The White Lion
Distinguished by its Sign
By Rosemary Ross
Detail from a photo of Harpenden High Street, c.1900
The White Lion is first recorded in 1871, but its landlord, William Robinson was earlier at the nearby Marten Cat, of which we have little other evidence.
This little Victorian pub features in a number of early photos of Harpenden High Street, with a substantial model of a lion standing on the wrought iron bracket. This survived into the 1950s, but has later been replaced by signs hanging from the original bracket.
Harpenden High Street, 1890s
LHS archives - cat.no. B 1.41
Postcard by D F Merrett, c.1900
LHS archives - cat.no. B 2.55
Detail from a photo of Harpenden High Street in the 1950s
The White Lion - c.1980
LHS archives = cat.no. 006537
The White Lion - May 1990
LHS archives cat. no. 12,946
Perfect Pizza - 2011
Rosemary Ross, January 2011
Now Pappa Johns - 2015
Nick Warren