Golden Lion

Heraldically the Golden Lion is usually a nod in the direction of the Percys, the dukes of Northumberland, or, before that, King Henry I – the only English-born son of William the Conqueror. Contemporary accounts tells that when Henry chose Geoffrey, son of Foulk, Earl of Anjou, to be his son-in-law (by marrying his only heir, Maud), boots embroidered with golden lions were drawn on his legs and a shield with lions of gold therein was hung about his neck.

Devonport had a Golden Lion in Fore Street (destroyed in the blitz) and Plymouth had one here in Old Town Street, which, likewise was also a victim of enemy bombing in the Second World War.

Licensees

1847 - William Farley
1852 - William Harvey
1865 - William Butland
1885 - J Freeman
1890 - William Wood
1896 - Selmon & Son
1899 - WH Quantick
1908 - Thomas Hoyle & Sons
1920 - Arthur Pope
1934 - William Catchpole
1935 - Albert Venning
1937 - Bertram Lissle
1941 - William Sheffield