Photo above: Typical mid Victorian frontage of green tiles.
In 1840, the pub was known as the Waggon and Horses, when William Barfoot was granted a licence although there was another pub of that name in nearby Belgrave Gate. The 186 Lodge ancient order of the Druids would meet here at William Barfords beershop during this decade 1843 a Druids funeral was held at the Waggon & Horses, and thus c1844 became known as the Druids Arms. 1848 The Druids Arms was cited among others of supplying or receiving bribes at the last election.
The census of 1851, gave the landlords name as William Barford. He lived here with his wife Mary, two daughters and what was then designated, in the terminology of the time, an ‘idiot’ brother. Barford was here c1840 – 1860.
By 1850s, the name had changed to the Foresters Arms. William Barford still licensee. So under Barfords tenure the pub name apparently changes three times.
1861 William Gunn, in June licence transferred to Elizabeth Dorman
Sarah Lydall is listed as licensee c1863 in some directories. (maybe listings out of date)
Mrs Elizabeth Dorman licensee c 1861, (Elizabeth does seemed to have held quite a few licensees in the past as well as being an ex bankrupt, an interesting lady that needs more research, see Waterworks Tavern)) William Greatorex Jnr 1873, Greatorex a name that pops up many times as licensee of various Leicester pubs.
John Hurley -who was also listed as owner, 1874, Benjamin Walker 1875 William Clayton 1878, Charles Scotney 1881, (Put up for auction 1881) Henry Dodson 1882, In 1895, its licence was objected to on the grounds that the landlord had been found drunk in charge of a horse and trap.
The pub originally brewed its own beer until 1893, when the Nottingham Brewery bought the pub. Five years later it embarked on alterations that saw the old brew house converted into living accommodation. Further alterations took place in 1927 and again in 1947. The property passed on to Tennant Brothers of Sheffield in 1944 from the Nottingham Brewery and finally to Whitbread.
1896 John William Morris licensee, 1897 William Hudson Ellis, Alfred Hemmersley 1898, John Wood 1899, Frederick Hoggar 1902, Harry Stacey 1903, Thomas Issitt 1907, Harold Issitt 1917, Thomas Issitt 1919, Thomas Issit was here for many years apart from a few war years, he suffered an assault on him a couple of times one in 1916 when two men one with his arm in a sling entered the pub drunk, on refusing them drinks the one with his arm in a sling took off the sling and held Issitt down whilst the other man Richard Poulton kicked him repeatedly rendering landlord Issitt lame, Poulton was sentenced to 3 months hard labour. The other was in 1927 when Ellem Rowe described at the court as a very violent womenm threatened to smash up the pub when refused a drink, as she had been violent and provocative on many previous occasions, she was given 12 months bound over on condition she kept away from the Foresters and landlord Issit.
William Timms 1935, Brynley Burnham 1944, Henry Corby 1954, David Chapman 1957.
Below Chris Pyrahs 1981 photo.
