This would have been built at same time as the Duke of Bedford. The first record to date was January 1869, when landlord Charles Moule held a beer-keepers’ meeting here.
George Flude was to follow. He transferred the licence to Henry Powney in May 1874, and in January the following year Thomas Fiddler took over from Powney. Fiddler offered the beer house for sale January 1876 with little success The Bricklayers would be up for sale and auction through to November when a down payment of £150 the rest on mortgage up to the sale price of £600 was offered.
The outcome is unknown and it seems Fiddler was there for some time. Joseph Durance there in 1879 for a few years, then briefly Joseph Hodges before James Haywood, who also ran his horse and trap hire business from the beer house yard. One Sunday in October 1888, a group of men hired James Haywood’s horse and trap, last being seen in Loughborough Road making a racket with the horse galloping at great speed. Later that day two men came across the trap lying by the road, close by a horse on its back in a ditch. Somehow they dragged the horse out with their wagon, but the poor horse was unable to stand, having broken its back. A vet was summoned and the horse was destroyed.
One of the men involved returned to the Bricklayers with some cushions from the trap, explaining to James Haywood that there had been a smash and a boy would be along with the horse later. Neither the horse & trap or men returned so the landlord called the police. They in turn notified the RSPCA, whose enquiries into the matter were not reported.
James Haywood continued his hire business as in September 1890. He was found guilty of allowing his waggonette, which was plying for trade, to cause an obstruction in the Haymarket – having remained there for 20 minuets. He was fined 10/-.
In 1898, the victualler was Thomas Whitmore who also traded as a coal dealer. Two years later, John Budd resided at the Bricklayers.
A Brunt & Bucknall Brewery of Burton beerhouse at the time of its closure in January 1921. John Budd was still the landlord but listed as a beer retailer in the 1920s directory.
Unfortunately no pictures of either the Bricklayers or Duke of Bedford have been unearthed as yet, even though both stood on the busy Bedford Street Percy Street corners.