The Mill Lane addresses go down from Fairfax St: 1a, 1b, 1c, 1d, 1e, to 1f – the Mill Lane Tavern, so the Duke of Edinburgh was the building in the centre of the picture (see above). The Mill Lane Tavern can just be seen far left, on the corner of Cromwell Street.
Circa 1869-1908, the Duke of Edinburgh had around a dozen landlords in it short time. One George Wilson was summoned in August 1894, for assaulting a customer. Francis Bloxham. Bloxham claimed that the landlord approached him, asking when he was going to settle up his debt. After a flippant reply by Bloxham, George Wilson struck him three times around the ear.
Mr Hinks, representing the landlord, said he admitted the assault but it was a ‘trumpery’ affair and asked the bench to be lenient and not deprive Wilson of his livelihood. This they did and dismissed the case.
Other licensees listed include: Jonathan Richards, circa 1869. Samuel Woodcock, circa 1874. John Twilley circa 1876. Isaac Stanton, circa 1879. Both Twiley circa 1874 and Stanton circa 1876, are listed landlords at the nearby Mill Lane Tavern. There’s a story there somewhere.
George Stevenson, circa 1887. Edwin Hulse, circa 1892. Henry Rawcliffe, circa 1896, and Henry Gamble, circa 1904.
A Thomas Salt Brewery pub, it closed in 1912 under the compensation scheme ,the brewery and landlord James Holwell receiving payment.