The White Lion can be seen accessible from Market Place or Cank Street. Development has taken place around it. The entrance in the Market place is now down a passageway next to where Gadsby’s Shop, now is no. 22 Market Place. Little wonder there is very scant photographic evidence available.
Billson wrote that the White Lion has been there since the reign of Queen Elizabeth I, although much altered. It was certainly one of Leicester’s major inns, with auctions and all manner of meetings being held here. From circa 1760s, sales of stocking frames took place here. auctions etc.
Drawing above, 1740s of the White Lion has the name William Birstall as keeper. There is another drawing circulating of the same period that names the it the Red Lion. This can probably discounted as a mistake with no other evidence of a ‘Red Lion’ on the north side of the Market Place.
c1747 Richard Barry is recorded as licensee, 1791 John Reynolds, he died c1808 the pub was to be “let with extensive brew house and mash tub” (MB records the butler Thomas Hose running the pub for a short while, then then a confectioner John Messinger ) before John Reynolds who died his son also John was recorded there 1812. The ad below from the LJ dated Feb 1912.
1815 Joseph Jeays, was licensee, 1840 Mary Jeays. 1843 William Halford, 1850 Mary Hitchcock, 1855 Miss Elizabeth Hitchcock. 1864 Henry Freeman, 1868 George Rigby.
1869 Thomas William Wallis, 1877 John Wallis, also 1877 Henry Windham, 1882 Charles Coleman (dec) 1891 John Nicholson, also 1891 John or Tom Hart, 1895 Thomas Tolton. 1898 Robert Leonard Wherry, 1902 Elizabeth Bailey Wherry. 1920 Harry Harding.
The White Lion was owned by Peter Robinson Brewery- the only one in Leicester- they sold it to J Hall of Kirby Rd Leicester he later leased to local brewery Brunt Bucknell & Co
Surprisingly renewal was refused 1921,Objection was on the grounds of redundancy, which was obviously not the case Harry Harding tenant would say he sold over 8 barrells a week of draft beer ( about 2304 pints 450 doz bottles, 300 gallons of wine plus yearly 500 gallons of spirits. It was also the headquarters of the Theatre Workers, no complaints had ever been made against the pub, The argument was then made that the entrances from Market Place and Cank St were cut off at night which made it difficult for the police to supervise. Never the less the magistrates concluded the White Lions licence would be revoked.
Compensation was paid a total £4946.00, £600.00 to the lessees Brunt Bucknell & Co and £500 to Harry Harding tenant. With £3846.00 going to the estate of Joseph Hall. The White Lion finally closed 25th May 1922
The White Lion was hurriedly sold off within a month of closing in June 1922 by Tarratts it fetched £5000.00, the buyer was not recorded at the time in the press. Which does beggar the question of some jiggery pokery had taken place. ??