The Red Lion is made up of a number of buildings, those at the front nearest the street which are timber framed were built in the 16th century and were originally thatched and then given a new roof in the 19th century. The section behind was in the 15th century a hall open to the roof with a central fire and a hole in the roof to let the smoke out. The third section was built in the 17th century.
The Red Lion was a royal badge for John of Gaunt, son of King Edward III and father of Henry IV.
The only deed that still exists referred to the Red Lion in 1782. In the 18th century the building was a malt house but as trade declined it is believed that it became an alehouse from about 1754. In 1796 it was bought by James Webb and after his death it was sold to Hayward brewery and then to Brakspear’s in 1856.
The Reading Mercury reported the following on Saturday, 18th July 1846:-
On Monday last, a match of cricket was played on Langborough ground, by eighteen tailors of this town, nine on each side.
Some good play was exhibited on both sides. The game throughout afforded much amusement to the bystanders. The parties afterwards partook of an excellent supper at the Red Lion Inn, provided by Mr. Trickey.
The Reading Mercury reported the following on Saturday, 1st Feb 1868
On Saturday evening the town alarmed by the cry of “Fire”. It appears that a shed in the yard of the Red Lion Inn, in the middle of the Market Place, is used by the landlord, Mr Mattingly as a carpenter shop, and the upper part as a skittle alley. About half past nine flames were discovered in this shed. Plenty of assistance being at hand the doors were kept closed and water poured in from the roof by which judicious means the flames were subdued before much damage was done although a quantity of tools were destroyed. The fire no doubt was the result of an accident.
It is known that in about 1912 the building had three bars, a smoke room, large club room, private sitting room, kitchen, office and eight bedrooms. There was a ten-stall stable coach house and a large garden. In 1983 the first floor of the Red Lion was converted into a gallery room enabling the oak beams to be visible. This is now the Pad Thai restaurant.
The entrance to the stables at the rear can still be clearly seen in the following photograph taken in 2011.
As part of the regeneration of the Wokingham Market, a number of mosaics have been laid in the new York Stone pavement, and one of these is of the head of a lion outside the Red Lion pub
Wokingham Town Museum Unique Identifier: WTH0373