Milk Maid seen on the map corner of Grove Street and Bedford Street.
JR has record of Joseph Cave keeping the Milk Maid in 1747 (cannot be sure if it’s the same one). The address given early 19th century then was Barkby road later to become Bedford street, North and South.
Directories tell us that the Nutting family, John and Ann, kept the pub from circa 1827-1858, when it was transferred to Thomas Kirk. During the Nuttings’ time July 1828, a young child of only eighteen months was run over outside the Milk Maid by a cart carrying bricks. The poor little sufferer passed away when being taken to the Royal Infirmary.
Jan 1829, ‘A daring robbery’ headlined the Leicester Journal, when four lads stole the till and its contents from the bar.
A copy cat robbery ten years later December 1839, took place when the till and its contents (about 10/-) were again stolen.
1867 John Stains took over from Thomas Kirk.
1882 John Halford, who was described as a brewer, although the Milk Maid was owned by LBM. (MB)
Other licensees included:
1897- Thomas Pinsent
1899 Albert Frith
1906 Reuben Orton, ex Cottage Bow St, followed by his widow Caroline Orton until 1913, Caroline was fined 5s for allowing Louisa Lovatt to get drunk on her premises, following cases found Caroline being lax and unable to run the premises satisfactory, allowing drunkenness. The courts told her the Milk Maid due to its position and reputation should not be kept by a women, if she surrendered the licence a fine of £2 would ensue.
Edward Keech, 1913-15
Edward Oswin, 1915-23
Arthur Atkins until 1929
William Bannister until 1935 and lastly Charles Lowe (JR)
By this time the Milk Maid was owned by Holes Brewery, who had bought the property from George Harrison who as also owned many licensed premises. The pub closed June 1938, and the license transferred to the newly built Wyvern on the corner of another Barkby road and Kerrysdale Ave.
1898 during Thomas Pinsents time ‘Match between Linnets & Goldfinces singing competition’ ” Simple pleasures”
Above 1900 ad and below 1906
1928 ‘Jacko’ the monkey escaped from his owner Mr Peers and was reported to have “frightened Belgrave life with his rooftop exploits” breaking windows and skylights, ‘Jackos’ five day adventure ending was sensational when followed by a crowd of 300 he was caught at the Milkmaid Inn, Mr Peers ran from his house in Short St and had to force his way through the crowd outside the Inn, Jacko who his owner said he had a strong liking for milk had been hanging around the pub for some time. Landlord Arthur Atkins caught Jacko by laying a cloth in an outhouse laced with bananas, rum, cake and milk which tempted Jacko, whereas the landlord shut him in until his owner was able to be reunited with the monkey, A reward for his capture was gained by the landlord Atkins of the Milkmaid was passed on by him to Leicester Infirmary.
Street monkeys were quite a common sight in 19th century right up to the second world war, indeed when I was on my way to school during the 1940s a nearby house had a monkey in a cage in its front window for all to see.
