RIFLE VOLUNTEER, 4 HORSEFAIR STREET

Photo above: circa 1866.

The Rifle Volunteer, sometime referred to as The Volunteer Inn, stood just inside Horsefair Street, from the junction of Granby Street and Gallowtree Gate, next door to the Three Crowns Hotel.

The cattle Market stood in the street, surrounded by numerous slaughter houses open to the public gaze.

Owned by the burgess’ of Leicester, the building was sold off in lots, including materials and fittings in 1875 and then demolished for part of the new Town Hall square layout. The cattle market was moved out of public view to Aylestone Road.

Ran by Thomas Sibson from around 1860 as a beerhouse, an ex Leicester policeman. He applied for a full licence in 1862 and was backed by petition of the famers, butchers cattle dealers and traders who frequented the market. Advertised as having a ‘steak and chop house’ in the 1860s.

Thomas’s wife Penelope died aged 46 here in 1865

Thomas Sibson was one of the founder members 1867 of the Licence Victulars Tea Association, the members would supply tea in packets, this was set up owing to the competition from grocers selling wine, the victulars had their own trade mark stamped on the packets.

Rifle Volunteer took in borders, one such who lived at the pub for some time was E Bayle Henry listed as a comedian, never the less he as well as performing in the Royal Theatre plays opposite in Horsesfair St he staged managed productions of the annual pantomime during the late 1860’s

Thomas Sibson did fall foul of the law 1873 a PC accused him of being drunk sitting in a chair in the Rifle Volunteer, family witnesses vouched for his sobriety, never the less he was found guilty 10/6 or 7 days.

As previously stated the Rifle Volunteer closed was demolished to make way for the new Municipal Buildings c1875. Thomas Sibson wife Penelope and their at least seven children apart from their lodgers were to occupy the public house for most of its existence although there is a report of a Mr Green of the Volunteer Horsefair St renting a booth to sell refreshments at the Leicester Racecourse in 1874 but not substantiated if he was the licensee.