Built circa 1815 and originally known as the Holly Bush. By 1822, it was the Duke of Cumberland. Later signs on the pub show the Duke of Cumberland as Queen Victoria’s uncle, which would fit in with the timing.
Thomas Sharpe the first licensee 1815, John Peel 1840, Byfield Paget 1842, John Perry 1843, Ambrose Diaper 1845, (fined 10/- for selling during divine service Sunday) Edward Clarke 1849, Joseph Keetley 1853, Duke of Cumberland for sale that year with adjoining warehouse’s, Thomas Butt 1856, William Smart 1860, (Smart fined 10/- for selling in illegal hours) Sarah Smart 1867, Sarah was charged with brewing without an excise licence in 1872-which should have been noted 24 hours prior to brewing- Sarah claimed she was out of town, on returning brewing was taking place, as this was Sarah’s second such offence she was fined £50. John Smart 1878, Edward Hutt 1881, Clara Kingston listed as owner or lessee,
The pub was bought by L.B.M. brewery on the 27th of August 1898 from Cornelius Gurden. Brewer & Malster at 86 Highcross St, (next door but one to the Admiral Rodney) Cornelius Gurden was a major brewer in the Town from c 1860 to late 1890’s
1898 Edwin or Edward Hutt licensee, John Garner 1904, Samuel Blackwell 1908, Alfred Bailey 1909, Wm Henry Heath 1911 (died 1930) George Mountney 1931, Frederick George Hale 1932, William Bailey 1938, William Murden 1941, Robert Baird 1947, In 1952, the licensee, Robert Baird, was charged with receiving 58,000 cigarettes from Reg Coombes, knowing that they were stolen from HM War Department. On the 9th of January that year 1952, Robert Baid was sentenced to twelve months imprisonment for his part in the theft.
George Shepherd took on the licence later that year, Leslie Clarke 1954, Herbert Williams 1956, Derek Smith 1957, Thomas Sutton 1958, Thomas Fitch 1961, Eve Bonner 1971, Conall McGlynn 1972, George Thompson 1975, Bartholomew Quinn 1978, Robert Farley 1979, Robert Swarbrooke 1981, Bryan Taylor 1985, Julie Thornley 1988. Closed 1991.
The pub was altered in 1927 when it had its mock Tudor façade added. Again in 1954 major alterations took place.
Photo credit Graham Nelson
The Duke of Cumberland closed 1990, standing empty for a couple of years before being demolished in 1993. See photo above, minus its roof, it was to make way for a car park for the nearby factory owned by Richard Roberts.
Here the cellars are being exposed where mainly medieval 2 inch bricks were found.
