Evidence of the area's ancient history surrounds the pub. At the rear lies the unexcavated remains of an Iron Age Village encampment. Large circular walls surrounded by trenches guarding an inner courtyard are all that remain of settlement that would have been home to an ancient Celtic tribe. This settlement would have had it's religious centre at the site of the current church yard directly opposite the pub as revealed by the size and age of the huge yew tree growing there in. Dated last year as being over two thousand years old it is one of the oldest in Wales and cuttings were taken from it in 1997 to be planted elsewhere to give this venerable tree a new lease of life.

Going back just over 1,000 years, St Afan one of the few true original Welsh saints, fell in battle and lies buried in Llanafan church yard. St Afan who was the grandson of Cynedda Welledig, King of Britain and cousin to St David, died trying to protect the locals from bands of marauding Vikings in the fields by Dolyfelin Farm, 1/2 a mile from the pub. A standing stone marks the spot where he fell. He was laid to rest in Llanafan church yard which then became a focal point for pilgrimages. So important a site did it become, that Llanafan church became one of the six main churches in Wales and now contains the remains of several Welsh Bishops.

1188

The first mention of the Red Lion was in 1188, when a travelling monk, Geraldus Cambrensis, or Gerald of Wales, whilst recruiting for King Richard The Lion heart's crusades, travelled to Llanafan to pay respect to St Afan's remains. Whilst at Llanafan he recorded he stayed at the inn at Llanafan.

Gerald also recounted a story of a hunter in the reign of Henry 1st, The Hunter, one of the Lords of Radnor thoughtlessly slept overnight in the church with his pack of hounds and was struck blind for his consecration and his hounds turned mad. The hunter lived for many years in this state, but upon making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem he was restored to sight; whereupon he went into the holy wars, and in battle with the enemies of the Christian faith, he spurred his horse and rushed boldly into their thickest ranks, thus honourably concluding his life.

The current Red Lion dates from about this period, although the original timbers clearly visible in the current building date back before this as they would have been used as ship's timbers previously. The great oak forests of the area were felled and the timbers transported to the ship yards for new ships. On the return journey the wagons would bring back the old timbers to the area where they would be used for house building. The huge cruck frame timbers of the current building would be just such recycled timber, indeed many old joints, from the timber's original employment are clearly visible.

The original building would have been single story, which explains the low ceilings. The upstairs was added in the 17th Century. The stone walls also would have been a latter addition, as the original walls would have been mud and plaster. The pub is unique in that it has remained unmodernised, mainly because it has been in the same family for over 350 years who ran and still do run the surrounding farm. The pub itself was little more than a sideline with the farm being the main business and so the great majority of the building was the working farm, with just an open cellar and small snug being given over to the pub. Indeed, until 10 years ago the beer was still brought up from the cellar in a white jug by Dolly, the landlady, and poured straight into the glass.

Today, the church and it's yard still hold secrets including a unique gravestone noting the demise of John Price who was murdered on April 21st 1826, over sheep rights on The Darren hill just behind the pub. The gravestone not only states he was murdered but also names the murderer, an R. Lewis. Relatives of both families still live in Llanafan!

Now

The Red Lion Pub Today is alive and well and boasts not just it's history and superb food. It hosts such diverse activities as The World Tippit Championships each Autumn, and is home to TWATS (The World Amateur Tippit Society). Tippit is an ancient game played by teams of three and involves a farthing, a table and an awful lot of drinking!

In addition the pub was recently home to The Welsh National Sheep Dog Championships. Many other games are still played in the pub, from the normal darts to the less well known quoits, bar skittles shove half penny. Singing is also still part of the local fabric and most Saturday nights, or with a bit of encouragement any night, the locals will burst into traditional, and some not quite so traditional songs

The Red Lion is a truly unique pub, and a place once visited never forgotten.

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