Photo above: Circa 1905 postcard. Boots on right behind van is the former Three Cranes.
One of Leicester’s main coaching Inns, originally called the Crane, one suggestion was that it became the Three Cranes so as not to be out done by its great rival, the Three Crowns opposite.
Recorded in recognizance orders 1733, it was for one hundred years a most illustrious venue.
Leicester Journal Feb 1761
Samuel Oliver, landlord in the 1760s, was twice elected Lord Mayor. During this time in 1766 one Thomas Bunney was sentenced to be whipped at the Epiphany Sessions for stealing a great coat from the Three Cranes.
From the Three Crowns ran one of the earliest mail coaches in 1764, the Flying Machine, which left Leicester at 2am arriving in London the same night.
Also 1764 Jan 21st an ad in LJ “At the Cranes on 7th and 8th of Feb will be fought by subscription A MAIN OF COCKS any gentlemen that pleases to send in Cocks may depend on being taken in by their humble servants Wm Whittle and John Ashby feeders.”
Cock fighting was a regular occurrence at the Cranes. Although competition from the Saracens Head would cause some conflit.
August 1765 the annual Venison feast at the Three Cranes in commemoration of the defeat of the Spanish Amarda of Spain in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. A dinner for 450 persons was provided after a sermon at St Martins Mr Mayor and the Corporation attended. (i’ll bet they did!!)
In 1768, the King of Denmark lodged at the inn.
During the 1770s, the Inn was used for rehearsals of musical evenings on the harpsichord violin and violoncello.
Not all ran smoothly at the inn as Lady Mary Cook in 1774, complained that she found the Three Cranes very unreasonable. Having being charged 2/6 ‘for the least piece of chicken liver you ever saw’ and 1/6 for pickles, made a very dear supper. ‘I was obliged to go to bed immediately after having seen it’, she complained.
Less than twenty years later the Inn was up for sale boasting in the advert comprising; ‘2 Large Granaries, six coach houses, 3 yards one containing the Post Office, stabling for 80 horses and excellent gardens.’
This 1793 advert seemed to have failed to keep the Three Cranes open as the inn closed in 1794. The business transferred to the Lion and Lamb opposite, which became known as the Lion & Lamb & Three Cranes.
In 1800, however, the Three Cranes reopened and by 1820 had restored its reputation, once again becoming one of the major coaching inns.
John Neal moved from the Angel to the Three Cranes in 1825 but became bankrupt a year later.
The Three Cranes closed and was turned into a chemist & drug warehouse.
The chemist, Boots still own and trade from the site.
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