WARWICKSHIRE ARMS, 103 GLADSTONE STREET

Fronted Brougham Street and an Offiliers House from circa 1867, until the licence was refused in 1912. (although (MB) states that the pub was originally owned by George Eatons Cavendish Bridge Brewery prior to Offilers) Offilers acquired George Eatons brewery c1896. The pub closed on the 24th of June, with compensation of £753.10 going to the owner and £120 to the tenant.

The first licensee of the Warwickshire Arms was William Hartopp aged about 30 from Bedworth in Warwickshire, hence the name I presume. He was there in 1869, Feb 1870 Hartopp was fined 40/- for refusing to admit a PC to his beerhouse at midnight on a Sunday.

Wm and his wife Emma had six lodgers 1871, it seems Emma died there that same year aged only 35, Wm Hartopp then transferred the licence to Ben Frisby again that same year.

Wm Hartopp with his new wife Fanny were to take the licence at the Marquis Wellington on London Rd by 1880. In 1886 Fanny died at the Marquis Wellington, she too was only aged 35. some time later only in his early 50’s Wm Hartopp found himself in the Leicester Lunatic Asylum together with his son also William who was aged only 18. The circumstances of the Hartopps descent into the Asylum is not recorded. Losing both his wives at their age of 35 must have been devastating.

Ben Frisby was still victualler of the Warwickshire Arms in 1883 and by 1890, it was run by Fred Merry, with Thomas Merry as a needle manufacturer also based here.  The landlord in 1900 was William Harold Smith.

Offilers list of licensees starts 1893 which coincides with the purchase of George Eaton Brewery. Wm Thos Harrold 1893, Edwin Bruce 1907, Samuel Diggle 1909 and Fred Mawby 1910.

The building was demolished, circa 1974.

1 Comment

  1. My Grandfather’s family lived in this pub after it closed and became a dosmetic dwelling. I belive it was vacated in the early 1950s for the Leicester slum clearance but was vacant for around 20 years before it was finally demolished.

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