LION & LAMB, 51 GALLOWTREE GATE

Also known as the Lyon & Lamb

(1742 See Martin Websters comment below)

Stood next door to the Pelican, as seen in the above photograph.

Listed in 1730, the Lion & Lamb became a major coaching inn for Leicester.  Unfortunately, three bays of the building were totally destroyed by fire in 1772, and eight years later another fire claimed six tons of hay.

The Lion & Lamb was reported as a venue for a strong nucleus of political dissent in the latter years of the 18th century. The Revolution Club would hold its meetings here.

In 1770, the Lion & Lamb was described in the Leicester Journal as having:  two dining rooms, four excellent bedrooms on the first floor, seven good ones on the top floor.  The premises included a blacksmith’s shop and a large warehouse , 75ft long.  Forty horses could be accommodated with corn and hay in chambers above the stables.

The Lion & Lamb also had its own brew house which was advertised for sale in 1811.

In 1879, the tenancy expired so the Council recommended that the inn was to be sold by public auction.  The sale was to take place in May 1880.

After the auction in 1880, the inn continued until 1885, when its licence was not renewed, due to a new road system layout on the angle of Horsfair Street and Gallowtree Gate into the Market place. The Lion & Lamb described now in the press as a’monstrosity’ was purchased for £7,900, with the adjoining shops fetching a further £4,300.