The Signal, corner of Sussex Street and Bell Lane in a little side street off of Humberstone Road. The closeness of the railway can be seen in the map.
Circa 1864 Thomas Lee licensee, by 1870 Julia Lee was victualler and the pub was used mainly by railway workers. In August 1872, a meeting was held at the Signal to form a branch of the Amalgamated Society of Railway Servants. Later that year Julia Lee would move to the Crown & Thistle in Loseby Lane so she auctioned off all the brewing vessels and equipment in October 1872, also transferring her licence to Sarah Swift. Sarah was also owner, Sarah applied to add a spirit licence to her beerhouse but was refused in September 1873.
William Greatorex vict 1875, Oct that year The Signal was up for auction. With Bar, Bar palour,tap room, large club room, sitting room, cellars, brewhouse, skittle alley capable of turning into stables, other out offices, stables, wc, also 2 dwellings adjoining no’s 20 & 22, freehold of passage belonging to the above.
Wm Watts of High St then bought the Signal which later was All Saints Brewery.
A Wm Greatorex is landlord of the Forrestors 1874, Signal 1875, Junction Inn 1877 Stag & Hounds 1878, selling the Junction Inn and retiring from business 1879, if its the same man he was busy in buying and selling business’s
Alexandra Foulds had the Signal transferred from Wm Greatorex August 1877. in 1882, followed by John Bull or Ball – by 1890 Frank Wheelband was installed, Arthur Spicer 1894, by 1896 William Tailby was landlord, followed by Francis Tailby c 1924.
William Tailby was here for many years from the mid 1890s, but tragedy struck when, in 1909, his three- year-old daughter Doris, was run over and killed by the All Saints Brewery dray when delivering to the Signal. The horse who was described by the drayman, Frederick Morrison, as easy going and used to traffic, he had been with the horse for five years without a problem. After dropping off three barrels and picking up a couple of empties he left the dray outside the Signal whilst he went to the toilet. He heard the dray start up on the cobbled street, went outside, saw the horse and dray half way down Sussex Street. ‘I think the horse must have been spooked’ said the drayman, “The dray which had several full barrels which would have weighed around 12cwt”.
Doris died shortly after. The inquest was told by a surgeon that her injuries suggested the wheels of the cart passed over the poor girl’s head. A verdict of accidental death was recorded.
William Tailby continued at the Signal into the 1920s. It is not known when the Signal beerhouse closed.
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