Richard Evans

Richard Evans was probably born in the Old Bell Inn, Chapel Ash, Wolverhampton in 1768. He was the eldest son of John and Mary Evans. His father died when he was 15 and he was brought up by his mother who continued to run and expand the Inn business. The Wolverhampton Chronicle records in particular the acquisition of the Red Lion Inn.

Richard Evans Signature from the front of one of his books

By the time his mother died in 1792 Richard was installed in the ‘Lion’ and as a twenty-three year old could now oversee this as a thriving business at the very heart of Wolverhampton. In 1793 he married Sarah Styles the daughter of Thomas Styles a substantial Inn owner in his own right. This was the heyday of the stagecoach business where speed was of the essence before the advent of the railway. During this time a new stagecoach service from London to Shrewsbury was initiated. The next day the passengers could make Dublin by nightfall. The fact that a coach could leave at dawn from London and arrive at dusk in Shrewsbury was the transportation ‘wonder’ of the age. The coach was indeed dubbed “The Wonder” with its yellow and black livery and Richard Evans is described as the consummate Inn keeper – responsible for running the stage from Wednesbury to Wolverhampton. Horses needed to be changed and the passengers loaded in 90 seconds. Achieving these feats in time was the only way that the coach could maintain an average speed of eleven miles per hour during sixteen hours uninterrupted travel.

Testimony exists that Richard Evans was a key figure in the yard of the Red Lion Inn, marshalling the hectic activity, ensuring horses were ready, staff were at hand and dignitaries handled with the respect they deserved. Moreover, the Red Lion Inn with its Assembly Rooms was the civic heart of Wolverhampton that must have brought him into contact with all the important people in the town. The Inn was a substantial hotel and its accommodation of national repute.

In 1818 Richard seems to have handed over the running of most of the coaching business to his eldest son Richard, who continued the business from the “New Inn”. Now a widower, Richard (snr) seems to have devoted the last thirteen years of his life to becoming part of the landed gentry, renting out Pendeford Hall, engaging in agriculture but probably maintaining a substantial stud and stables, that seems to have been an ancestral passion. His interests certainly extended to sport, notably fox hunting, fishing and racing.

Richard Evans died in 1841.

Family of Richard EVANS and Sarah STYLES

Husband: Richard EVANS

Wife: Sarah STYLES

Child 1: John EVANS

Child 2: Richard EVANS

Child 3: Mary EVANS

Child 4: Elizabeth EVANS

Child 5: Thomas EVANS

Child 6: Ann EVANS

Child 7: William EVANS

Child 8: John EVANS

Child 9: Anne EVANS

Child 10: Jane EVANS

Sources