Granted to Leicester Abbey, by William de Langley in 1312, the lease held by William Streth. The sign derived from part of the family coat of arms of the original owners of the site, for which they had won the right to adopt the ‘Saracens Head’ by their action in the Holy wars against the Saracens. (Everards)
1760s victular was William Ascough, he would later advertise as Ascough’s Coffee House at the Saracens Head. As the Coffee House movement spread the country.
In 1797, George Davenport Leicester’s notorious Highwayman was finally arrested in the Saracens Head, when under arrest for poaching fish under the alias of George Freer. Whilst handcuffed to a peace officer, on his journey to jail, the two men called in the Saracens Head, where George’s true identity was revealed by an ex drinking companion. The officer could hardly believe his luck: here ready handcuffed, the most wanted man in the county. Eventually George was hanged for his crimes at Red Hill in Leicester.
Late 18th or early 19th cent 1/2 pint Pewter tankard for Saracens Head.
Some Owners and licensees of the Saracens Head included Thomas Leigh 1818 victular, Thomas Neale c1820s, William Neale Thomas’s son would take over on his fathers death in 1828. A year later William would offer the lease for sale with the length of the lease ‘To be for the life of a lady now 46 years of age’
The Saracens Head as well as a major auction house would have a theatre at the rear.
William Hartley 1830s -40s. Mr Hartley 1840s, Frederick John Simpson who was owner of the business on lease and licensee 1847, The Saracens Head was up for auction that year, by order of the trustees. Edward Bloodworth briefly licensee 1864 before Simpson was to take the licence again, then Rosa Simpson Fredericks wife in 1875. A year later Rosa offered for sale the brewing equipment as she was ‘giving up brewing’ George Kinton Billings would purchase the business also licensee 1877.
The old Saracens was demolished for the widening of Market Place South and new building erected in 1901. but incorporating what had been the site of ‘Stilton House’ roughly where the entrance of the Hotel St Saracens Head. is. J W Wales China shop eventually became front entrance to the Market Tavern, ex-Page’s Wine Lodge, referenced in Market Square. Phil Johnson further writes; that there is some evidence to suggest that the fireplace in the front bar had been retained from the old building, the position of the chimney before and after the road widening goes some way to supporting this. (Phil Johnson) Everards would now own the Saracens Head. Rosa Billings would hold the licence on the rebuild 1902 until John Crouch took over later that year. Thomas Tolton 1902 and Thomas Frederick Tolton 1919.
1930s Mr Thomas Desmond was licensee (died 1941) followed by his wife Bertha who unfortunately was found dead in bed March 1944.
Original Brass sign from the rebuild.
December 1995, saw a major refurbishment and name change. The centuries old Saracens Head now became Molly O Grady’s, a 1990s phenomenon that swept the country by theming pubs with an Irish flavour. Molly’s was to last longer than most.
Major refit at Mollys, opened as Knight & Garter in August 2017.
