Russell Square stood at the bottom of Wharf Street and the Full Moon was sometimes listed as in Wharf Street.
A Georgian building, it certainly traded from early 1820s, perhaps even prior to that, Thomas Swan was victualler during this decade, Nov1834 John Arnsby of the Half Moon (this was not the only time the pub was called the Half Moon) was charged by Moses Pegg, Peggs witness’s a man named Hooker was newly working for Pegg together with Powell, the two called out John Arnsby for serving ale after 10pm, in court Hooker said he hadn’t been in Leicester long so didn’t know Wharf St well, Powell on the other hand did, he refused to appear in court due to possible reprisals and the displeasure of his wife, no matter John Arnsby was fined 40/- plus costs. Moses Pegg as an informer would be paid from the court, he would then pay his so called witness’s who were often destitute and would perjure themselves to earn a few pence. (John Arnsby was also named as landlord of the Union in Wharf St in March 1833 when being fined 40/- for a similar offence. Difficult to know which is right , newspaper reports could be notoriously inaccurate during that period)
Charles Craythorne seem to follow in the 1830s. The Craythorne family’s association with the Full Moon – in occupation or ownership – lasted over sixty-years. Charles, who remarried in 1860, passed away in 1869, the licence passing to son, Christopher, a butcher.
There was reports of a young bear called Harry being kept at an un-named Leicester inn during the 1770s. It was claimed Harry could wait tables and was described by the LJ as ‘wonderfully docile, a favourite with the people.’ Unfortunately Harry became addicted to ale, leading to many boisterous antics, that his master was forced to part with him.
Robert Reid, in the 19th century book Modern Leicester, does name a location:
A frolicsome Bruno (bear) has lately been seen playing ‘Old Harry’ round the Full Moon in Russell Square. A performing bear which is now a great curiosity in the area.
Two accounts of a young tame bear – how true are the reports is debatable.
The Full Moon building is certainly old enough to account for the chronicling but there is no record of the pub being there then.
Photo above – the Full Moon is shown as closed up, with the blanked out signage on first floor. The adjoining properties cornering Willow Street, owned prior to 1895 by the afore-mentioned Christopher Craythorne.
In 1861 in one of his first court appearances (of which there were many), he was to charge vagrant, James Stone, of sleeping on some hay in his barn. Poor Stone was given fourteen days hard labour. Christopher Craythorne was later found guilty of being open at 12.15am. His defence was that he took the time by the Corn Exchange clock which must have been slow.
Craythorne moved his wife and seven children from the pub circa 1872 to the butcher’s and slaughter house next door.
Other licensees that followed were William Mosley, who had £105 stolen from his bedroom drawer by George Lovatt in 1873. Lovatt had gained the information from Mr Mosley’s servant girl.
In January 1879, Joseph Palmer had his licence endorsed for serving a drunken man previously ejected from the British Lion. Harry Booth would take over from Palmer in March of the same year.
Christopher Craythorne’s son, Charles, had once again put the Craythorne name above the door by 1887. Charles, however, had the renewal of the Full Moon’s licence objected to in August 1895, as he has just been found guilty of common assault. The information is a little confusing as a week later newspaper reports showed Edward Henry Craythorne as being convicted of selling adulterated brandy at the Full Moon. What is clear however, is the Craythorne’s family major association with the pub all these years. A whole chapter could be written on them. Charles died in 1898. His estate, including the butcher’s and four houses in adjoining Willow Street, were put up for auction.
A full back for Leicester Fosse, he played in their first game in 1891 and in the football league in 1894. The first player to play one hundred games for the club, he also played in the first game at Filbert Street and played first class cricket for Leicestershire.
The pub was now under the LBM stable. Henry Elliot (circa) 1902, was followed by George Richard Dalby, who ran the pub during World War I. 1914 wasn’t a good year for him, however, as his wife, Phoebe, died and he was also summoned with permitting drunkenness on the premises. Herbert Dawson, John Ramkin and George Goddard seem to complete the victuallers until the pub’s closure in 1952, with £3540 being paid in compensation to LBM.
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