Named after the nearby railway mens’ trade. Charles Flowers is the earliest known beer house keeper, in the late 1860s. He was also a compositor at the printing firm of Jackson & Foster. He moved to the King & Crown in June 1872.
In April 1875, the Pointsman beer house – together with brewhouse – was put up for sale, with Joseph Foreman in occupation. The adjoining nine houses, no 103-119, were also sold in separate lots.
There followed a succession of licensees through out the 1870s, with Thomas Wildbore 1876, John Edward Carvell or Carroll from April of that year to December 1877, Edward Briggs a year later, on to Sarah Ann Juba (a well known name amongst Leicester licensees). Sarah had been running an offie at 63 Syston Street. She couldn’t have been at the Pointsman long as in September 1879.
Thomas Halford had the licence transferred to William Barnacle, although one paper had his name down as William Barwell. William lasted until April 1881, when Emma Moore came. By mid 1880s Sam Harrison was licensee, although some records still have Emma Moore in charge.
The Pointsman closed circa 1892, and was demolished by the Midland Railway to make way for Swain Street Bridge.
Bird Cage walk off the bridge was always a good vantage point for train spotters. I always wondered why it was called by that name. The most common thought was it was surrounded by cage wire netting reminiscent of a bird cage. I like the idea that it was named after a building in the yard near the two beer houses where Martin Cave manufactured bird cages. This was demolished with the pubs to make way. Well, it’s a thought.
Barry Lount