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.
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)
Josiah Enoch was landlord in the 1840s 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, John Henson (JR) took up the challenge, various others followed until 1865 when it was pulled down for the redevelopment of Eastgates, with a new liquor vaults to be erected on the site.
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 This was not repealed in 1597.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.
