Past and Present - My latest article in the local paper, hope you enjoy the story:
We move to King’s Stanley High Street where if you look carefully there have been many changes over the years. At one time the village had 5 public houses and 23 other cottages selling ale by the jug. As you can see only the King’s Head remains which was first mention in 1766.
On the right is a green with The Red Lion Pub behind, this closed in 1972. There was at one time the village stock, this had been removed but was reinstated in 1850, it didn’t last for many years.
The Red Lion has a very sad story for the pub Innkeeper John Collins in the year 1800. In the churchyard you will find a gravestone for his 9 year old Daughter Martha Collins. She was playing on top of the beer casks in the pub cellar, tripped headfirst into one of the full casks of beer and drowned. Her gravestone sadly reads:
"Twas as she tript from cask to cask,
In at a bung-hole quickly fell;
Suffocation was her task;
She had not time to say farewel."
A very dangerous place to play, no wonder all those pubs have closed in this lovely village
@maggiemae Correct Maggie and there is now an area in front of the pub for tables and chairs. The war memorial has been moved to the side of the road, just out of view to the left.
