PRINCESS CHARLOTTE – THE CHARLOTTE, OXFORD STREET

 Photo above shows Princess Charlotte, circa 1895, on the corner of Oxford Street (Horsepool) and Newark Street.

Named after Princess Charlotte, daughter of George IV who would have become Queen had she lived but died 1817 aged twenty two. The pub was recorded in 1815, but how much earlier is unknown.

 It was auctioned off in 1842, together with a brewing plant.

In 1857, William Kelham, together with his wife, Sarah, took on the pub from Moses Wilby who earlier in 1852 had been charged with assault on a customer. William Kelham was fined in December 1858 for having his pub open after hours.  He claimed he fell asleep and didn’t know the time. William moved in April 1860 to become a malster, living in Chancery Street. His wife Sarah, who had had nine children and was deemed promiscuous, took up with a man named Harrison, moved to Full Moon Yard, Bond Street, where she was rendered destitute and pregnant. What followed became a major talking point and court case.

Sarah decided on the option of visiting the ‘wise woman of Wharf Street‘ – Elizabeth Goddard.  She told Sarah’s daughter, Sophie, that she could take care of things for a sovereign, to come the next evening at dark and tell no one.  After the abortion, Sarah went home, and died of a perforated womb, bowel and membrane of the vagina – caused by a blunt instrument, in the conclusion of the post mortem.

Elizabeth Goddard was charged with murder. It was claimed in court that before she died, Sarah told her daughter, ‘Mrs Goddard has done me mischief, she has killed me.’  The prosecution didn’t spare Sarah Kelham’s memory, however, claiming that she was living a shamelessly adulterous life that wished to get rid of the evidence.

Goddard was found guilty of wilful murder, his lordship donned the black cap to pass sentence: 

‘Elizabeth Goddard you will be taken to the place from whence you came and from there to the place of execution, you will be hung by the neck until you are dead.  May the lord have mercy on your soul.’

This was later commuted on appeal to life in prison and, according to the Leicester Mercury, she was transported for life.  What really happened to Elizabeth Goddard is somewhat contradictory as in the 1871 census Elizabeth Goddard is recorded living at her old address at 140 Wharf Street.

By 1884 the pub was owned by Thomas Nuthall, North Leicester Brewery. Needham & Crick (which became part of LBM), purchased the property in 1891.

More research is needed on the date of later Charlotte rebuild.

In April 1989, the Princess Charlotte would take on a new persona, becoming  Leicester’s premier live music scene for up and coming bands.  Prior to this most bands from the 1960s onwards performed at Working Men’s Clubs , Dance Halls & night clubs, such as Casino, Burlesque, Nite Owl, Il Rondo etc.  The pub music scene was sparse although pubs such as the Pelican did have their live music nights.  Now called simply The Charlotte though was on another level. For twenty years it became the must go to for live music.  Under the tutelage of Andy Wright, groups such as Oasis, Radiohead, Coldplay, Snow Patrol and, of course, Kasabian – performed there. It had become a Mecca for music fans, other bands such as Pulp, the Killers, Elbow and the Proclaimers performed there.

In 1998, Andy knocked through the old bar to double the capacity from 200 to 400. The pub side ceased to be. The old LBM ornate bar however survived by being accommodated in the Ale Wagon, Charles Street.

Looking from inside one of the bars (Rob Hubble Made in Leicester)

All good things come to an end and in 2009 Andy called it a day due to rising costs and exorbitant rents (although I believe he is still promoting gigs) He had given Leicester twenty years of mostly top notch (loud) sweaty music entertainment.  A good read on the Charlotte can be found on leicestershirelalala.com foe me the Charlotte stands alone together with perhaps the Il Rondo during the 1960’s as the most exciting music venue during my life time, The Musician in Crafton St however still fly’s the banner for ‘proper’ live bands.

The Charlotte closed for a while, only to open up again as a micro pub c2015 selling different real ales.  This also closed within a couple of years, for the last time.  As of 2017, it served as an oriental food wholesalers but continues to adorn the ‘Charlotte’ name outside to remind us what it was.

Sadly Andy Wright passed away 2022 not only was he one of the most influential in the Leicester pub music scene, a great guy to deal with.