KINGS ARMS – OLD KINGS ARMS, 100 SANVEY GATE

First licensee I can find is of James Abel 1791 he was succeeded by Catherine Abel from 1794 to c 1832.

A Kings Arms is recorded 1726, later a New Kings Arms is listed in 1745, so perhaps the Sanvey Gate Kings Arms would add ‘Old’ to distinguish the two. certainly listed in directories as Old Kings Arms during the Abels time in 1818, but 1828 listed Kings Arms, which is understandable considering record keeping at that period. 1837 Catherine Abel dies aged 83, described in the Leicester Herald as ‘Highly respected victular with a large circle of friends’ Henry Simpson is listed from 1837 as victular, John Cragg c1840,

One of my ancestors, Thomas Lount can be shown in number 5.

Barry Lount

The publicans of the town were mainly in support of the working man’s aims and contributed to their cause.  The motives behind this were doubtless mixed and require closer inspection.  Many beer house keepers were themselves in dire straits.

In the list of publicans contributing to FWK funds in 1824, Catherine Able of the Old Kings Arms is listed under Sanvey Gate. 1828 The Ables daughter Elizabeth married a butcher James Lines from Highcross St

The Old Kings Arms is not well represented in records – another tantalizingly, without a photo, considering Sanvey Gate was a well used thoroughfare.  Yet it must have been reasonably substantial as it took in lodgers. John Cragg in Aug 1842 is fined £1 for allowing liquor to be sold on a Sunday morning. The 1851 census shows John Cragg still victualler, together with his wife, three daughters and three lodgers all living there. Wm Fielding follows c1854,

Fielding would soon transfer the licence to James Lines-butcher- who owned the Old Kings Arms. (James and Mrs Lines would own the pub until it was closed in 1909, often owners held the licence between victulars. Lines would soon appoint another landlord William Gibson or Gimson late of the Foundry Arms in Jan 1855. When Lines purchased the pub from the Able’s we are not sure, but it seemed an obvious move as he had married the Able’s daughter Elizabeth, James Lines was an award winning butcher, but he was once charged with neglecting his father aged 80 and forced to pay 2/5d per week towards his keep.

John Stains was landlord in the 1860s until c 1867 when Ronald Hack is listed followed by Thomas Hack, the Hacks are there for about 20 years, Elizabeth Walker come in 1884 as landlady, she herself is there for twenty years until 1904 when Wm Judkins moves from the Riffle Volunteer. Wm Wragg takes over 1906 until its closure in 1909. Leicester Brewing & Malting would supply the beer.

Inquests were also held here, such as in 1889 when the coroner was incensed at the third new born child was found floating in the canal in as many weeks.  He declared that ‘This is quite a public scandal and shows a great deal of immorality going on in Leicester.’ How the bodies got there is not known but the coroner’s inference is that they were concealed births, possibly thrown in the canal or washed down with effluence.

LBM Leased the pub in 1882 after it had previously brewed its own. James Lines the owner died in 1886 aged 83, his wife Elizabeth would inherit the ownership of the pub, so in essence the ownership had come through the Able’s family since c1790.

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