Situated on the corner of St Nicholas Square and St Nicholas St. The Recruiting Sergeant occupied a prominent position, as seen below.
Originally called the Rose & Crown – the age of the pub and when it became the Recruiting Sergeant is unknown. A Rose & Crown was recorded circa 1726, but its whereabouts were unsubstantiated. A report of 1716, stated that a part of the Jewry Wall was uncovered whilst digging a well at the Recruiting Sergeant.
1779 August an ad was placed in the LJ VOLUNTEERS FOR DUKE OF RUTLANDS REGIMENT OF FOOT. apply Sergeant Hill, rendezvous at the Recruiting Sergeant near St Nicolas Church. again in 1780 a similar, but added ‘a large bounty to be given’
In 1786, vaults and a portion of Roman pavement (plus a Roman coin), were unearthed whilst digging a cellar.
1815 Wm Larratt is victular. he was also churchwarden at St Nicolas. by 1833, John Smalley was victualler. Mary Bailey is listed 1850. In 1854, the lease was up for sale: in-going £200, rent £24, it was now taken up by Wm Whatton. By 1862 Samuel Long is licensee as well as owing the pub. Samuel was to lose is daughter Sarah Ann that year aged only 19. Long would transfer the license to Samuel Hardy 1868′ There followed a host of licensees starting with Joseph Shuttlewood 1870 followed by Ann Shuttlewood 1875 on her husband Josephs death.
In July 1869, George Richardson, a higgler aged fifty-seven, called in the Recruiting Sergeant and had had two glasses of whiskey. He fell asleep, and it proved impossible to either wake him or move him (he was a stout fellow). A surgeon who was called who pronounced Richardson dead. The Inquest verdict recorded that death caused by apoplexy, accelerated by drink.
Frank Wells would hold the licence for a short period after Ann Shuttlewood, George Lawrence would take over 1876.
In September 1877, the Royal Antediluvian Order of the Buffaloes (there’s a title), held a presentation night here at landlord ‘brother’ George Lawrence’s Recruiting Sergeant.
On leaving the pub, Lawrence filed for liquidation – owing over £300. He was by then described as a musician. William Copson was installed as licensee 1880. John Simpson 1882, James Hickinbottom 1883, Wm Hose the same year, Charles Sands Smith 1888, John Albert Brooks 1891, Edward Howard 1892, Frederick Neale 1894, It was around this time Ind Coope Brewery would purchase the pub.
Seen here with lamp outside.
Thomas Edwin Cooper became the licensee that year, Mary Jane Cooper followed in 1903. Edwin Bruce 1913, Mary Elizabeth Bruce 1917 with Edwin Bruce again in 1919. John Bray 1922. John Stanley Wolfe Harlow 1932. Gerald Northfold 1938, and Bertie Adams in the late 1940s-1950s Bertie was a well know licensee in Leicester later a landlord at various pubs ie Engine Hotel, Great Northern. and Woolpack. Whilst at the Northamptonshire Arms he had an amazon parrot named Laura.
Laura was known to have a temper, her eyes will roll, her wings become taut and screams of utter distraction will piece the air. (photo’s Leices Evening Mail) As well as Laura Bertie Adams was a well known breeder of Staffordshire Bull Terrier, his most famed dog ‘Diamond Bill’ would achieve many honours including a major at Crufts in 1954. At one of his shows Bertie Adams would present Lord Mayor Mrs Dorothy Russell with a Jack Russel puppy, a breed she was fond off-the name of the Jack Russell, Bertie.
Lets hope this area is redeveloped again, doing away with the Holiday Inn (How did we think it was the height of sophistication to stay there?) therefore exposing more of Roman Leicester as a tourist attraction. It needs someone with vision to achieve this dream.
Barry Lount
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