The Redfern Public House

The Redfern Public House is a public house built in 1939-40 by Redfern & Seddon for the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme. The ground floor is constructed of red brick, while the first floor is predominantly tile-hung with red tiles. The roof is also tiled, with red brick front wall and mid-roof stacks.

The building's plan features a large public bar on the left side, with two further bars radiating from a former circular hall to the right. A single-storey verandah is situated in the angle of the rear walls, overlooking a bowling green.

The front facade is roughly symmetrical, with seven bays. It incorporates shallow, two-storey canted bay windows with gables on either side. Between these are single-storey sections with three dormers, all under hipped gables that break the eaves. The bay windows have casement fenestration on both the ground and first floors, characterized by a two-light central opening with a semi-circular head, margin lights, and spandrel lights. Dormer windows have 2/2 casement windows. A prominent stack between the left-hand bay tapers upwards and terminates in three grouped square chimneys. Two entrances are provided, each with a shallow flat canopy featuring enriched leadwork, situated between three-light casement windows. Single-storey end bays are present under cat slide roofs.

The rear elevation consists of nine bays, arranged symmetrically. Side bays each have a door under a cat slide roof. Next to these are two-storey, slightly projecting bays with 4/3 casements on the ground floor and 3-light casements on the upper floor. A timber verandah links these bays, featuring a range of rectangular windows and a timber balustrade. A two-light multi-paned window is centrally placed on the first floor, with 2/2 casements either side, all breaking through the eaves line. A small cupola tops the roof ridge centrally. A timber rail separates the building from the bowling green.

The interior of the public bar has timber panelling extending two-thirds of the height, with reeded detail. The bar counter has been moved and altered in the late 20th century. The right-hand front bar retains two-thirds height fielded panelling and a tiled fire surround, and was formerly the Smoking Room. Behind this is the former Tea and Smoking Room with similar panelling and a tiled fire surround. A serving hatch within the verandah provides access to the bowling green area.

This public house represents the sixteenth and final one constructed before the Second World War under the Carlisle and District State Management Scheme. Its detailed architecture and provision for bowling reflect the scheme's ambitions for civilised public house culture. It was the last project in which Harry Redfern, the scheme’s architect, was involved, leading to the building being named after him.