SPITALHOUSE, 252 BELGRAVE ROAD

Known as Spitalhouse Inn, Spitalhouse Hotel and Spittlehouse Brewery.

The Sptalhouse stood a few doors away from the Old Pack Horse, opposite the Bridle Lane Tavern.

The 1779 Borough records show that one John Brierly was shot dead near the Spitalhouse.

This building was erected in 1858 by Thomas Edgley and was granted full license in 1862. Spital meant hospital.

1870 Henry Illsley landlord

1875 Hy Windram also listed as Brewer of the Spitlehouse Brewery

1877 William Green was host.

1889 Walter Eaton-1891 Walters wife Mary took over on his death.

1892 Wm Pickering

1906 James Muddimer held the licence it seems he was also the owner as records show below. James Muddimer was still the licensee 1920

In 1897m (MB) James Muddimer sold the Spitalhouse to Lichfield Breweries, acquired by Samuel Allsopp, c1930.

1950 Albert Gregory listed as manager of the Spittle house .

The Spitalhouse closed the early 1960s to make way for the new road system.

Samuel Allsopp amalgamated with Ind Coope to form Ind Coope & Allsopp

The Spitalhouse was originally a religious hospital, most possibly for lepers dating from thirteenth century to the dissolution of religious houses in the sixteenth century.

Glimpses of Ancient Leicester by Mrs Fielding Johnson  has it on or near the site of the Old Packhorse, further evidence comes in 1837 when the rental of the Spittle House or Old Pack Horse  a charge of £20 per annum to the corporation to be made of which 2/3rds was to go to the poor. This was challenged in a letter claiming the building formally the Spittle House now the Pack Horse was left to the poor by Robert Heyrick in the reign of Elizabeth I, which dates it pretty well the same as the Pack Horse building. This argument was countered by the fact that the £20 rent for the Spittle or Pack Horse had been paid for at least the previous eighty years.

So what are we to assume? The Spittle seems to be next to or part of the Pack Horse and the Spittle House pub was built on or near the site of the original and subsequently named after it.

3 Comments

    1. I remember calling in there in1966/7 when it was a transport cafe of the same name. It would have been early morning as we were going to collect poultry from a farm for Parkers,

  1. On the 1939 census I’ve found an ancestor of my husband is registered as licensee. James W Medhurst

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