HORSE & JOCKEY, 46 HUMBERSTONE GATE

Circa 1815-1877, stood just before the Fountain. The Wyggeston Hospital Girls School was built on the site after the Horse & Jockey was demolished in 1877.

Quoits was played on the grounds of the Horse & Jockey. In May 1839, Thomas Hunt stole the quoits from there and PC Goodall saw Hunt carrying a sack in Belgrave Gate.  When asked what he was carrying, he threw the bag to the ground and bolted. The bag was found to contain fourteen quoits stolen from the pub. Wagers for £10 a side were played for in 1845, an enormous amount of money.

April 1842 Eliza cooper was remanded on a charge of stealing a gown from Mary Clark servant to Mrs Ball at the Horse and Jockey.

A notice on the 7th of May 1842, advertised ‘A BULL WITH 5 LEGS and 6 FEET.  To be shown on Fair day in a building attached to the Horse & Jockey.

Many auctions and Inquests held here including auctions for horse harnesses, breaks, saddles, bridles bits etc’

1846 Mr Meres recorded as licensee, followed by Wm Parrott and by April 1847 John Brewin. May 1848 Moses Shellard to Wm Wormleghton.

August 1853 Joseph Grimly 64 when in a state of intoxication attempted to dance on a table in the Horse & Jockey in doing so he fell off breaking one of his legs.

1858 John Raven vict, Oddfellows Lodge Britons Pride held here. John Raven moved to Brighton c1862 to the St James Tavern he took out an ad in LJ giving a hearty welcome to seaside excisions from Leicester.

1863 landlord Edward Clarke 50 died suddenly one Sunday morning after getting up to light the fire, when he collapsed.

The Sanitation Committee in 1864 reported on the state of the yard behind the pub where half a dozen cottages were, declared them unfit for human habitation, also to remove the pigs as they had become prejudicial to health.

The Licensee was given notice in 1875 of the impending demolition, F & F was sold T auction on June 6th 1877, it made way for the imposing new building designed by Edward Burgess.  This attractive building still stands today. Age Concern currently occupy the building which fronts Humberstone Gate and Clarence Street.

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