Photo above: Atmospheric picture of Prince Blucher circa 1900. It stood on the corner Waterloo Street and Wellington Street.
Circa 1820s and named after the Prussian general who fought with Wellington at the Battle of Waterloo.
William Taylor was landlord by 1827. During the family Taylor’s time, in January 1831 a neighbour’s six year-old daughter, Mary Buswell, died when her dress caught fire whilst boiling a kettle on the open fire. She rushed into the street fully alight, where neighbours tried to douse the flames, but she died shortly after. The inquest was heard at the Prince Blucher. William and John Taylor would be hosts c1840-50
In 1844 James Dorman, was charged with scattering ‘night soil’ in the street to which he pleaded guilty. He claimed it was horse manure, not human. Mrs Taylor of the Prince Blucher said at court it wasn’t offensive, so the case was dismissed.
In January 1845, John Woodcock, a young servant at the Prince Blucher, was found dead in his bed. The inquest found he ‘died from a visitation of God.’
It seems William Stanley took over shortly before 1850, soon to be replaced by Mr & Mrs Toon.
Thomas Mawby, fifty-year old a cab driver, sat in the Blucher drinking. He left his seat, went outside and up into the hay loft above the stable. After a time, a companion went looking for Mawby, only to find him hanging from a beam. The inquest was subsequently held at the Prince Blucher where a verdict of ‘suicide whilst of unsound mind’ was given.
By circa 1862 Robert and Sarah Spick were victuallers.
In May 1856, the Spicks held a dinner and entertainment for the ‘Coal Higglers’ of the town. Sarah Spick would die at the pub January 1861, aged thirty-nine.
In August 1867, Spick was charged with being open in illegal hours. PC Farmer said he entered the Blucher in the morning to find a man who had a three parts full glass of ale – which he tried to hide by placing flowers over the glass. Spick was still fined 10/-.
Robert Spick was to transfer to William Groocock in 1874, He was listed as owner and licensee. He almost immediately sold the brewery contents as he was about to enlarge the premises for more and better accommodation. The venture proved costly, as in May 1881 William Groocock was declared bankrupt to the tune of over 3k.
The following landlord didn’t seem to fare much better either: John Atkinson Harper left after 4 months was declared insolvent in February 1883, sometime after leaving the Blucher. Henry Windram (?) followed Harper for a couple of years.
George Lee, landlord of the nearby Duke of Wellington, died in suspicious circumstances when he met Charles Windows at the Prince Blucher. A quarrel broke out between them just outside the pub, landlord Harper witnessing Windows strike George Lee two violent blows to the head, knocking him unconscious. George Lee eventually returned to his pub, where he shortly died. Lee was an intemperate character, Windows an ex prisoner. Charles Windows was found guilty of manslaughter and committed to the Assizes.
In October 1883, the Prince Blucher was up for sale in the occupation of A. N. Bickley. It was advertised as being completely rebuilt, with newly fitted vaults, together with an ‘old established cab business’ attached. Bickley gave up the business in July 1886 . Henry Windram became licensee (was this the same Henry Windram that ran it in 1881?)
Thomas Williams became landlord 1888. Everards would own the Blucher c1890. With Alfred Crowhurst landlord, he was later to run the Newfoundpool Inn, with the pubs name changed in recognition of his service to The Crows Nest.
Charles Coleman would follow Alf Crowhust, Mary Ann Coleman after Charles. Arthur Hudson 1897, William Hall 1899. William Hubbard 1904. Walter Hubbard 1920 were other licensees, the Hubbards were there until c1934,
In December 1890, Leicester Rovers Bicycle Club held a dinner at the Blucher to commemorate their second anniversary, with sixty members attending. (Cycling was a big sport in late Victorian times – Leicester was a major venue for Penny Farthings racing).
In December 1911, customer Joseph Welsh was declared insane and committed to the Asylum for refusing to quit the Blucher by landlord William Hubbard after hitting a customer, then striking PC Gray.
It was in 1916, that the Prince Blucher changed its name (Leicester Mercury 20 March 2007) apparently overnight to the Admiral Beatty to placate anti German feeling during the World War I, (plenty of other Prince Blucher pubs in the country decided to keep theirs and are still known by this today). In directories of 1920 and even 1939, it is still known as the Prince Blucher.
Frederick Syer saw kept the pub pre 2nd War, Walter Keay saw through the war until c1951. William Fisher c1951-54. Howard Moore 1954-57 and Charles Carter c1957
Photo Demolition of the Admiral Beatty, looking down Waterloo Street. It closed 31 December 1970, Sidney and Ann Worwood the last licensees of the by then haunted Admiral Beatty: ‘A man in an overcoat sitting in a corner gazing out of the window’ was the resident ghost (Pete ‘Basil’ Worwood).
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