lion Street.

Red Lion Street Fire Station

The fire service in Redditch in the early days had been equipped with a single horse-drawn steam pump called The Baron', and it was a wonderful sight, especially at night, to see it thundering through the town, drawn by four Council horses, and belching smoke and sparks from its highly polished brass funnel. All this became history, however, when the new fire station was built in Red Lion Street. It had accommodation for six vehicles, and all offices necessary, including hose drying rooms, recreation and mess. The original equipment included a 1910 Dennis pump and escape, capacity 500 gallons per minute, and a 1930 Dennis pump and escape, capacity 400 gallons a minute. The Baron' became a showpiece at the back of the garage, but sadly fell a victim to the Second World War scrap metal drive.