The White Lion
St Albans Road
The original White Lion in St Albans Road was built in the middle of the 19th century. Mr and Mrs George Blakeney were the tenants in 1913 when the pub was owned by local brewery Pryor, Reid & Co. The previous tenant was Mrs Wrigley, who moved on to run a sweet shop in Old Hatfield.
In 1913 the living accommodation comprised only 3 bedrooms, but there were numerous outbuildings including stables and a skittles alley. On the outbreak of war in 1914, the outhouses were converted into living accommodation and 50 soldiers were billetted there.
In 1935, after the brewery had been taken over by Benskins, the pub was partially demolished and remodelled. in the early 1960s the pub was completely demolished to make way for a shopping precinct and office block, both named after the pub.
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Correction to William “Dick” Brice – his name was Edward Harold Mark Brice, not William – apologies! Alice Brice (nee Blakeley)was joint license holder with “Dick” and they took over almost immediately after Alice’s father’s (George) death in 1922. George Blakeley moved into the White Lion in 1912 with his wife (Alice) and 3 children when they moved from London. George’s wife’s maiden name was Maddin.
I am the great grandson of George Blakeley, who ran the White Lion for many years. After his and his wife’s deaths it was run by their daughter Alice Blakeley, who married William “Dick” Brice. They ran the pub until it was demolished in 1959 to make way for White Lion Square. The 1925 photo shows Alice and Dick Brice with their son, Philip, who was born in 1923. He lived in Hatfield all his life and died in 2012. He was also a stalwart of Tewin Cricket Club and was their president until his death
John Bawden and Sarah Smith were married on 20th of October 1817 at St. Thomas’ Church, Bristol, Gloucester, England. Information supplied by Terence Albert Tyler great great grandson of John and Sarah.
Sarah Tyler nee Sarah Honor Bawden, is my great Grandmother who married Henry Tyler a coachman at Hatfield House.
Sarah Bawden nee Smith was the housekeeper for John Rawley. According to the 1851 census she lived in with John Rawley along with her daughter Anna ( Ann on the baptism)He owned the White Lion in early 1850s .
John Rawley was a draper in Hatfield. He left his property to Sarah-Copy Hold Messauge and all that. She died in mid 50s and her eldest son John Charles Bawden inherited. Unfortunatley John was an Exiled Convict. He was sent to Australia in 1847 on the Joseph Somes from Millbank.( Sentenced in Shropshire) He still had some months of his 10 year term to run so couldn’t return to UK to deal with the estate. He wrote a few letters to his father John Bawden who at one stage was living in the Eight Bells Hotel. ( 1851 census he was living with his married daughter Sarah Tyler) John senior never answered his sons letters.
John Charles Bawden then appointed a Power of Attorney who refused to have anything to do with it.( Thomas Cox) So another was appointed. John Charles eventually sold the properties . A copy of the sale notice with a lot of letters and etc are available in the Hatfield Records office.
John Charles Bawden eventually settled in Coleraine, Victoria Australia. He married a Julia Mary Murphy from Ireland. Had 11 children. I am a descendant of his daughter Mary Ann Bawden who married Walter Jarrett. ( My maternal family)
We haven’t been able to find out where Sarah Smith and John Bawden were married. He was born in East Brent c 1796. Nor do we know the parents of either. That’s my next mission. Any clues would be appreciated.