IRON FOUNDERS ARMS – MILTONS HEAD – SULTAN VAULTS – SULTAN OF EGYPT – SULTAN, 237 Belgrave Gate.

Stood on the corner of Belgrave Gate and Woodboy St, opposite Foundry Square.

Listed as the Iron Founders Arms in 1838 when licensees held a meeting here to discuss the implications of the new licensing laws. James Hyam or Hiam was licensee in the 1840s. In 1848, all the brewing vessels, kegs, F&F and genteel furniture were sold off at auction.

By the 1850s the pub was known as the Miltons Head, Samuel Millis its licensee. He transferred his licence to John Heywood in 1854.

In 1859, the L.V.A. meeting called at the Sultan Vaults, so by now on its third name change.

On 19 July 1873, an ad appeared in the local paper appealing for a ‘respectable young women as second bar maid.  One who has a desire to learn the business, will find this a good opportunity.’

In November 1898, a customer was found drunk on the premises:  a week later on the 19th of November 1898, the licensee was charged with permitting drunkenness.

Amongst later licensees was 1900 Harry Wilkinson. The Wilkinsons ran the Victoria Model lodging house in Britannia St. (still standing and well worth a look at the relief work in the brickwork), a temperance lodge supposedly designed to provide a better standard than those of neighbouring lodges. (See Drink & Damnation by Barry Lount & Robert Spur).  Harry Wilkinson also played for the Tigers during the 1890s. Harry – a flying winger – scored 153 tries for Tigers 1895-1905.  For full list of licensees see JR’s list.

The pub was rebuilt as the Sultan of Egypt in 1931, along with the other surviving pubs in the road widening of Belgrave Gate.  Finally closed January 1994, and sold as offices.

Sultan building still standing 2022, not sure why artwork of Jimi Hendrix is on adjoining building, as an icon of the counter culture in the late 1960s-70s its doubtful if many of today’s generation know who he is. (perhaps someone will let us know?)