Richard Street stood behind Northampton Square in the Southampton Street area. It was one of the back street pubs of which that little is known, even though it didn’t close until 1937. No pictures have yet emerged.
Circa 1855, Joseph Moore, a bricklayer’s labourer, moved in with wife, Lucy, and children. Enterprisingly calling himself a builder and publican at 61 Richard Street, Moore gained a new alehouse licence on 26 August 1856, which became the Warden Arms.
Joseph passed the licence on to Joseph Lawton in October 1864. In 1874, Thomas Carvell was in charge, followed by Robert Collins in 1877. Robert Collins was the younger brother of John Collins the Leicester fishmonger that graced Leicester Market for around 100 years, Quite an entrepreneurial family. Robert had moved from the Queen Victoria Crown St (info Steve Collins) Robert was initially listed as brewer followed by his son Richard.
From Collins’ time, the Warden Arms was to become a popular meeting house for various societies, including, the Manchester Oddfellows, Grand Order of Foresters and Midland Angling Club. A Pigeon Fanciers started at the Warden Arms, as did the Hero Homing Club and the Grand Order of Caledonian Corks, a club where people could save money for when they were ill. Mostly this society was based in the West Midlands and Birmingham Area, but an attempt was made at the Warden Arms to formulate one in Leicester. Supporting an Association for the Blind, a concert was held for Leicester Royal Infirmary.
From circa 1890, William Hatton was victualler for many years until the mid 1920s. Then Herbert Chambers was there until circa 1930, with John Low perhaps the last incumbent.
Originally a home brew pub bought by LBM circa 1890, it closed in April 1937, with the licence transferred to Riffle Butts.
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