Photo above taken between 1911-12, when Frank Squires was landlord. The two children are Frank’s son Harry and daughter May.
This is one of many pubs named after the Marquis of Granby (1721-1770). It is said he set up many of his old soldiers when they became too old to fight, resulting in many pubs with that name.
1760 is the earliest record so far. In a deed, John Wright is named as the victualler.
1815, Robert Orton recorded as victualler and in 1822 Benjamin Bissell. The 1840s saw Mr White as host. A club box containing money was stolen containing over £6. Three tramps that were staying there were suspected. One W. Windegate – an ‘odd fellow’ – was charged. The bench told him although he was morally guilty there wasn’t enough evidence to send him for trial.
The pub was auctioned in 1854. At some point in the 1850s the licensee was W. Bass, who passed it on to Barnett Hyde (also recorded as Bernard Hyde), when he in turn relinquished it to Thomas Mee.
1862 – 1887, John Beardsmore was licensee as well as brewer. In 1888, William Landall held the licence. 1896, John Swingler. 1900, William McCann and 1903-11, John Hart.
David Asquith, landlord, who was having money problems walked out of the pub one morning in May 1896, telling his wife he was going to drown himself. She took little notice as he had threatened this before, but this time he committed the deed by walking in the water near St. Marys Mills, bending his head down and drowned himself in front of astonished witnesses.
The Marquis of Granby was closed when the licence was refused in 1912. The brewers received £765 in compensation and Frank Squires £130.
The owners include circa 1896, John Bell & Co. brewers of Burton on Trent, taken over by Thomas Salt & Co also of Burton in 1902. Prior to its demolition it was owned by G. Owston, solicitors, of Leicester.
It appears that both the Marquis of Granby and the Britannia were demolished to make way for a knitwear factory extending to Southgate Street. By the 1990s, this was known as ‘Heritage House’. The Castle Street entrance to the car park of ‘Heritage House’ marks the site of the former Marquis of Granby.
I have a little vesta ( and stamp) case ( not silver) with an inscription barely readable but I can make out complts ( compliments?) Marquis of Granby Castle Street
Is this the Leicester Pub?
Do you know of any other Vesta cases
Very interesting Tina, yes it certainly fits as being the Leicester pub, The Marquis of Granby was a popular pub name throughout the country named after 18th cent Army Lieutenant General, who had a name for fair mindedness towards his troops, he often set up his men with a gratuity on retirement from the army so they could set up their own business,(often pubs) again it fits with the Leicester pub as that dates from the right period 1770’s. I have seen different vesta’s before, although rarely, usually used as a giveaway advertising tool mainly on more prominent hotels, so Yours would seem very rare. especially being white metal, thanks for interest and input.