Photo above: Note the large wooden barrels, possibly hogsheads (54 galls). The Porters Lodge brewed its own ale until supplied by Cock and Langmore, later All Saints Brewery. Closed under the Compensation Act, 1907.
Stood on the corner of New Bond Street and South Bond Street, one of Leicester’s most historic pubs, formally the lodge at one of the entrances to the Earl of Huntington’s residence in High Street known as the Lords Place.
Recorded as an Inn c1560.
PORTERS LODGE
The Earl of Huntington purchased the property in 1569 for £100, it became known as Lords Place. He set about extending and improving the mansion, the Earl was possibly the most influential man in Leicester, royalty including James 1st in 1612 and both Charles stayed at Huntington house. After the civil war the corporation bought the house for £300. The remains of the house and tower was demolished in 1902, the Porters Lodge was to remain standing for a few more years.
The last of Huntington tower, taken from the Bond street side, the Roebuck public house can be seen on the other side of the High Street, c1902.
The 1830s, saw many meetings at the Porters Lodge, advocating workers rights, Chartist agitation and suffrage supporters, framework knitters grievance regarding the truck System, as well as Anti-Corn Law meetings.
Licensees included 1747, William Ward. 1827, Samuel Noon. The Porters Lodge seemed to stay in the Noon family for many years. Samuel Noon, Isaac Noon and Ann Noon to 1853. Mrs Anne Noon remarried Henry Craig and passed the licence on to him in 1853, yet was still listed in some directories as Ann Noon, licensee up to 1862. Whilst Ann was there in 1850 Frances Blick was committed to trial for stealing a dozen spittoons from the Porters Lodge.
Charles Scott held the licence for a couple of years before Edward Dicks in May 1864. 1867, James Wakefield. 1872, Thomas & Eliza Allbutt are recorded until 1876, when Thomas and Ann Jones held it until its closure in 1907. The licence was refused April 1906 under the 1904 Licensing Act, it finally closed July 13th 1907. Compensation paid £1345. to the owners and £270. to the tenant.
