Photo above: Cornering Albion Hill and Dover St, The Daniel Lambert, named after Leicester’s most famous jailer and heavy man (weighing over 52 stone).(Leicester Museums)
The first recording of Daniel Lambert pub in Leicester is in 1815, some 6 years after his death, when a Joseph Glover was victualler the address given as Gallowtree Gate.
The following is a list of licensees from the Albion St Daniel Lambert:
1835 George Toon 1846 Samuel Wilkinson; 1864 William Wilkinson; 1874 William Ames; 1877 Joseph Moore; 1878 Daniel Underwood; 1882 Joseph Willars; 1884 Frederick Curtis; 1887 Frederick Eyre; 1892 Albert Bickley; 1895 William Townsend,;1898 Edmund Hutt; 1901 Robert Gordon, and later that year William Ellis; 1905 Thomas Boulter; 1914 John Jarman.
In 1922 there were three licensees – Arthur Marlow, Arthur Brown and Isaac Briers; 1931 James Willbond; 1938 Frank Hubbard; 1941 Leonard Raven; 1950 Bert Cartwright, with Mary Cartwright for the last couple of years until it closed in 1956 on 11 June. The licence was transferred to a newly built Daniel Lambert on the Goodwood Estate, together with that of the Duke of Cambridge.
About Daniel Lambert:
Daniel Lambert was born on 13 March 1770, in Blue Boar Lane, his weight gaining rapidly in his teens, by the age of 23 he was tipping the scales at 32 stone. Daniel followed in his father’s footsteps as keeper of Leicester goal. His strength legendary, he could swim with two men upon his back. He once fought a bear with his hands and came off the victor. Daniel’s duty as gaoler was conducted with benevolence; testimonials from the prisoners in his charge was numerous.
In his later years, Daniel exhibited himself for a price, becoming a celebrity of society.
He died on a visit to Stamford races in 1809. He was lodging at the Wagon & Horses opposite St. Martins, where he is buried to this day. Such was his size that a doorway had to be taken out of the Wagon & Horses to get his coffin out; it took 20 men to lower his body into the grave. On his death, he weighed 52 stone 10lbs.
Reputed to be haunted, the ghostly figure often appeared at the upstairs window.
