Red Lion Customers, Rowsham. Ref: v0097.

The Red Lion – a Benskins pub – was in existence by 1768 (Licensee Roger Kempster). It had a good position on the Aylesbury to Leighton Buzzard turnpike (then called Leighton Road – now the A418) on the west side and just to the south of Bennetts Lane. In summer there would have been plenty of passing trade but, by 1957, the brewery decided that a complete rebuilding of the pub would be needed and this was not financially viable. The parish council’s unanimous support to keep the pub and the fact that the hamlet had no shops and no meeting place had no effect, and Benskins closed and demolished it in 1958. The then licensee, Mr Percy Higgs, was moved to a council house in Wingrave. This image is a press photograph taken during the campaign to prevent the closure of the Red Lion. The name above the door is Percy Higgs. From left to right: Percy Higgs (landlord), Ralph Goldney, Don Rand, Ray Higgs, Charles Ellis, ?? Ellis, William Benion, Cyril Reynolds, Harry Perkins, Ted Reynolds, Charles ??, William Alcock, Arthur Bennion, George Reynolds, Joseph Higgs. Also v0094, v0095, v0096.