(Photo above: circa 1893).
Stood on the corner of St Nicholas Square and Talbot Lane. There are two versions of the Talbot, the first was recorded in the 15th century. Sometimes recorded as in Applegate. sometime Coventry St, and then a rebuild 1901.
First record is of 1485, In an undated Subsidy roll of 15th century Lord Mountjoy was taxed for The Talbot which lay in the South & West quarters and in 1493 The Chancery of Corpus Christi paid a rent of 2/- to the King for the Talbot which they had let for 24/- per year. (Mary Bateson)
First victulars name i can find so far is John Wykes 1766, when an auction was held here. 1789 Thomas Collingwood was named as victular, again at auction. George Taylor 1813, Rebecca Sharpe by 1828. John Ward 1835. George Evans 1840. George was there for approx 25 years before George Hannam 1870,John Wildbore came in 1875. he was also listed as owner of the Talbot.
Thomas Plant victular 1877. James Smart 1885. Arthur Hawkins 1900, It was around then the rebuild took place. architects drew up and submitted plans for a new facade. This and the licence was renewed.
Wm Ganney 1901., he died and George Shirley Ganney took over c1927. Leonard Marlow 1930 and Walter Grewcock 1932. Edward Morris c1936 No records of publicans after that. Jan 1937 Tarratts auctioneers held a sale of the ‘Late The Talbot’ brewery F&F.
The Toothless Rat Catcher – In a booklet by Karen Barrow, one Mr Warren (born in 1914), recalled that:
Once a month on a Sunday dinner time, a smartly dressed fellow used to enter the Talbot with a sack on his back, The moment he entered all the customers in the bar would stand on their seats. Then the man would take his coat off, put his false teeth on the bar, put his hand in the sack and bring out three big rats which he let free in the bar, the man would stalk the rats on his hands and knees, worrying them with his gums, he would collect money around the pub, the collection being all for charity.
Mr Warren doesn’t say when this was only that it was in the Old Talbot.
This stood for less than forty years, as it was pulled down for development, but was halted when it was found that the site stood on part of the old Roman forum. MB claims, the licence was transferred to the New Coronation pub when the old Talbot closed in 1937.
The Talbot was owned since the 1890s by All Saints Brewery, then in 1929 Ind Coope.
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Do you have anymore details on the Talbot. My g. g.grandfather kept the pub in the 1860’s but I have little info about it. His name was George Hannam. Also where and how can I get copies of the photos .
Thank you.
Hi Maggie, as you know your family have had major links to Leicester brewing and pubs, George whos parents I believe were Mary & William brewers in Northampton Sq, George and wife Sarah also ran the Three Cranes in Humberstone Gate c1860 and the Spa Tavern William St c1880, feel free to copy any photos, if not I can always email. Regards Barry