2013 imagesThe Red Lion public house stands at 284 Bramford Road. The Suffolk CAMRA website (see Links) lists licencees from 1871 to 1956, but also boasts some a nice 2007 picture with the original sign in place (see below). Given that Suffolk CAMRA say that the current building opened in the 1930s, we wonder if this only refers to the red brick, single storey frontage; the more traditionally-shaped, pitched roof building behind may be the original pub.
This ghostly shape indicates that a sign once occupied the space. We are indebted to Simon Knott of Simon's Suffolk Churches website (see Links) for this photograph of the somewhat degraded sign:
'TOLLY
ALES'
ALES'
as
it appeared on the end wall on 17 February 2007. It appears to be an
embossed metal sign with raised, black-painted capitals which are
outlined in the same pale blue as the background in a black-bordered
cartouche. We know of no similar signs. The use of the preremptory
'Tolly Ales' suggests that this was an advertisement for Tollemache
products, rather than those of Tolly Cobbold. So it pre-dates the
merger of
the companies in 1957.
[UPDATE 13.10.2015: Having looked agina at the old sign (below), it becomes clear that the lower right part of the sign and render have broken away to reveal the red brick wall inderneath. This suggests that the sign was in raised plasterwork, then painted. Whether it was made separately, painted, then raised and fixed in position on the render somehow is conjecture. Does anyone recall this?]
[UPDATE 13.10.2015: Having looked agina at the old sign (below), it becomes clear that the lower right part of the sign and render have broken away to reveal the red brick wall inderneath. This suggests that the sign was in raised plasterwork, then painted. Whether it was made separately, painted, then raised and fixed in position on the render somehow is conjecture. Does anyone recall this?]
2007 photograph courtesy Simon
KnottThis public house is a few hundred yards away from the off-licence lettering at No. 238 Bramford Road. See our Pubs & Off-licences page for other examples.
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