A deed of 1805 mentions a building called the Hope & Anchor in approximately this position, situated on the corner of Belgrave Gate and Navigation St. By the 1820s, the pub was known as the Crown & Anchor.
1827, William Ball was licensee; 1831, Robert Briggs; 1841 the lease and goodwill was up for sale, and the beer house was auctioned on 27 April 1842.
Joseph Brown bought and ran the pub from 1864.
On 18 December 1865, Ann Smith was charged and found guilty of stealing a glass tumbler and an earthenware jug from the Crown and Anchor. She received one month’s goal.
In 1888 John Brown took over from Joseph Brown.
Auctioned again in 1890, it was owned by Everards & Sons. Henry Bray became licensee, followed by George Almey c1894 and Arthur Mason a year later. Bell & Co, brewers of Burton acquired the business before the turn of the century. In 1902 Thomas Salt Brewery acquired John Bell’s business, to eventually come under the Bass banner c1927.
John Lovatt was landlord 1897, followed by 1902 by John Wood, 1904, Joseph Roshford, 1905, James Connelly; 1907, Frederick Humberstone, Harry Bailey was licensee 1911-12. Bailey played for Leicester Fosse and county cricket for Leicestershire. A stalwart left back for the football club, playing 125 games. He also played in the very first game at Filbert St.
In 1931 Arthur Cockram was licensee.
The Crown and Anchor closed on the first of January 1954. Compensation of £71 was, paid to the tenant, with £4,700 going to Bass Brewery under the Compensation Act.
Not very PC in today’s world Bass For Men sign implying not for women, i’ll bet there were a few in this area who could sink a pint of Bass or two
My great grandmother Martha Elizabeth Kemshead worked there in 1901 & became pregnant by Thomas Rumbold with my grandmother Vera Kemshead who was born in 1903.
Martha left for South Africa in 1905 & Vera was sent to Canada.
Thanks for sharing Diane, and for your interest