Burton Latimer - Pubs & Clubs: Red Cow Inn

Article compiled from material currently held at the museum.

The Red Cow Inn

The Red Cow Inn as it appears on the 1886 Ordnance Survey Map

One of the earliest references we have to The Red Cow is when mention was made of it in a criminal case dated 1836. Its landlord, Thomas Collins, gave evidence that three men, later found asleep in a haystack between Burton Latimer and Pytchley, had visited his pub after robbing the Honourable and Reverend James Douglas of Broughton Rectory of all his silverware and £40 in cash. The silverware was found buried close to where they were sleeping. The three men, John Anstice, William Jones and Benjamin Gore, were sentenced to death but this was afterwards commuted to life imprisonment.

The Red Cow Inn at the turn of the twentieth century

The Red Cow Inn in about 1900

Close inspection of the frontage of the building will show that
the later painting of the face of the inn (see below) obscured
the fact that it was actually two separate original buildings.

The three storey section is built of brick in the style of a Georgian
townhouse. The two-storey section is a (presumably earlier)
stone building.

Note that the inn signpost was set into the edge of the road, and
that beside the right-hand corner of the topmost window cills on
the brick building there are projecting metal flag-holders. Such
holders were common on buildings in town at the time.

The large horse and vehicle entrance gave access to stabling
facilities alongside the rear yard (see the "Good Stabling" claim
on the left-hand billboard of the 1912 photo, below).

Photograph of the Red Cow taken in 1929.

Above left: The Red Cow in 1912. Frederick William Dicks, the licensee, with his wife Edith and eldest son Edward John (Ted). In commercial directories for 1906, 1910 & 1914 Frederick was also described as town crier. Ted Dicks was a window cleaner in later life. Just before this photograph was taken the sign had been removed from a post in the street and hung on the wall.
Above right: The Red Cow in 1929. Frank Clarke (second from right) was licensee. By this time it had been repainted, the dark shade being a crimson colour.

The table below shows the earliest dates we have for each of the landlords occupying the premises.

Joseph Allen

1820

William Norton

1897

John Croxen

1827

Frederick WIlliam Dicks

1912

Thomas Collins

1836

Frank Clarke

1924

Edward Quincey

1851

Joseph E Goodman

1931

Thomas Whitney

1890

Lewis Owen

1945

Photograph of William Norton,landlord at The Red Cow 1897-1911.

William Norton,
a native of Cranford St John,
landlord at The Red Cow 1897-1911

The Red Cow Inn as seen from the south in about 1925

On a hazy day in about 1925, two horse-drawn heavy float carts line up
outside the Red Cow. The empty sacks on the nearest one suggest that
it may be a coalman's delivery cart.
Note the painted inn name on the south face of larger three-storey building.

Photograph showing the St John Ambulance Brigade's ambulance in 1938 outside The Red Cow having mounted the pavement after brake failure.

This famous picture, taken in 1938, shows the Burton Latimer St John Ambulance Brigade's ambulance on the pavement directly outside The Red Cow.

The vehicle was being driven by Herbert Long along the High Street when it suffered brake failure causing it to mount the curb and make an unexpected call at the Inn.

Photograph showing group with landlord apparently celebrating some World War 2 event.

This photograph, thought to be taken in the back
garden of The Red Cow, seems to be celebrating
something to do with World War II.

Back Row - Lew Owen (landlord), Charlie Catling.

Front row - Addie Cheaney, Roger Saddington,
Ron (Dot) Johnson, Eddie Baxter.

Like most pubs, The Red Cow sported teams in various leagues; three of them are pictured here.

photograph of the Red Cow Push Ha'penny Team in the late 1920s.

This poor quality reproduction is of The Red Cow Push Ha'penny Team in the late 1920s. The landlord was Frank Clarke who is thought to be last but one on the back row.

Photograph of The Red Cow Darts Team, taken probably in the 1950s.

Red Cow Darts Team - 1950s (?)
Standing: Bob Coles, Fred Craddock, Eddie Murgatroyd,
George Craddock, Derick Cole, (?) Seated: Beatrice Owen,
Arthur Clements, Lew Owen (Landlord).

Another photograph of The Red Cow Darts Team, taken in the 1950s.

Red Cow Darts Team - 1950s
Standing: Bernie Evans, Percy Toseland, Owen Thomas, Harry Holland, ... Pinnock, Jack Craddock, Bert Hobbs, Bob Coles.
Seated: Lew Owen (Landlord), Eddie Baxter, Mrs Owen, Charlie Johnson.

The Red Cow, formerly a High Street coaching Inn, finally closed as a pub in 1956. It was converted into two commercial premises. To read about its history from this point, please click here.

By 2008 all commercial activity had ceased and the property was sold for revelopment. It stood empty for a number of months before scaffolding went up in autumn 2008. Demiolition began in January 2009.


January 2009 - the former Red Cow Inn reaches the "twilight's last gleaming" moment as demolition starts