Photo above John Zienteck. Circa 1946. Corner Wheat and Lead Street.
The Wheatsheaf looks to be a Georgian building, the first known record was from 1827, when John Hefford was listed as licensee (JR) Mr and Mrs Redshaw ran the pub c1828, The address was then often referred to as Wharf Street. John Abbott landlord 1830s, In January 1839, William Perkins applied to take the licence. As he had no experience, the Magistrates advised him to study the Beer House Act carefully.
Joseph Townsend apparently kept the Wheatsheaf 1828, he later move to the Green Dragon 1830 and the Magpie 1832 where he became bankrupt.
In 1828, both the LJ and Herald reported on Thomas Greenhough, a sergeant in the 81st Regiment of Foot at the time stationed in Leicester, who took up a night’s accommodation at the Wheatsheaf, Wheat Street. Mary Redshaw, landlady, served Greenhough brandy, rum and ale. She recalled he was in low spirits and advised him to go upstairs to bed. He exclaimed ‘I am a poor unfortunate man’ and took himself to bed.
Greenhough’s body was found the next morning, and an inquest was held almost immediately at the Wheatsheaf. A jury was assembled and inspected the body which was covered in blood, a razor at his feet. Apparently Greenhough had cut his throat, but not finding it effective, he fastened the door and hung himself with a large quantity of rope.
The Jury found that he “Destroyed himself in a fit of temporary insanity: nine of the Jury for the above and three of a further ‘felo de se’ (felon of himself), which meant he forfeited any property or possessions to the Crown. A proper burial was also denied, mainly at night in an unmarked grave).
Many licensees graced the Wheatsheaf . George Holmesc 1848-62. From the 1860s the pub would have over 20 licensees. 1862 Thomas Peberdy, 1872 Benjamin Walker who was also listed as owner of the Wheatsheaf, Wm —–? also 1872, Wm Addison 1876, 1877 Frank Mills, also 1877 Richard or Ronald Neale, 1878 George Pilcher, 1881 Joseph Herbert, 1882 Joseph Baker, 1883 Wm Bates, 1883 John Hammond, 1884 Sarah Ann Juba, 1884 Samuel Smith, 1884 Sarah Ann Juba again.
(Sarah Ann Juba would spend most of her life running beerhouses etc, married to Otho Juba son of a brewer,they kept the Black Dog in Oadby 1870, Otho died 1876, undeterred Sarah Ann would move to a beer off at 60 Junction Rd in 1877, a year later to 68 Syston St, before again a year later licensee of the Pointsman Northampton St, 1881 Sarah is back in Syston St at Dew Drop Inn as beerhouse keeper. In 1888 She is now running the Defience Inn Craven St. Sarah died 1899 aged 65)
One family would keep the Wheatsheaf from c1886 until into the 1930s Thomas Clarke and wife Sarah Elizabeth, Thomas died there 1924, wife Sarah Elizabeth took on the licence until she too died there in 1930, afterwards son Thomas would take over.
Harry Hall, licensee during 1930s in 1939 he became involved in a melee when an augment escalated. One man was hit over the head with a pint and when the licensee intervened he was assaulted, as was his wife, daughter and niece. At one time the whole of the pub was fighting. Three men were eventually arrested for assault, taken to court and fined.
Thomas Fitch was licensee during the 1940s until The Wheatsheaf closed in c March 1954, when the area was required for development. the licence transferred to the new New Parks pub yet to completed.
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