Lazy Lion Random Wall Mystery Resolved

It seems our recent articles about the Random Wall beside The Lazy Lion has surprisingly, taken us to the actual answer, and a connection to our Benchmark articles.

We have been contacted by John Fooks, a resident of the village for over 80 years, who during this time lived in the cottage next to The Red Lion. He now lives elsewhere in the village.

John has given us this interesting insight to why the ‘Random Wall beside The Lazy Lion’ exists.

He explains: Before I was born in 1941, my old mum worked in Dolly’s Sweet Shop before it was converted into a cottage. She also previously worked at the Dairy, which is now the Coop.

In my early years, I spent a lot of time at Rookcliff where my grandparents lived. In 1989, my wife and I moved from Everton Road, Hordle into No.34 High Street, Milford on Sea – the cottage and former Dolly’s Sweet Shop next to The Red Lion. From memory of our old deeds, the strip which had once been occupied by the old shop frontage remained within the curtilage of the two cottages. (No.34/36)

With The Red Lion public bar having been just the other side of the old shop’s party wall, and with the former door to the pub’s old public bar just beyond the wall in question, it made an excellent deflector for the occasional loud and well-oiled leavers from the hostelry.

It also provided an excellent block against the enthusiastic cyclists who travelled head-down along the narrow pavement, and threatened the unwary children and residents as they as they stepped out from their front doors or the shops.

click image to enlarge

Surprisingly, John is also connected to two other recently published articles: 'Mystery Symbol on the Lazy Lion Wall', and 'More Benchmarks around Milford on Sea Village'.

In his professional career, John was a land surveyor. He actually used the Benchmarks on the Red Lion, in conjunction with those on All Saints' Church and the village school for local engineering and building projects. The object was to ensure his instrument observations and mental maths agreed within 10mm of their differing values. 

John Fooks' Great Grandfather
Edward Rogers, Keyhaven Coastguard
with John's Grandmother

As an aside, John's association with the village goes back a long way, and he has provided us of this historic photo of Edward Rogers, his great grandfather who was coastguard at Keyhaven, together with the little girl in the forefront who was his grandmother.

Funny how a simple observation of a random wall has taken us in so many interesting directions!

To read the original articles:

Random Wall beside The Lazy Lion, please click here.

Mystery Symbol on Lazy Lion Wall, please click here.

More Benchmarks around Milford on Sea Village, please click here.