Picture Gallery
The History
The White Lion pub was perhaps Stockport’s most famous hostelry of the 18th and 19th Centuries and is undoubtedly one of Stockport’s most famous landmark buildings.
Before the present building was erected a 14th century building stood on the site. It was renowned as the last Coaching House in Cheshire for travellers this side of the Pennines into Yorkshire and it was first licensed in 1743.
The original grounds extended to the River Mersey and the proprietor gave people permission to fish for salmon.
During the Peninsular Wars the pub had standing in readiness a loaded cannon which was fired when the London Mail Coach arrived and any news of the conflict was announced by the Town Crier to the locals who had gathered outside.
It was recorded that in 1831 William Clayton sold his wife at the pub, handing her over to a J Booth with a halter around her neck for the princely sum of 5 shillings, believed to be the last such legal sale in England.
The old building was demolished in 1904 and the current building was constructed on its site and the pub was a focal point for local people throughout the two World Wars.
Of course, no pub with such a history would be complete without a ghost, and the White Lion has been a regular feature on the local Ghost Walks!