Photo above: Royal Arms boarded up (behind bus top).
The first known reference is of William Valentine Cockshaw who owned the property and was listed as licensee 1868. Miss Emma Cockshaw, aged twenty-three, was running the Royal Arms in 1870. The Cockshaws had lived at the property since at least the 1850s. Father, William was an engraver and printer, as was his son. Daughter, Emma first appeared as a beer house keeper at the same address in 1870 – her sister, Elisabeth, aged twenty-two, was the housekeeper. The Cockshaws were obviously an enterprising family with Miss Emma running a beerhouse at a very early age, although her family seemed to be living and working at the same address. By 1875, son William was in charge. 1878 saw Richard Harriman as landlord living here with his family, together with a live in barmaid and servant.
Further licensees: 1881 Benjamin Wa-her 1882 Daniel Underwood. 1885, John K. Marsden? 1886 Joseph White. 1887 Mathew Smith. 1888 William Bates. 1889 John Hubbard. 1890 Samuel Mills. 1901 Charles Walker. 1904, James Wheeler, 1909 Jimmy Blessington, 1913 William Bannister, 1919 Mary Bannister,1919 William Bannister, 1923 James Mason.1938 William Mawby. 1950 Alan Billson. 1960 David Leslie Charity (this list is not complete)
Jimmy Blessington (photo above), was landlord of Royal Arms circa 1911, before moving to Ireland. A Scottish International, he played for Leicester Fosse 1903-09, and was Leicester’s first club manager, 1907-09. Leicester Foxes Alphabet states he did so much to redefine the face of English professional football.
An ex team mate of Blessington’s, ‘Billy’ Bannister, was to follow as licensee. Billy was also an international footballer, having played for England before joining Leicester Fosse (for more on William Bannister see Woolcombers Arms, where he was also landlord).
The Royal Arms, a Holes Brewery pub since c1890 lost its licence on 9 July 1960. The Police objected to the renewal as “the licence was unnecessary having regard to the character and necessities of the neighborhood.” “Welford road being saturated by public houses”
Compensation to be paid.
The Marlborough’s Head suffered the same fate that meeting..
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