Photo above: A much used picture. Bill White’s shop circa 1955, Brook Street awaiting demolition in the Leicester slum clearance programme. He had few customers left as most of the houses were empty. Bill’s shop was no. 56.
Chris Pyrah records a Full Moon in Brook Street in 1815. There are no records of any other beer houses in Brook Street, although at least half a dozen shops were in the street.
In 1836, an inquest was held at the Full Moon on one Eliza Martin who was found dead in bed next to her husband. Rumours spread as to the cause and reason. After witnesses were called, the coroner expressed himself satisfied that the husband should be exonerated from false imputations and returned a verdict of ‘dead by visitation of god’.
There are one or two other recordings of a Full Moon but they relate to Wharf Street, so it is difficult to decide if they are from the Russell Square Full Moon or one in Brook Street as earlier recorded.