Walking south to the Golden Lion
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On the way, you will pass the site of an inn called The Red Lion (where Flames now stands), demolished around 1860. There is a legend that Mary Tudor paused here on her way to London to claim the Crown after hearing of the death of Edward VI, her half brother. The Golden Lion dates from 1535, possibly earlier. It was originally called the White Hind. It still retains some interesting architectural features, including a ‘blind’ staircase which at one time led to a front door at first floor level – so that luggage and perhaps passengers could be brought into the inn from the top of a coach. The landlord for a time in the middle of the 20th century was William Starbuck; was this the first ‘Starbucks’ in the country? Once you have seen the Golden Lion. Now retrace your steps a few yards, cross the road at the lights and start to walk back up the east side of the High Street.
