Photo c1946 John Zienteck
The 1842 directory listed the Neptune which consisted of three cottages, one of which was the Neptune.
1855, William Scott the licensee, was also listed as a painter.
The toilets were across the road in a French style pissouir with corrugated iron screen and the waste passing straight into the river., purchased from Thomas Withers on the 22nd of April 1892 by LBM Brewery. Rebuilt 1904. West End Inn
This is the type of Rat Pit that would ‘grace’ the West End Pub unlike the larger type from the Ship in Soar Lane used as a ‘sporting’ event reports of the West Ends suggests that it was a wooden affair similar to the above photo, sometimes I think the disposal of rats in Victorian times by Jack Russell terriers are better than poisoning.
Licensees of the Neptune c1830 Thomas Clements he died in 1839 aged 49 Thomas had served in the Royal Horse Guards Blue at the Battle of Waterloo he was awarded a pension after he was severely wounded in a charge.
1850 William Peel also described as a Grazier,1858 Mr Thomas Cave who was fined 10/- for selling beer on a Sunday during prohibited hours, c1860 Thomas Goss, Around this time name now West End Inn 1862 George Glover who had a ‘rat pit;. (see above) c1868 Josiah Shuttlewood, 1869 William White, 1873 Eli Shuttlewood, 1875 William Goodman, Williams wife Elizabeth 47 committed suicide getting out of bed around 2 am and by climbing over the bridge she jumped in the water, two passers by heard a splash but by the time they had retrieved her she had drowned, it was disclosed at the inquest that she had become despondent and both her father and grandmother had previously destroyed themselves.
1881 Emma Ball. April 1882 Charles Tidd, June 1882 Lister Martin, Nov 1882 Henry Bodycoatt, The West End Floods which had occurred over the past few years had had a major impact that year, when a violent storm of rain, wind and snow saw the river Soar overflew, damaging the bridge, the inhabitants of Dunns Lane were left in a sorry state when water flooded up passed their windowsills with furniture floating down the lane.
March 1884 James ——son, June 1884 George Lancaster, 1885 James Carr, 1892 Sarah Carr, 1894 Walter Brown, 1903 Carter Crossland, Rebuilt March 1904, 1913 Samuel Bailey, 1918 Priscilla Bailey, 1919 Samuel Bailey again, 1944 James Rayner, c1970 George Butler.
Purchased by the Hussein Brothers in the late 1980s. They were to own and be at the forefront of the café bar revolution that followed, each one had its own individual style. The Pump and Tap remained much a ‘local’.
De Montfort University bought the Pump and Tap and the nearby Bowstring Bridge, after much objection, publicity and petitioning against. They proceeded to demolish both in December 2009.
