(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.
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.
Uncertain of the exact date when the old Talbot was demolished and the new one was built, but it was sometime around 1902.
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 Talbot closed in 1937.
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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