Intriguing name – could be a place of cock fighting or just someone who kept hens – doubtful if it had any French Huguenots connection.
Confusion as to the exact site of the Blue Cock. It stood on one of the corners of Orchard and Royal East Street (see map re Shamrock). Could have even been a forerunner to the Shamrock.
As early as the 1820s, the Blue Cock was run by landlady Margaret Doyle. Described as ‘lively’, she appeared in the Exchange Court as many times as some of the bench, often for allowing ‘tippling’ after hours. Many times as the complainant of one gripe or another was dismissed from court, she would utter the cry ‘the Blue Cock forever!’
She threatened to abandon the Blue Cock after one court appearance for after hours tippling in February 1832. In June the house was put up for let as a ‘Well established PH recently opened under the new act known by the sign of the Blue Cock.’ Although Mrs Doyle was still there a year later, having trodden her well worn path to the courts a few more times. Usually charged by informer Moses Pegg, and always ending with the yell ‘Blue Cock forever!’ In June 1834, Mrs Doyle had to be restrained after she flew into a rage threatening to ‘do’ Moses Pegg after another case. She was ushered from the court, with informer Pegg being told to keep his distance from her.
By 1835, William Wilton had taken the licence of the beer house, in that year three man climbed through an open window stealing from Wm Wilton oranges, apples and hog puddings, all three were remanded. that indicates like many the Blue Cock sold groceries as well. in August 1837, the Blue Cock was again up for let. The address was Royal East Street.
At some point over the next few years a name change took place, becoming the Duchess of Kent. Brewster records show Daniel Kingston was victualler in 1845 as he transferred his licence to Thomas Wilford. By 1849, Edward Brewed held the licence as he is recorded as transferring it to Stephen James Hobson in September of that year. Hobson only held it for a month and in October Richard Clarke took over. It seemed the licence was a revolving door as in October 1850 J. Buckers name was on it, followed by Samuel Broome. In October 1850, Samuel is recorded as an innkeeper at no 42 Royal East St in the 1851 census, living with wife Mary and three children. He also held the licence for a short period, passing it on to Joseph Allcock.
By November 1851, John Melling was victualler. In March 1852 Thomas Harmer, aged eighty one, took over the reins, the Leicester Journal claiming the name reverted to the Blue Cock. Upon his death a couple of years later he was followed by Daniel Harmer (see Artilleryman). The Duchess of Kent had at least eight victuallers in little over two years.
The area surrounding the pub was poverty stricken, known for its prostitution and poor housing. There were also many lodging houses which drew Irish immigrants.
Daniel Harmer was assaulted on more than one occasion and thefts took place from the Blue Cock. One case in 1855 resulted in a twelve months hard labour sentence for James Clayton, the perpetrator of a theft of 35lbs of mutton that he hid in the Blue Cock’s Brewhouse. Landlord Harmer denied all knowledge of the theft but admitted Clayton had lodged there the previous night. In 1857, an Irish woman was guilty of harbouring stolen goods at the beerhouse.
Daniel Harmer had the licence transferred to Thomas Linnet in September 1858, but stayed in the area to run a lodging house in Abbey Street.
In 1865, landlord Thomas Chamberlain was charged with assault on a customer. Little is known after this period, so it is possible it closed down or changed again to the Shamrock as Mr & Mrs Chamberlain are recorded as victualler at the Shamrock from the mid 1860s, at 24 Orchard Street.
