The picture abobove taken c1969.
Edward Smith landlord 1830s we know he was there 1838 when he posted a message in the LJ that he had found two lambs and he was keeping them at the Bower, in 1841 he charged John Rawlings of assault and making a disturbance at the Bower Inn, Rawlings was find 18/- or 21 days.
The Bower was first recorded in an 1849 directory, the address is given as Watts Causeway, this later became King Richard’s Road in the new street layout of the 1860s. The Bower was now identified as situated on the corner of Coventry Street and West Holme Street, off King Richard’s Road.
In 1852, the Bower brewed its own beer under the Needham family who ran the pub for over forty years. Matthew Needham listed as owner. They also owned land, stables and other property. In 1854 Mathhew was fined 10/- for keeping his house open after hours, Mathew did advertise the Bower for sale 1862 as newly built. He lost a daughter Mary Ann aged only 15 in 1867, Again in 1869 he was fined 21/-for illegal hours, He also was granted a licence to sell milk 1873, Matthew died aged 76 in 1890, Ann Needham licensee 1890. Edward Neale 1892, By 1895, brewing had ceased and John Cox was licensee.
Bass by now had bought the Bower, and in 1897 the old brewhouse was knocked down in order to enlarge the smoke room. Tom Coates the landlord, Annie Coates 1902, (deceased) Tom Coates 1911 (also deceased) Charlotte Rosetta Coates 1921. William Starbuck (deceased) 1922, Matilda Starbuck 1923, George Battle 1931. Henry Tingle 1950.
The pub was a beer only house until 1962 and finally closed on the 29th of December 1972.
The Williams family once kept the Bower. They were the parents of famous Leicester actor Bill Maynard, and here Bill pulls a pint with his wife and parents in attendance.
Photo credit: Nick Miller Collection.