Genealogy

I had an email from a relative, also a genealogist, about a pub in Lincolnshire which was previously run by two different a members of our Thorlby Family, one in the 1840’s before emigrating to USA and another outlined in his email which follows:-

The Red Lion in Bicker also has another connection with the Thorlby family. My G-Grandfather, John Edward Thorlby b 27/07/1870 was the landlord for much of his life. A transcript follows which may be of interest:

THE BOSTON GUARDIAN, WEDNESDAY 15 FEBRUARY 1939

THE SWINGING SIGN

THE STORY OF THE RED LION, BICKER
There is something of entrancing interest about the Red Lion at Bicker for it takes us back many generations, to a time when Bicker was a tiny seaport. To-day, with the village so far inland, that seems almost an absurdity, but if the old maps in existence in about 1600 are studied, it will be seen that there existed at that time the Bicker Haven, a wide expanse of water which opened in the Wash and terminated at Bicker.

In those days the old inn, tradition says, was the local lighthouse, while it is on record also that the house was at a later date named the Sailors' Rest and accommodated a good many seamen arriving at Bicker.

The Haven has gone long ago but on the inn there is a brief record -1663
- which, in a word, tells on the date of the restoration. The old inn retains much of its erstwhile flavour and although to-day its customers are more concerned with matters appertaining to agriculture it takes but little imagination to visualise it thronged by those who went down to the sea in ships.

The present landlord of the Red Lion is Mr. John Henry Thorlby (sic - should read John Edward Thorlby), who has been licensee for the past 40 years. His wife has lived in the house for over 50 years, and her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Cornelius Dalton, were in charge for 17 years. They took over from Mr. Aysthorpe, and before him, a Mr. East was landlord for 40 years.

Mr. Thorlby is well-known in the locality as a farmer, and specialises in dairy farming. He has a large and up-to-date dairy farm behind the inn. He is assisted in his business by two of his sons, Tom and Bert, and his other son, George, is in Canada. There are two daughters, Mrs. Drinkall, of Donington, and Mrs. Glassup, of Timberland.

Mr. and Mrs. Thorlby attend the parish church, and take a considerable interest in local affairs. Mrs. Thorlby is a popular member of the Women's Institute. She told me that when she first came to the Red Lion, it had a thatched roof, huge windows, and was surrounded by high hedges and many trees. The latter had been cut down and a new roof put on the house, but structurally, it had not been altered.

There were five large bedrooms, and many passageways. Although they did not cater for people staying the night, or lodging at the inn, there was an excellent business, and many of the local inhabitants gathered in the cosy parlour during the winter evenings. A prosperous pig club was run, of which the secretary was Mr. Croft, and the treasurer, Mr. Bennett.