Originally the Rifle Volunteer, it quickly changed to the Leicester Volunteer – perhaps as there were two other ‘Rifle Volunteers’ in the town. The museum’s photo below, was unknown whereabouts for some time until CP named it as the Leicester Volunteer, as the name Wyman appears on the signboard. Elizabeth Wyman kept the beer house in 1908.
2 Watling Street in 1860 was classed as a hosiery business and workshop, due to be demolished. If that happened, or part of it did, is unknown but a recording of a Rifle Volunteer beerhouse at this address is in 1861, ran by Henry Badden, a tailor employing a man and three girls.
Job Jackson, a frame work knitter was in Watling Street in 1851. No’s 2, 4, 6 and 8 were occupied the same. By 1861, Jackson is a grocer at no’s 6 & 8 Watling Street, but later that year Jackson is now beerhouse keeper at no 2 – the Leicester Volunteer. By the late 1860s John Freeman is in attendance, he is also listed as owner.
Various other licensees would grace the Volunteer, including Albert Hunt in 1890: John Low the same year, 2 Watling Street is recorded as Hunt & Morgan, boot manufacturers and as a beerhouse. 1891 Rob Kirchin was licensee.
1893 George Warren held the licence, 1894 Sam Jackson, John Bannister 1897, It is around this time Ind Coope became the owners. Wm Jackson 1901 Walter Judkin 1903 before George Whyman 1906 followed by Elizabeth Whyman (pic above) 1908.
M Horan 1910-deceased- John Cox 1913, Wm Sutton 1914, John Garner 1915.
After World War I, it was listed as a beer retailer and still recorded as such in the 1920s (John Garner still licensee) and 1930s.
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