Photo above: Standing almost right next to the Earl of Stamford.
A pub since at least 1812, and in the shadow of the railway bridge, the Crown & Thistle shook every time a train passed over. The noise and soot from the trains must have been unbearable at times.
Circa 1981 as the bridge was taken down.
The Crown & Thistle didn’t close until circa 1970, then it became retail used by heating engineer firm in its later days.
Boarded up and ready for demolition in 1996. The Pub sign bracket – still on the façade – was rescued for posterity.
Among its many licensees were Halford Horatio Heich, who kept the pub from February 1872 to October 1873 (see below). He passed on the licence to Edward Dayman. In 1867, Dayman applied to re-erect the Crown & Thistle, which suggested it had been pulled down. This was approved as long as he set it slightly on an angle. Dayman agreed and was paid £40 compensation.
The Bowstring Bridge was erected in the 1890s. Edward Dayman was still there in 1877, as he provided a refreshment tent for the North Leicester Flower Show which was held in the grounds behind the Crown & Thistle and Earl Stamford. The organisers declared that ‘Children attending the workhouse school & the imbeciles in the Union were gratuitously admitted to the show.’
Edward sold the pub to William Goddard in 1881. A later landlord during the 1920s was Charles Rosevear, who played centre forward for Leicester Fosse circa 1900. He kept the pub for many years.
Extracts below from Drink & Damnation by Lount and Spur.
I remember my parents talking about Rosevier’s in the 50s and a train that derailed on the bridge ending up overhanging the yard of the pub
Thanks Chris, I had forgotten about that incident, there are photo’s somewhere of the train hanging over the garden, will try to trace them, thanks again
Does anyone know where Halford Horatio Heich died and is buried? I am partbof a major project to locate the graves of Veterans of the American Civil Wart in the UK, of which there are a surprisingly large number.