The recognisance orders of 1739 show the Cap & Stocking.
JR has a record of the Cap & Stocking in Eastgates in 1747, when William Blackmore was Victualler.
1763 The Cap & Stocking changed hands for £120.00
The corporation papers of 1807, stated that improvements to the east entrance to the market, required the removal of a house on the left. This left the Cap and Stocking projecting.
1829 saw an advert placed in local paper: ‘James Yates of the Cap & Stocking now recently rebuilt’, inviting old and new custom.
1836 Samuel Hadden was charged with D&D in the Cap & Stocking, resisting arrest and violently assaulting PC 39. fined 2/6 or 15 days.
Also in 1836 Shrove Tuesday John Wilshaw one of the ‘Whipping Toms’ together with his bell & whip was indulging in some strong ale in the Cap & Stocking, a youth Wm Bowers made a remark about the ‘whipping toms’ on hearing the remark from the boy, Wilshaw beat the boy around the head with his whip or stick. Wilshaw was charged with beating young Wm Bowers, At court Wilshaw was allowed to settle the matter with the boys mother not before the Mayor admonished Wilshaw, telling him to abstain from drink when he was engaged in Whipping Toms (See below more on ‘Whipping Toms)
1838 Moses Pegg the disgraced informer who had been exposed by the local press for being somewhat false with the truth when informing on many beerhouses licensing misdemeanors. Pegg was made to lie low for a time. Pegg was in the Cap & Stocking whilst taking a glass of ale cursing the Leicester Mercury for ruining his ‘business’ an Irishman entered with a waistcoat pieces in his possession, Peggs eyes gleamed with joy as Paddy tried to sell them. ‘Where is your hawkers license’ asked Pegg Paddy replied somewhat surprised ‘Och sure I haven’t got one’ ‘Then your my prisoner’ claimed Pegg,’fetch the policeman’ he cried to whoever would listen. Pegg then seized the Irishman by the collar to march him out. The two were met not by a policeman but an angry crowd who had been informed of Peggs activities, they manhandled Pegg, letting Pat make his escape. Pegg was then forced to run and hide in the nearby bank to escape the angry mob. a policeman did come not the arrest the Irishman but to rescue and escort Pegg to safety.
Josiah Enoch was landlord from Dec 1838 and the pub seemed popular with many meetings held here, the Paradise Lodge of Odd Fellows being one of them.
After Josiah’s death in 1843, Emma Enoch was to carry on until 1851, when the building was put up to let including stables, outbuildings and brewery, Emma was to then run the Craven Arms, John Henson took up the challenge at the Cap & Stocking others followed including Thomas Garfield he died 1859 with the licence passing on to his widow Sarah, she transferred the licence to Thomas Carr in 1864. A year later Thomas Carr passed on the licence to Benjamin Shelton. in 1865 after Carr had auctioned the F&F it was auctioned then it was pulled down for the redevelopment of Eastgates, with a new liquor vaults to be erected on the site. to be called the Eclipse Benjamin Shelton would the move the licence to the new building THE ECLIPSE.
The name Cap & Stocking name (Leicester was a main woollen and stocking manufacturing centre), could also have derived from Queen Elizabeth I’s proclamation that everyone over the age of six was to wear a woollen cap on Sundays and Holy days, thus enhancing the woollen trade. This was not repealed in 1597.
EASTGATES
There are two other records of pubs in Eastgates. One, the Antelope in 1732, almost certainly refers to the Antelope in Silver Street close by.
The other is the Bell in 1580 whose address is given as ‘Eastgates Without’ which means outside of. This is most likely to be the Bell that stood at that time in nearby Swinesmarket, now High Street.
These will be dealt with under their respective street names.
