Photo above: Noah’s Ark is on the extreme right, only partly showing.
The first recording of the Noah’s Ark is a court case in 1860, when on 16 of June, the pub was found open at 1am. The case was dismissed as the drinkers were claimed to be plumbers working. There is another mention in the Leicester Chronicle, on 5 January 1861.
Licensees included: 1862, William Fielding. 1869, Hannah Cottrill. 1876, William Cottrill. 1887, Frederick Wood. 1892, William Durns. 1895, Thomas Monk.
In November 1897, Marston Thompson & Evershed Brewery bought Daniel Pettifors Brewery that had been owners of the Noahs Ark. There is some mention of All Saints Brewery being involved although the court licensing register lists Pettifors then Marstons as owners.
On 17 December 1898, a lodger at the Noah’s Ark was in court for a debt of £56.
The licensee c1887 Frederick Wood a champion cyclist (Penny Farthing), bicycle racing a most popular sport 1880,-90s. Leicester a major venue, thousands would flock to see their favourite cyclist; good rewards meant many turned professional.
Fred was classed as world champion in this field, cycled out of Leicester, together with other of his rivals who also became landlords in the town: Fred Lees of the Dolphin and Eclipse and Albert Hawker of the British Arms.
Fred Wood had married into the pub trade his wife Sarah the daughter of Thomas Jones landlord of the Porters Lodge.
Fred and Sarah moved to South Shields c1889, taking over another pub there, the Mariners Arms. Fred lived there until 1935 when he died from injuries sustained from falling down the cellar.
(Pictures and additional information by kind permission of Roger Lovell)
In 1898 J. Haywood was licensee, followed in 1900 by Mary Haywood. Later that year George Marsh took over and in 1907 Sam Long.
The licence was surrendered at the 1908 sessions, in part exchange for a new offie on Glossop Street.