Also known as the Mansfield Arms – sometime listed as 2 Sandacre Street and established circa 1820s.
Looking down Mansfield Street circa 1930, with Mansfield Head, now partly demolished, on the opposite car corner of Sandacre Street (photo credit: NHM). This is also in Ned Newitt’s brilliant Slums of Leicester. It appears as if the Mansfield Head could have been three stories as with the adjoining property.
Another angle, this time looking down Sandacre Street. Ned Newitt tells us that the bicycle and workmen’s hut is leaning on the partly demolished Mansfield Head wall. It certainly was a much larger building than others on the street. Whether it was purpose built or gained a licence prior the Beer Act we cannot tell from these tantalising snippets of the old building. It had its own brewery yard and skittle alley.
1820s run by William Greasley.
Throughout the 19th century this area particularly seemed pretty lawless. The Mansfield Head regularly turns up in court cases connected with drunkenness, violence, vandalism, theft and robbery all crop up and it probably take a strong character to run the pub.
An 1829 inquest was held at the Mansfield Head when neighbour Dorothy Moore, aged sixty-seven, cut her throat in a dreadful manner with a razor in what the coroner recorded as a fit of insanity.
John Tebbutt of Wharf Street, made an appearance in court in 1835 with frightful black eyes after causing a major disturbance in the Mansfield Head. His excuse was he had been drinking in there for six hours. Also in 1837 Jonathan Robinson was charged with a violent assault on a PC when the PC was trying to evict him from the Mansfeilds Head. Robinson admitted kicking the constable in the head whilst intoxicated and disorderly, but was full of contrition, when the verdict of a 10/- fine was imposed Robinson fainted.
William Greasly held the licence for some years from the 1820s until May 1846. This was after his wife suddenly died whilst taking tea the previous October. Robert Daws the new landlord that year. Daws lasted less than a year John Wells taking over April 1847. July 1847 John Wells would sell all his household furniture and the fixtures and fittings including the brew kit inc Copper, Barrells Mash tun etc. The ad ran that “Mr & Mrs Wells are declining the public business” George Holmes was then installed as landlord. Henry Simpkin followed before transferring the licence to in 1852 John Stevenson, Then 1863 Joseph Dewick, Dewick was fined for serving illegal hours on a Sunday that year. 1867 John Bateman was landlord with the pub being owned by William Bateman.
(In 1859, Henry Simkin, the previous landlord in early 1850s and subsequently landlord at George 111 Abbey St who had ‘taken to drink’ died there. His wife continued for a few months before quitting.)
James Gadsby, who held the licence in 1869 was involved in an extensive robbery and receiving case of 100 lbs of silk from Nottingham, which he then sold on. Gadsby refused to say in court how he came by the silk but admitted selling it on to Lemuel McDonald, a lace manufacturer.
One particular crime the pub suffered more than most was vandalism to its property.
In 1837, a reward was offered when ‘some malicious persons threw several bricks trough the dining room window demolishing it and alarming the family, we hope the cowardly rascals may meet with their deserts’.
In 1838, William Hemmings of Sandacre Street was charged with wilfully breaking windows at the pub by throwing stones after being thrown out for beating his wife. Ordered to pay damages or fourteen days.
1840, James Brudenell fined 7/- for breaking five panes of glass in the windows of the pub.
1842, George Cobley well known to the bench and the son of a notorious character, was charged with breaking fifteen windows. He was fined 8/- or one month.
Many ‘domestics’ came before the courts re the Mansfields Head, below is just a sample, of one of over a dozen or more reported in the newspapers. this one 1862. As in most assaults against women, the sentence was light or nonexistent, but for stealing a handkerchief or pair of boots you could expect a prison sentence.
1864, Thomas Frost charged with wilfully breaking windows and assaulting Mr Dewick, the landlord, after being ask to leave. Landlord told the court Frost came into his pub ordered a half pint of ale, when asked for payment Frost offered a button.
The Mansfield Head was put up for Auction in 1856, to be bought by William Bateman.
1867, John Bateman was victualler and brewer. By 1879 he was advertising in the Daily Mercury:
MANSFIELD HEAD BREWERY, MANSFIELD ST
Families supplied with Home Brewed Ales from 1/-(5p) per gallon and upwards in 6, 9 and 18 gallon casks. John Bateman proprietor. All orders promptly executed.
Bateman gave up the licence two years later to Reuben Wakefield, Reuben too was to suffer the same fate as previous licensees: Mary Bell was charged with breaking the pub windows when refusing to quit when drunk and disorderly, so it continued with cases to numerous to mention. Catherine Newman – a ‘bad character’ – stole a bottle of whisky, 9/- and a pawn ticket from a stranger who she had gone out into the pub yard with, after she had met and spent the afternoon drinking with, and on him.
Jan 1875 the gable end of the pub collapsed during a storm. Strange to say the inmates were not aware until informed by a PC who was passing.
Michael McCormack stole a kettle from landlady Mary Bateman in October 1879. He admitted being drunk at the time, went back to the pub to apologise and return the kettle, but was still charged. He was remorseful in court but he was still given a month’s hard labour. This was a harsh punishment compared with those who had committed vandalism by breaking many windows: none of whom suffered McCormack’s fate, most being fined or having to pay the damages.
A Thomas Blakeman would appear as landlord and brewer in 1886. John Burdett 1890.
The Mansfield Head was eventually leased to LBM in 1890 and they purchased the pub outright three years later.
1891 John Tow was licensee and John Ballard 1893. David Adcock 1898. Joseph Sylvester Beeby 1902. Edwin Heaps also 1902. Henry John Wagstaff 1904, George Roberts 1905. Thomas Wilson 1906 (deceased 1907) Clara Wilson took on the licence, in April of that year until George Warburton Ballard was appointed in the September. Herbert Papworth landlord in 1912.
By 1915, the writing was on the wall for many beer houses. The authorities were clamping down on the proliferation of outlets and under the compensation scheme the Mansfield Head (together with County Arms in Denman Street, Grape in Grape St and Peacock in Southgate St), was closed in April 1915. The tenant was compensated with £125 and LMB Brewery received £1645.
