Photo above: Circa1946 (John Zienteck), shows the beer house as LBM owned. Leicester Brewing and Malting bought the Birstall Arms from another local brewery, Welch Brothers of Loseby Lane on 7 April 1920. They in turn purchased from Fanny Masters circa1890, the original owner being the aforementioned James Addison. The property stood on the corner of Birstall St. and Wanlip St. Numbers 48 and 50 were bought from Florence Graves on 3 September 1945.
(The Brewery History Society lists owner pre LBM as Frederick Bates of Bates Son & Bishell)
Licensees: 1855, the owner James Addison; 1869, John Harris. In that year the pub and brew house was put up for sale together with adjoining houses.
1875, John Addison. During John Addison’s time (in 1879), John had poured a gallon of ale in a can which went missing. Thomas Ballard was confronted by a PC in the street carrying the said can of ale. Ballard was sentenced to twenty one days hard labour.
1880, Charles Smith. Also in 1880, Samuel Redfern – who put on Fox Terrier shows – and Thomas Newham was victuallers in the same year and in 1881, Elizabeth Hall. 1881, James Holland, but not before Elizabeth Hall had attempted to transfer the licence to William Skelton who had provided a number of excellent character references. On checking, the police found Skelton had been before the court on no fewer than twenty three times for assault on the police, drunkenness and other offences. The magistrates recommended that the police check he character of those persons that provided references.
1882, Charles Tarry. Charles had employed fifteen year old Elizabeth Randall, who was accused of stealing tea checks. Elizabeth admitted to changing a tea check which she claimed she had found under a chair seat and changing it for a two yards of calico at the Exchange Tea Co. As she had been previously convicted of larceny when she was nine years old, Elizabeth was given twenty one days in prison with hard labour, as the doctor judged her able to do.
1885, Thomas Hubbard. 1888, George Dailey and later that year Henry Barrow. 1903, John Hayle. 1907, Francis Manning. 1911, William Clarke. 1914, William Dakin. 1938, Joseph Woolley. 1957, Joseph Bell.
Wonderful website and images! I’m doing some family tree research and am looking into Joseph Woolley and I wondered whether you had any information / tips on how to find information on him. He’s listed as the propiertor 1938 – 1957.