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The history of the Raven Lodge Hotel can be traced back over three centuries. A member of the Society of Friends, George Shaw, owned land and property in Hardshaw, an area of St.Helens.
By an indenture dated 2nd February, 1694, he conveyed to trustees of the Society two detatched tenements in Hardshaw and Eccleston, known as the Raven Tenements and Crab fields, and containing together about ten acres of land. This may account for the name "Raven Inn".
The following excerpts are quotes from archive St.Helens documents;
"The Raven became a favourite sign for taverns and inns after the accession of James I ( the VI of Scotland ) in 1603, to the English throne; It was a badge of the old Scotish kings.... Both the "raven" and "Fleece" were built in the latter part of the last century, but about 70 years ago i.e. c1820 they were both considerably enlarged."
R.W.H. Thomas, writing in the "St.helens Lantern" on 24th January, 1890.
"....The Raven comes next, known in its early days as the "Raven and Royal Hotel"; the term Royal is now placed before the Raven, and is undisputedly its proper title from the fact of the Duke of Connaught remaining and sleeping there on his passage through the town with his regiment, and who on his departure, expressed his complete satisfaction at the accomodation and entertainment afforded. The proprietors during the 19th century have been Mr. Baxter in the early years, his widow succeeding him for some ten or twelve years....
Following Mrs. Baxter we had Mr. William Birchall, veterinary surgeon, of Market Street; then Mr. Glover and his widow, who were succeeded by Mr. J. Young, whilom traveller for Mr.R. Dalglish, jnr of the foundry...
followed by Mr. Robinson, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Box and Mr. Parks, to whose courteous and complaisant attentions, style and quality of the viends supplied have obtained for this hotel the name of first class"
James Brockbank "History of St.Helens" published 1896.
" A colliery worked by Peter Berry was put up for sale at the Raven Inn on July 18th 1759. It is certain therefore that some building was in existence before this date.....In 1819 the Raven was again in the news when the St.Helens colliers went on strike for higher wages. They formed themselves into a society for this purpose and when the strike was called, the secretary of the body, John Johnson, was arrested and taken into custody to the Raven Inn, where there was a small lock-up.
T.C. Barker and J.R. Harris "A Merseyside town in the Industrial Revolution - St.Helens 1750-1900"
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