Photo above: Late 1950s picture of the Plough, owned by the well known Leicester family and beer bottlers, Hartopps.
A Crown and Plough is recorded in Humberstone Gate in 1815. No other records have been found, so might be a mistake in recording or the Plough.
Richard Toon, victualler in 1794. The pub referred to as the Plough. 1827 Thomas Barrell,
March – April, 1838, sale of the Plough by auction was advertised. Mrs Draycott named as the owner, Thomas Barrell the landlord. 1843 William Todd, Mr E Forknall late of the Plough died that year. Underground Stabling for 30 horse was advetised.
During the 1840s and 1850s, it was known as the Old Plough. 1843 William Dalby, c1846 Nathan Scampton 1848 Charles Hubbard who was fined for allowing drunkenness on the premises. 1854 William Perkins, 1859 William Johnson, Owner and Licensee, 1850s The Royal Marines would enlist men from The Old Plough.
Sometime during c 1868, it became the Crystal Palace presumably after the Great Exhibition of 1851.
1861 Charles Johnson victular, 1868 William Whiles was licensee, 1876 Thomas William Loyley,
On the exchange of licence in 1881 from Thomas Loyley to Joe Simpson, the sessions named the licence as being Plough Inn or Crystal Palace.
In 1883, Wright’s directory still called the inn the Crystal Palace. From here on records show as the Plough.
1890 John J Coltman was licensee, Donald Henry Hurst 1894, Walter Knell 1895. Stephen William Cooper 1899 James Eadie Brewery became the owners or lessees around this time, 1901 Walter Knell again licensee, unfortunately The Temperance Society objected to his license on the grounds that gambling was taking place in the pub Walter Knell appealed as he had only recently took over the tenancy, the gambling had taken place under the last tenant Stephen Cooper who had been fined and licence endorsed for the offence. Never the less the magistrates decided that the licence would not be renewed. A notice of appeal was raised Walter Knell fought his position that it was the previous landlord that had caused the problem and he Knell had an unblemished record. Eventually a new licence was granted as Eadies had not intended to renew the lease.
Eadies lease ran out and now Brunt & Bucknell now owned the lease to the pub.
1903 James Twigger took over, Joseph Ford 1904, The pub seemed to pass through ownership a couple of times Henry Wilford Smith of Harrison Rd before Hartopps Ltd the well known Leicester bottlers and beer supply’s (see top photo)
At one time a court yard of cottages stood at the back, leading to the rear of the George in the Haymarket.
1910 Charles Hetherington was licensee followed by William Henry Brown 1911, Edward Arthur Whittles 1913, Arthur Whittles as he was know died in action 1918 during the Second World War aged 39.
George Shepperd 1918, Frederick Nicholson 1922, Tom Ashburner 1930, George Stephens c1932, Thomas Watson 1945, Horace Bailey 1947, John Bagguley and George Eyre 1962-67. Eyre with his wife Millicent had not been there long before both were assaulted by a customer. Jan 1963 Lanlord Eyre was hit over the head with a glass by an impatient customer and had to receive hospital treatment. Later in 1963 Evening Mail reported Eric Beighton (Beaton) was found not guilty after being charged with of assault by the police after breaking a mans jaw as the landlord had asked for help in ejecting a drunken customer named Fanorejewski.
Jack and Millie Randle now licensees In 1967 a man went berserk in the bar and throw chair through the front window causing damage of over £400. in November John King an Irish man assaulted Jack, King after being fined exclaimed “its the drink I will have to give it up” Sept 1968 The Police closed the pub suddenly one night the police reported ‘certain allegations had been made about people in the pub and investigations are ongoing’ The Mercury reported its just not Jack Randles luck as he again received a black eye whist trying to break up a fight with two Scotsmen.
As the above report shows during its latter years, the Plough was frequented by some dubious characters and ladies of easy virtue. As a young lad working for Pollards Brewery, we would take some of Hartopps deliveries there. This was a fascinating insight to pubs of the time near the Clock Tower, many of which had a ‘reputation’. Unlike some others, however, it wasn’t intimidating, just the last remnant of a bygone pub era. Closed and demolished circa 1972, another to fall in the abortion that became the Haymarket Shopping centre. This mix of Georgian, Victorian Gothic and Deco Buildings lost forever.’
Barry Lount
This would apply to many pubs around the clock tower (photo credit unknown)
The encroaching Haymarket development c1970 (by David Hillas, colour by Rob Hubble) shows the still standing Plough