The first known recording was of James Jarrett having the Star & Garter for sale in March 1810. Jarrett was till there during the early 1820s. In 1824, the beerhouse was up for auction, applications ‘to Mr Marston on the premises.’
Hosea Hefford moved to the Star & Garter June 1826, listing himself as a broker he had previously been victualler of the Globe. It was during this time that the Star & Garter became the King & Crown as shown in the following ad:
FEBRUARY 1828 For Sale Public House latterly known as The Star & Garter, now the King & Crown in the occupation of Hosea Hefford.
Hosea Hefford was to become persona non grata in Leicester after the vicious rape on an eleven-year old-girl, Ann Harrison. In court in January 1829, Hefford was described as once a publican in this town. Married with children, Hefford was also charged with badly wounding the child as she had internal injuries which months later hadn’t healed. After an appalling and highly charged case, Hosea Hefford was given just twelve months imprisonment. Contrast this with Alice Voss, a servant at Hefford’s who was given twelve months for stealing some gowns and ribbon from the family. It seems as Thomas Crawley followed Hefford.
October 1832, saw the sale of the brewery vessels at ‘Mr Hunts King & Crown.’
In 1833, one Mr Withers was landlord. In November that year Constable Bennett called in the King & Crown. An argument developed over a letter which the PC grabbed from the landlord, stuffing it in his pocket and refusing to return it. Mr Withers tried to retrieve the letter from the PC’s pocket – only to receive a blow to the mouth. The landlord then took the liberty of returning a blow to the constable’s nose, breaking it and causing the PC to squeal. The magistrates concluded that they had heard enough to dismiss the case, taking some delight in the constable’s predicament due to the fact that he had got himself in scrapes previously. The Chief magistrate expressed the view that PC Bennett had got a ‘Rowland for his Oliver’ – a phrase used meaning an adequate response or measure for measure.
1834 A PEACE-BREAKING PEACEMAKER ran the headline in the LC, Constable Prior was charged with being drunk & disorderly on Sunday morning, his accuser was street keeper Jelly, who took Prior into custody Jelly arrested him at the back of the King & Crown, (just where the Bishops would have his Majesty) The magistrates; as their was no distinct charge recommended the parties settle the matter themselves, but it was very disreputable for conservators of the peace to break the peace, and hoped to hear of no such conduct in future.
Samuel Ross was victualler, 1835 – 1849. In February 1840, John Johnson, aged nineteen, who had been drinking in Samuel’s tap, relieved Ross of 9lbs of lead from the brewhouse. For this theft Johnson received six months imprisonment with hard labour.
Oliver Gisborne followed Ross in March 1849 to June 1851.
In 1833, one Mr Withers was landlord. In November that year, Constable Bennett called in the King & Crown. An argument developed over a letter which the PC grabbed from the landlord, stuffing it in his pocket and refusing to return it. Mr Withers tried to retrieve the letter from the PC’s pocket – only to receive a blow to the mouth. The landlord then took the liberty of returning a blow to the constable’s nose, breaking it and causing the PC to squeal. The magistrates concluded that they had heard enough to dismiss the case, taking some delight in the constable’s predicament due to the fact that he had got himself in scrapes previously. The Chief magistrate expressed the view that PC Bennett had got a ‘Rowland for his Oliver’ – a phrase used meaning an adequate response or measure for measure.
Samuel Ross was victualler, 1835 – 1849. In February 1840, John Johnson, aged nineteen, who had been drinking in Samuel’s tap, relieved Ross of 9lbs of lead from the brewhouse. For this theft Johnson received six months imprisonment with hard labour.
Oliver Gisborne followed Ross in March 1849 to June 1851.
1851, saw the licence pass from Oliver Gisborne to James Cox, and from Cox to a butcher from Lenton, Notts – William Henry Nutt – September 1857. There followed quite a few more licencees (see JR’s list).
In 1874, Joseph Taylor called at Rothley House in Rothley on his mare and trap, securing (or so he thought), the mare to a rail. Taylor called at the house, but something spooked the mare and she galloped off at full speed, the trap in tow. She sped all the way back to Leicester, down the Belgrave Rd, before finally being caught by a young man off Archdeacon Lane (Vaughn Way), who sprung on the horse as it passed and succeeded in halting the mare. She seemed alright after her ordeal but the trap needed some repairs.
R.A.O.B, King & Crown Lodge would meet at Mr Taylors. In August 1876, an interesting initiation took place when Mr J. Pratt, an eighty-two-year-old soldier. who was wounded at the battle of Waterloo. recounted his days with the 7th Fusiliers.
Another Ross William kept the pub during the 1890s. His son, Joseph, seemed wayward, turning up in court for amongst other things, assault, ordering a suit, failing to pay and charging it to someone else, and molesting a barmaid.
A case in 1913, Thomas Edward maliciously wounded Robert Redford in the King & Crown by smashing a glass in his face. Redford turned up in court with his head and face swathed in bandages. The assault was over an augment whether Hong Kong was under the jurisdiction of the British Government.
The King & Crown closed during the 1920s. Joseph Heywood was possibly the last landlord.
The Pub History Project has a podcast. Please subscribe and have a listen with a pint of your favourite ale.