Photo above: Circa 1906, shows the Dolphin standing on the corner of Highcross Street and Causeway Lane. Licence renewal was refused on the 30th of April 1924.
On the 23rd of July 1864, an inquest was heard on the death of Thomas Jackson, who was found lying by railway lines with his head cut off. Sarah Johnson, landlady of the Dolphin, said deceased had been lodging with her and had previously asked customers the best way to commit suicide. ‘Put your head on the railway line’ said one. ‘I shall be brought home tonight without my head’, he replied. ‘We all thought he was jesting’, the landlady told the inquest. The verdict: ‘suicide, whilst under temporary insanity.’
Some licensees of the Dolphin: 1861 Joseph Illston, circa 1864 James Johnson, circa 1872 Ann Swift. December 1873, licence transferred from the executors of Ann Swift to her son James, he too also died two years later after what was described as a long and painful illness, the licence passed to his wife also named Ann in 1875. Ann applied for a spirit licence in 1878, but it was refused.
1881, Wm Marson was licensee, also listed draper and tailor. Jan 1885 Thomas G Hunt was licensee, Thomas had previous licence experience, he also worked in the shoe trade, you could claim Thomas was a bit of an entrepreneur as he left the Dolphin in June 1886 to set up his own shoe factory T G Hunt & sons to eventually become Premier works in Belgrave. John Rose followed Thomas June 1886, Circa 1887 Thomas Palmer. Circa 1890, Elizabeth Dagley, she was fined £3.3/- for allowing gaming in the Dolphin.
1900, Arthur Chambers also Horse & Trap proprietor. Arthur was sill there in 1920, the licence was refused in 1924. (Information on Thomas Hunt supplied by Hilary Ford Thomas’s great great granddaughter)
