The Bear & Staff was advertised for sale in the LJ in August 1839, on the corner of Wharf and Eaton Streets, in occupation of John Burwell. John Glover was victualler in April 1841, when he accused his housekeeper, Ann Hyde, of stealing £33 from his bedroom draw. Some of the money was for the goodwill of the Bear & Staff. Ann claimed that she was more than a housekeeper as she showed him other favours, which was why she had access to his bedroom. The case, therefore, was not proven.
In May of that year, William Loth was charged with breaking the pub’s windows and in July, landlord Glover was charged with setting a dog on a customer, Robert Goodman. By now the LJ was reporting the beerhouse as The Bear & Ragged Staff, as was the LM.
By July 1842 Sam Freer, late of the Woodmans in Rutland Street, moved to the now called White Hart, Wharf Street.
July 1845, the pub was again for sale: the advert read ‘the Public House before known as the Bear & Staff now called the White Hart.’ The LJ reported of a licence change from William Gunn to John Gamble in April 1846 at the Bear & Ragged Staff.
It is probable that Leicestershire holds the not so proud boast of the first county in England to exhibit bear baiting. In 1611, the Corporation accounts give details of a bear garden and the Mayor’s banquet even had bears baited for the amusing distraction between courses.
1854 saw Wm Hannatt as licensee, John Dilks followed 1864, Thomas Shipman, landlord in 1869,, was fined for allowing drunkenness in the pub. Bad conduct surrounded the White Hart at this time and Shipman had his licence opposed to in September 1871. The magistrates allowed him to carry on under strict conditions.
Thomas Shipman survived, as in 1885 he turfed out William Vann for being D&D. On being thrown out Vann smashed some of the pub windows.
By 1890 John Holt was landlord. Harry Burley 1895, James Cocksedge Jnr 1901,(Arthur Sherriff and Peter Mullings both received 21 days hard labour in 1906 for stealing a mail cart from James Cosedge’s White Hart yard) Walter Hill 1908, 1909, Charles Lewis Kinder; 1906 ; George Preston c1916, Emily Caroline Preston 1931, John Thomas Waring 1931, Thomas Henry Davis 1932, The White Hart closed circa 1933.
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