A Hotel with a Famous Guest List
Our meeting in March started with a fascinating talk by John Butterworth, a former editor of the Shrewsbury Chronicle. We were asked what the following people have in common: Charles Dickens, Benjamin Disraeli, Cliff Richard, Tony Hancock and Adam Faith? They have all stayed in The Lion Hotel in Shrewsbury.

As a major inn on the road that connects Ireland, Wales and London, the Lion Hotel has seen a lot of history. The building, a dozen bays long, stands on Wyle Cop and was built in the 1770s when the owner was John Ashby, a former mayor and town clerk of Shrewsbury. There was an earlier inn, then known as the Red Lion, on the site at least as far back as the 16th century.
One of the first interesting characters associated with the Lion was John "Mad Jack" Mytton a notable British eccentric and rake of the Regency period. He was born into a family of Shropshire squires and inherited the family seat, Halston Hall in Oswestry, when he was only 2 years old. Jack was sent to Westminster School, but was expelled after one year, then to Harrow School, where he was also expelled. Jack was granted entry to the University of Cambridge but left without a degree having found university life boring.
Mytton attempted a political career, becoming the MP for Shrewsbury by offering voters £10 notes as bribes, his election campaign being fought in the bar of the Lion hotel. He spent just 30 minutes in the House of Commons, but found the debates boring. Over the course of fifteen years he managed to spend his inheritance and then fell into deep debt. In 1780 the hotel lease was taken on by Robert Lawrence, who turned the place into one of the most successful travel inns in the region. The stagecoaches rolled through Shrewsbury and the Lion would have a constant supply of customers.
The Lion has had some very famous customers. Charles Darwin caught the stagecoach from the Lion to HMS Beagle. The Pickwick Papers were written by Charles Dickens at the hotel itself, and it has also been visited by the 19th century Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, as well as the legendary violinist, Paganini.
Following John's interesting talk we moved into the usual business of upcoming trips, craft competitions and various group details and then the AGM. Our busy secretary gave a detailed report, reminding us of all the activities carried out during the year. Our own programme has been varied with talks on book folding, bees and bee keeping, woodturning and the Gurkhas. Our main fund raising was the May Market, which this year will be on Saturday 20th May – keep the date free. We were reminded about the Denman Dip. We put £1 in an envelope for a chance to win a bursary to Denman and the winner is drawn at a County meeting. Following the election of the new committee we enjoyed tea and biscuits.
Our WI meetings are a great opportunity to advertise any community events. On Saturday 22nd April the Village Clean Up will take place. Drop into the Parish Hall between 9.00am and 12 noon. Bring a brush and small gardening tools, everything else will be provided, including bacon butties and refreshments.
Our next meeting is on Wednesday 12th April when we will have Tina Adams giving us a Springtime flower demonstration. We meet in Yoxall Parish Hall and visitors will be made very welcome. For further details please contact Penny Bailey through the link below.