Gibbons , Michael , fl 1725-1753 , innkeeper

Michael Gibbons was innkeeper and livery stable keeper at the Red Lion Inn in the parish of Saint Andrew, Holborn. According to the Scavengers Rate Books of Saint Andrew and Saint George the Martyr, 1729-1757, kept at the Holborn Reference Library, his inn lay on the east side of Gray's Inn Lane, the ninth property from Liquorpond Street and the third from Portpool Lane. This is confirmed by the marking of Red Lion Yard on Horwood's map of 1819. The site appears to be approximately that of the present 88-90 Gray's Inn Road, Liquorpond Street having been widened and renamed Clerkenwell Road. The rate books also show that the property was assessed at £100 to £150 over the period, whereas neighbouring houses ranged from £10 to £42 in 1729. In the 1753 rate, Gibbon's name is crossed through, and that of Nicholas Hewitt written in; Hewitt continued there until at least 1757. Gibbon's daughter Mary married William Bass (1717-1787), a carrier between London and Lancashire, who settled in Burton-on-Trent and in 1777 founded the brewery business which bears his name.