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Above: Now a sports and social club, this premises was once a thatched inn known locally as Uncle Tom's Cabin.
(Photo by Steve Badcock, 16.05.2004)
Compiled by Stephen Neale Badcock
It seemed only natural (given the level of interest shown in the article on the pubs of Thringstone) that I should next develop a page on the neighbouring establishments of Whitwick.
They used to say that at one time it was possible to stand in Whitwick Market Place and hit ten pubs with a cricket ball, and to this day the question of exactly how many public houses once co-existed in Whitwick remains a popular saloon-room subject.
Oft-heard claims that the village once had in the region of forty or fifty such establishments are greatly exaggerated. The only way one could arrive anywhere near this estimate would be if one were to include the public houses in Coalville which had stood on the northern side of Long Lane (ie the Red House to the Fox and Goose) prior to 1894, since this part of Coalville was within Whitwick civil parish until that time. However, long before the parochial boundaries changed, Coalville had become established as a distinct and independent community, within its own ecclesiastical parish from 1841, and that several of its hostelries lay within the civil parish of Whitwick hardly merits their inclusion on this list, just as today, one would not put the pubs of Whitwick on a list of Coalville pubs, even though Whitwick is now an electoral ward, within the civil parish of Coalville !
So, in compiling this page, we should stick to Whitwick proper (...the results are still astounding !). The inclusion of the Bulls Head at Greenhill might also seem anomalous, though it does seem to have retained a Whitwick postal address until well within the twentieth century.
The list here is based on an interview with the late Mr Aubrey Colledge of Whitwick (b 1905), who had a great interest in the area's past.
The dates of reference to former landlords come from various sources - trade directories, census returns, newspapers, etc.
(Please note that I will be striving to greatly improve this page by gradually building up information, and would welcome any photographs for inclusion)
The Abbey Inn , Loughborough Road.
Now gone, this had apparently stood right at the top of Cademan Street, on the corner of Loughborough Road, where there is today a bench. It was closed in 1911, after an application for the renewal of its license was refused.
Landlords of the Abbey Inn included: Walter Atkin; Joseph Burton (1911)
The Beaumont Arms, Market Place ('Uncle Toms Cabin')
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Above: Now a sports and social club, this premises was once a thatched inn known locally as Uncle Tom's Cabin.
(Photo by Steve Badcock, 16.05.2004)
Established as a beerhouse around 1830, the Beaumont Arms derived its name from Whitwick's ancient association with the Beaumont family. The pub was also affectionately known as "Uncle Tom's Cabin", probably after a popular landlord called Thomas Jarvis. The inn was closed in 1913, after the Police objected to the renewal of its licence. It was described as a thatched inferior inn, the continuation of which was unnecessary owing to an abundance of other public houses in the vicinity. The proximity of the Beaumont Arms to other houses was read out in court - White Horse, 10 yards away; Hastings Arms, 32 yards; Three Crowns, 85 yards; Railway Hotel, 74 yards; Crown and Cushion, 140 yards; Waggon and Horses, 137 yards and the Black Horse, 157 yards.
Following its closure, the property was taken over as a pawn shop by Mr Whitford. Then, in December 1920, the premises opened as the Whitwick Working Mens' Labour Club and Institute, with Mr G Musson as first Steward. Today, the site is occupied by the Whitwick Snooker and Social Club.
Landlords of the Beaumont Arms included: William Bonnett (1846/1854); Elizabeth Bonnett (1877); George Benson (1881); William Stoneley (1886); William Leeson (1886); Thomas Jarvis (1904); Thomas Allen (1913)
The Black Horse, Church Lane
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Above: The Black Horse.
Photo by Steve Badcock, 16 May 2004
Until recent years, this house was adjoined to the Waggon and Horses (now demolished).
Landlords of the Black Horse have included: Mrs Annie Glover (1916/1928); Tom Kidger (1941).
The Blacksmiths Arms, Barn End Corner
Now demolished, this building stood right at the bottom of Hall Lane, on the same side as the modern day Methodist Church, just before the turn into Silver Street.
The establishment was closed in 1908, following objection to the renewal of its licence by the local constabulary. At the Ashby Brewster Sessions held in February of that year, Supt Lockton stated that the house was so constructed that people could get to the back and be supplied during prohibited hours without being seen. Furthermore, it was argued that the establishment should be closed on grounds of redundancy : trade amounted to just £3 10s to £4 per week, and the proximity of other licensed houses was read out in court - the Three Crowns, 33 yards off; the Boot Inn, 24 yards; the Duke of York, 100 yards, and the Hastings Arms, 97 yards.
The house was described as being small, with a taproom, 15' x 8', parlour, 14' x 9', smoke room, 12' x 9', and kitchen, 11 x 8. At the time of closure, the tenant was 74 year old Harriett Marriott, who had lived there for 23 years.
Landlords of the Blacksmiths Arms included: James Burton (1882); Henry Witham (1882); Thomas Marriott (1886/1891); Mrs Harriett Marriott (1908)
The Boot Inn, Silver Street
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Above: Kicked out of The Trade - The Boot Inn
Seen here as "The Whitty Fish" restaurant, this premises was known as The Boot Inn until it was forced to close just before the First World War, under pressure from the local constabulary. In 2005, the premises became "The Whitwick Spice" Indian take-away.(Photo by Steve Badcock, May 16 2004)
The Boot Inn opened in 1836 and was probably given this name owing to the fact that its first landlord was also a shoe-maker. Closed in 1913, the last landlady was Mrs Sarah Anne Hall (nee Burton). For more than sixty years the premises has contained a fish and chip shop.
Landlords of the Boot Inn included: David Henson (1908)
The Bulls Head, Greenhill
A sign above the door proclaims this pub to be the highest in Leicestershire (some 787 feet above sea level). I have to say that it can certainly get a bit draughty on that beer garden !
Landlords of the Bulls Head have included: William Thurlby (1846); John Smith (1877); John Kirby (1881); Sarah Kirby (1891); John Archer Neale (1904/1916); George Moore (1928/1941)
The Castle Inn, Castle Street
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Above: Subdued by a Canon - The former Castle Inn
It seems hard to believe that this dignified private residence was once renowned as one of the 'roughest' houses in the village. According to tradition, the riotous behaviour of its patrons was once quelled by the intervention of the neighbouring priest.
Photo by Steve Badcock, 16 May 2004
Now a private house, the building retained 'frosted' windows at ground level advertising "Worthington's Ales" until being modernised in 2003. The pub was once widely known as "Patsy Griffin's" and seems to have had a predominantly Irish custom.
There is a celebrated story concerning an incident which allegedly took place at The Castle many years ago. The story goes that one evening trouble broke out in the bars, on such a scale that Mr Griffin began to fear for his own safety. In desperation, Mr Griffin sent for Canon Matthew O'Reilly, the much revered priest of Holy Cross Church who lived just a short distance away. The Canon came immediately and on entering the door of the inn, drew a crucifix from the folds of his cassock and held it aloft. Such was the influence of Mr O'Reilly, it is said that the fighting stopped at once and every man sank to his knees. Satisfied that peace was restored, the Canon delivered a short homily, paid for drinks all round and then returned home ! The Castle closed in 1970.
Landlords of the Castle included: Thomas Beckworth (1884/1891); Patrick William Griffin (1904/1925); Samuel Thomas Collier (1928); Samuel B Whitmore (1941)
The Conservative Club, Silver Street
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Above: What the Doctor Ordered - Whitwick Constitutional Club, photographed in April 2003
(Photo by Steve Badcock)
This imposing house was originally a private residence, built Dr Lambert Houghton in 1888, and known as "Kingscroft". It opened as the Whitwick and Thringstone Conservative Club in 1897, and had become known as the Whitwick Constitutional Club by 1925.
The Cricketers Arms, Leicester Road
Now demolished, the Cricketers Arms occupied Number 18, Leicester Road and was kept for many years by Mr Joseph Ashton. Mr Ashton also manufactured "bauble" here and William White's Directory of 1877 refers to his enterprise as, "The Derbyshire Spar Works". By 1895 however, the description had become less grandiose and he was listed as simply, a "beer retailer and spar ornament worker", indicating the abrupt decline of this localised industry toward the end of the Victorian period.
The Cricketers Arms was shut down in 1908 after the police opposed the renewal of its licence. Speaking against its continuation at the Ashby Brewster Sessions, Superintendent Lockton described the premises as having a yard in a very dirty state. The house contained a bar 21' x 12', taproom 8' x 11' 6", living room 12' x 12' and kitchen 12' x 9'. The Three Horseshoes stood just 17 yards away, the Foresters Arms, 53 yards and the Duke of York, 88 yards.
Landlords of the Cricketers Arms included: Joseph Ashton (1891); Charles and Esther Stanyard (1901); Isaac Austin Thorpe (1904/1908)
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Above: Closing Time - The Crown and Cushion premises, photographed shortly after its closure as a public house, April 2003.
(Photo by Steve Badcock)
The Crown and Cushion, Silver Street ('Thripneys')
The Crown and Cushion premises in Silver Street originally consisted of three cottages, all later incorporated into the hostelry.
The pub was once commonly referred to as "Thripney's". Several theories exist as to how this name was come by - among them, that a former landlord used the term as an endearment for his wife; another, that a former innkeeper wore a "thripney bit" on a fob chain. My favourite is that at a time when beer was two pence a pint, the landlord here charged three pence !
The pub and adjacent cottages are known to have been in the ownership of Benjamin Charles Ward until his death in 1890. He is also thought to have owned the off licence in Green Lane.
For more than seventy-five years the pub was run by the same family. William Smith took over in October 1889 and remained here until his death in 1924. His wife Cecilia then continued as landlady until August 1939, when she was succeeded by her daughter and son-in-law, William and Clara Middleton. Mr and Mrs Middleton ran the pub until well into the 1960s.
I remember visiting the pub fairly frequently around 1988, at which time the landlord was the proud owner of a particularly huge Great Dane which always seemed to take offence when one tried to leave the premises! This particular landlord also utilised part of the pub as a Thai food restaurant, thanks to the culinary expertise of his oriental wife.
In 2002, the Crown and Cushion closed as a public house and was purchased for use as a private residence in 2003 by Joanna Francis, proprietor of Forgotten World Imports, Coalville.
Landlords of the Crown and Cushion have included: Joseph Hull (1889); William Smith (1889-1924); Cecilia Smith (1924-39);William Middleton (1941)
The Crown and Cushion, South Street
Curiously, the village of Whitwick once had two establishments with this name, and within a relatively short distance of one another. The Crown and Cushion, South Street was built around 1836, closed in 1923 and demolished altogether, circa 1970. One of the last landlords was Michael Noon, who played for Aston Villa F.C (1899 - 1906)
Landlords of the Crown and Cushion included: Michael Concannon (1871); James Commons (1891); Thomas Pearson (1903); Michael Noon (1916).
The Duke of Newcastle, North Street
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Above: The Duke of Newcastle. Standing on the opposite side of the road, and also bearing a flag mast, can be seen the Liberal Club (known today as the North Street Working Mens' Club). Right in the distance, on the same side as the Duke, the New Inn can be discerned as the last visible building, standing just beyond the turn into Brooks Lane, on the corner of Talbot Street.
(Photograph by permission of the Coalville 150 Group)
Demolished in recent years, the Duke stood almost opposite the North Street Working Mens' Club. The site is now occupied by part of a small housing development named, "Pare's Close".
Landlords of the Duke of Newcastle included: Robert Brownsword (1877); John Parker (1880); Mary Clarke (1884); George Holloway (1886); Robert Smith (1886); James Eadie (1886); Henry Smith Hancott (1902); James Albert Waterfield (1916); Joseph Massey (1925); Henry Morris (1928); Arthur Richards (1941)
The Duke of York, Leicester Road
Now demolished, the Duke of York stood at the foot of Leicester Road, next to the present-day fish-shop (Ward's). By 1876, the beerhouse had come into possession of William Beckworth, the proprietor of a local building firm, and whose son, Bernard Beckworth, later established a successful mineral water factory in Cademan Street. The Duke of York closed in 1929.
Landlords of the Duke of York included: William Beckworth (1891); Walter Berridge (1913); Edward Webb (1913/1925)
The Forest Rock Hotel, Leicester Road
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Above: This tranquil summer scene was probably snapped during the 1940s. Visually, little has altered, though one would not stroll across that road junction quite as nonchalently today !
(Photograph by permission of the Coalville 150 Group)
One of the oldest hostelries in the area, the Forest Rock became a very popular halt from the 1860's onwards with visitors to Charnwood Forest and the nearby monastery of Mount Saint Bernard. During the 1880s, the Inn also had its own cricket team, 'Whitwick Forest Rock'.
In 1892, the landlord, Mr Swift, advertised the hostelry's tariffs as being; 1/6 for a meat tea, 2/- for a bed and 1/6 for breakfast.
Landlords of the Forest Rock have included: George Draycott (1854); Edward Hood (1877/1881); Joseph Swift (1892); Arthur Edwin Pollard (1904); George Bramwell (1913); Walter Edward James (1913); John Crewe (1925); Fred Hanson (1928); William Plackett (1941)
The Foresters Arms, Leicester Road
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Above: The Foresters Arms, photographed, June 2003.
(Photo by Steve Badcock)
Forming part of a terrace row at the lower end of Leicester Road.
Landlords of the Foresters Arms have included: John Bonser (1877/1891); John W Briers (1925/28); Harry Lovell (1941)
Just for the record, I was interested to discover that John Bonser was my great-great-great-grandfather.(snb).The Hare and Hounds, City of Three Waters ('Mary's House')
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Above: The Hare and Hounds (aka Mary's House), photographed in June 2003.
(Photo by Steve Badcock)
The Hare and Hounds is located on the fringe of Charnwood Forest, just a short distance away from the beautiful woodland walk ways of Cademan Wood. Such an idyllic setting seems poetically complimented by its quaint postal address, The City of Three Waters.
The Hare and Hounds has long been known locally as "Mary's House", possibly after Mary Joyce, a former landlady. (E.J.)
Landlords of the Hare and Hounds have included: Robert Wilkes (1884/1925); Walter Joyce (1928); George William Annable (1941)
The Hastings Arms, Market Place
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The Hastings Arms Inn derived its name from Whitwick's long association with the Hastings family, who were Lords of the Manor for more than 200 years, from the beginning of the seventeenth century.
The earliest reference to the inn is probably that which appears in the 1835 rate book, which shows one William Rowell as the owner.
The Hastings closed in 1961 and the site is now occupied by a car show room.
Landlords of the Hastings Arms included: William Rowell (1846); Mary Hawthorn (1854/1861); Daniel Fern (1877/1891); Thomas William Coulson (1904); Isaac Austin Thorpe (1916/1928); Henry Waterfield (1941)
The Hermitage Inn, Hermitage Road
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Above: Reputedly dating back three hundred years, this semi-detached cottage on Hermitage Road is believed to have been the original Hermitage Inn, until this transferred its licence to another property in 1905.
There have been two Hermitage Inns. The original inn still stands, now a private house, a short distance away from the traffic island dominated by Morrisons supermarket.
In 1905, this hostelry was closed and its license was transferred to a new property some 200 yards away, and which later became known as the Hermitage Hotel.
In 1913, we find the landlord, Charles Beasley, applying for a full-license to the house. Speaking in support of Mr Beasley's application at the Ashby Brewster Sessions, Mr Fred Blow, a local collier, stated that although he visited the establishment only occasionally and drank mineral waters, he had a weak wife and if she needed a little brandy for medicinal purposes, he had to walk to the Victoria Hotel at Coalville, about 1/4 mile away, the nearest other fully-licensed house being the Kings Arms in Silver Street. Mr Beasley's application was unsuccessful.
The Hermitage Hotel was demolished some years ago, leaving Hermitage Road one of the 'driest' stretches in Whitwick, and the site is now occupied by a modern private house, Number 107, Hermitage Road.
Landlords of the Hermitage included: Joseph Roberts (1877); Benjamin Topliss (1884); Alexander Sherwin (1904); Charles Beasley (1913/1928); Thomas Lyall Bissill (1941)
The Kings Arms, Silver Street
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Above: The Kings Arms, Silver Street photographed May 16 2004
(Photo by Steve Badcock)
Retaining its elaborate Victorian frontage, this public house was also affectionately known in more recent times as , "Mother Goose's", after long-standing landlady, Mrs Brenda Timson who adorned its interior with her collection of goose and gander ornaments.
Landlords of the Kings Arms have included: Edward Hall (1846); William Beniston (1854/1877); Mary Beniston (1881); John Shaw (1884); John Cort (1887); Richard Chadwick (1887); Edward Hood (1891); James Beniston (1904); Abraham Smith (1916/1925); Charles Caldwell Kay (1941).
The Liberal Club, North Street
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Above: Liberal Measures - The Working Mens'Club on North Street originally opened as the Liberal Club in 1888
(Photo by Steve Badcock, 02 May 2004)
Now known as the North Street Working Mens Club, the Liberal Club was built in 1888 at a cost of 660 pounds. A publication of 1892 describes it as containing reading and smoke rooms, with the upper floor constituting "a commodious Public Hall, capable of accommodating several hundred persons."
The Man Within Compass, Loughborough Road ('Rag and Mop')
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Above: The Man Within Compass (Rag and Mop)
Photo by Steve Badcock, 16 May 2004
The Man Within Compass possesses what is probably a unique pub name.
In his 'Portrait of Leicestershire' (1977), Brian J Bailey writes, "Perhaps Whitwick's ancient days are hinted at in the curious inn sign in Loughborough Road, The Man Within the Compass. Its meaning is something of a mystery, and suggestions that it is one of the religious signs popular during the Commonwealth, signifying 'in the compass of God's mercy', do not seem to me very convincing. There is something more than that, surely, in this strange and unusual name."
The pub always seems to have been more commonly known as 'The Rag and Mop', though here again, the origins of this sobriquet remain obscure. According to Lavengro, one theory was that the term commemorated a landlady of long ago, "who was eternally polishing and scrubbing and sweeping", often to the annoyance of the patrons. A mop, made of old rags, is said to have been an omnipresent feature at the establishment, often hung outside to dry !
Landlords of the Man Within Compass have included: Thomas and Ann Stanyard (1901); John Charles Fewkes (1907); Colin Bosworth (1941); John and Jenny Harvey (1980)
The Marquis of Granby, Cademan Street
Now demolished, having stood (I am told) near the present-day turn into King Richards Hill.
'The Marquis of Granby' was once a popular British inn name, commemorating General John Manners (1721 - 70), son of the Duke of Rutland. The Marquis was a very gallant soldier, said to have had an unusual concern for his men, and who provided favoured soldiers with funds to purchase taverns on their retirement.
Landlords of the Marquis of Granby included: Henry Witham (1877); Henry Gilks (1880); Thomas Wheeldon (1881); Henry Hutchinson (1904/1916); Henry Davenport (1925); Charles Mitchell (1928)
The New Inn, Brooks Lane
The New Inn stood on the corner of Brooks Lane and Talbot Street, and is still remembered by some older residents as "Tommy Potter's", Mr Potter having been the establishment's last landlord.
Built during the early nineteenth century, the inn managed to avoid extinction in 1908, when it was one of several in the village targeted for closure by the police. Superintendent Lockton had pointed to a number of factors against its continuation - the rooms of the premises were very low and small: the bar 14' x 12', taproom 12' x 10', kitchen 16' x 14', and another room 12' x 10'. The building was old, badly lighted and badly ventilated and was simply not needed, the Prince of Wales being 100 yards away, the Royal George, 26 yards, and the Duke of Newcastle 341 yards. Supt Lockton also argued that standing at the junction of three roads, the house also presented a danger for anyone wanting to draw up.
The New Inn's reprieve lasted for about twenty years, the house finally being demolished in 1934.
Landlords of the New Inn included: Joseph Hawthorn (1846/1854); Michael McCarthy (1877/1881); John Brooks (1886); Thomas Stockley (1904); J A Waterfield (1908); Thomas Potter (1916/1925).
The Prince of Wales, Talbot Street
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Above: The former Prince of Wales, viewed from Brooks Lane. Built just before the Second World War to replace an older establishment of the same name, the Prince was gutted in 1983 and reborn as the Beavers Lodge. Reverting back to its traditional name at the end of the decade, the pub changed name yet again in 1998, when it became The Oak of Whitwick.
(Photo by Steve Badcock, 02 May 2004)
The Prince of Wales was built in 1938 to replace another house of the same name which had stood nearer to the road.
A long-term landlord was the late Mr George Woods, who had served as a chauffeur to General Montgomery during the war.
In 1983, the Prince was subjected to major internal alterations and re-opened as 'The Beavers Lodge'. Once renowned for the number of rooms and doors it contained, the pub was now completely open-plan, with very plush,pink decor and the venue soon became nicknamed 'The Pink Palace'! Standing out against a rather 'spit and sawdust' tradition of local drinking houses, this transformation was quite sensational at the time, though the vast openness of the new interior did not seem to lend itself to an atmosphere of intimacy. Perhaps in an attempt to re-create this, a wood and glass partition was later erected to give an approximate division of where the lounge had originally been located. The Beavers Lodge reverted back to its traditional name six years later, only to be re-christened, 'The Oak of Whitwick', in 1998.
Landlords of the Prince of Wales have included: Thomas Clarke (1854); William Henson (1877/1881); Charles Jarvis (1897); Michael McCarthy (1904); George Cooke (1916); Mrs H Adcock (1925/1928); Herbert Adcock (1941); George H Woods (1954).
The Railway Hotel, South Street
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Above: End of the Lines - The Former Railway Hotel
Now owned by a window sales company, its closure, in 1965, co-incided roughly with the closure of the Charnwood Forest Railway for which it had been built to serve.
The Railway Hotel was built in 1882 to accommodate the large number of travellers expected on the new railway.
The pub was actually built on top of an older one, the Joiners Arms, and the ground floor rooms of the original pub are now the cellars of the existing building. This happened when the level of the road was raised by some fifteen feet in conjunction with the construction of the railway line.
Closed in 1965, the premises was for many years afterwards Albert Jones' ironmongers shop, and is now occupied by a company selling windows.
Landlords of the Railway included: Michael McCarthy (1887); Alfred Wetton (1887); William Biddle (1891); Mary Beckworth (1903); June May (1904); Thomas Kelly (1916/1925); Mary Kelly (1928); Albert Smith (1941)
The Royal George, North Street
A beerhouse closed in 1913, having been described as "an old and dilapidated building, both inside and out". The premises would have stood about 200 yards away from the turn into Brooks Lane, where there is today a grassed area in front of some fairly modern houses set back from the road.
Landlords of the Royal George included: John Brooks(1886); James Benniston (1886); Augustus Hall (1887); James Burton (1891); Henry Ward (1913)
The Talbot Arms, Talbot Street
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Above: This imposing stone house was known as The Talbot Arms until its closure in 1931. One of its landlords, Ned Hicken, lent his name to the hill which runs down to Thringstone.
Photo by Steve Badcock, 02 May 2004
The Talbot Arms premises still stands, as a private house, at the junction of Talbot Street and Talbot Lane, a short distance uphill from Thringstone cross-roads. This stretch of Talbot Street used to be known locally as "Ned Hicken's Hill", after a former landlord. The Talbot closed in 1931.
Landlords of the Talbot Arms included: Samuel Wilson Hallam (1854/1881); Mr Hicken (1897); James White (1904); William Burton (1916/1928)
The Three Crowns Hotel, Market Place, Leicester Road
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Above: A storm brews over The Three Crowns Hotel, April 2003
(Photograph by Steve Badcock)
The present Three Crowns Hotel was built during the early 1880s by Messrs Truman, Hanbury and Buxton, brewers of Burton and London; the building work was undertaken by Mr William Beckworth of Whitwick. The Brewers' initials can still be seen carved into the stone lintel above the archway, as seen on the left hand side of the above photo: "T.H.B. 1881, GOOD STABLING".
An inn of the same name had stood here for many years previously however, the earliest reference to it occurring in 1799, when in the occupation of William Whitcraft.
Recently, the pub has been extended to utilise an upstairs function room known as "Red's Bar"
Landlords of the Three Crowns have included: William Whitcraft (1799); John Whitcraft (1846); Hannah Whitcraft (1854/1877); Edward Hood (1881); Charles Newham (1891); Jonathan Tomlin (1903); Thomas Preston (1904); Mr Musson (1914); Reginald Squires (1916); Walter Thurman (1928); Samuel W Beckworth (1941)
The Three Horseshoes, Leicester Road ('Polly Burtons')
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Above: Polly Burton's
(Photo from Camra Website)
This tiny establishment is celebrated locally for having retained its 'yesteryear' interior. The pub does not even possess a till - money is placed on a shelf behind the bar, and many pre-war fittings remain, complete with outside toilets. Like several other pubs in the village, the Three Horseshoes is better known by its nickname, in this case, "Polly's", which is derived from a former landlady, Mrs Mary Ann Burton.
The Camra Website makes some interesting observations about the premises: 'The property seems to have started life as two distinct but unequally sized buildings (see the vertical straight joint in the brickwork). The work at the rear suggests there may have been a couple of dwellings there too, making four in all. A name plaque bearing the pub name helpfully gives a date of 1882 and it seems likely the buildings were remodelled and probably joined together at that time to form the present pub (and the windows and details made symmetrical). The front door leads to a still intact offsales hatch. To the left you enter the long and narrow public bar. It retains its fixed seating, quarry tiled floor, two fireplaces and has a counter front with tapering pilasters. The right-hand room is a small snug with wooden floor, fixed seating, fireplace and hatch service'.
The Three Horseshoes was granted Grade II listed status in 2005.
Landlords of the Three Horseshoes have included: Michael Concannon (1881); John Bennet Marshall (1884); James Beniston (1891); Joseph Burton (1912/1928); Mary Ann Burton (1941)
The Waggon and Horses, Church Lane
Now gone, the Waggon and Horses adjoined the Black Horse on the corner of Church Lane and North Street. An Inn of this name stood here at least as far back as 1800, when the hostelry was purchased by one Henry Howe from Thomas Hardy, brewer of Loughborough.
In about 1985, the Waggon and Horses building was purchased by the Leicestershire County Council and subsequently demolished to improve the road junction.
Landlords of the Waggon and Horses included: Richard Howe (1846); Charles Ward (1854); William Pickering (1861); William Webster(1877); John Shaw (1880); James Harriman (1886); William Stanion (1887); William Hanley (1895); Samuel Cobley (1904); William Horton (1908); Harry Ward (1916/1928); Edmund A Holmes (1941); Mrs Sheila Small (1985)
The White Horse Inn, Market Place
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Above: The White Horse Inn: In the background can be seen the Crown
and Cushion (now demolished), and beyond this one can also make out the
suspended inn sign of the Waggon and Horses (also demolished).
It remains a fascinating co-incidence that during the First World War, both the White Horse Inn and the neighbouring Crown and Cushion boasted landlords who had formerly been professional footballers.
(Photograph by permission of Coalville 150 Group)
The White Horse was originally a farm dwelling and probably dates back to the eighteenth century.
In 1896 the inn was described as, "...containing bar, taproom, lounge, parlour, kitchen, scullery, cellar and seven bedrooms."
It is interesting to note that the White Horse Inn was one of two pubs in Whitwick to have landlords who had formerly been professional footballers (c/f Michael Noon, Crown and Cushion, South Street). Francis (Frank) Middleton, (listed as landlord - 1916/28) played for Derby County, 1901-1906, and Leicester Fosse, 1906-1909.
(My thanks to Mr Paul Taylor, Leicester City FC historian for e-mailing me on this matter - 09/03/2004). Mr Taylor would also be grateful to anyone who could provide the year in which Mr Middleton died in order to update his player profile for Frank which appears in his excellent book, "The Foxes Alphabet". This information can be emailed to the Webmaster of Thringstone on Line
Landlords of the White Horse have included: Elijah Burton (1881); Amos Bloomfield (1884); Richard Swinfen (1891); Elizabeth Swinfen (1895); Frank Middleton (1916/1928); Cyril Jordan (1941)
...thirty-one establishments (clubs included)!
The Lady Jane public house was built on Hall Lane during the early 1960s, when this area was greatly developed for new housing. Interestingly, it was originally intended to name this pub 'The Vital Spark', but this was dropped in favour of a more conventional name.
According to John Colledge of Whitwick, there was also once a beerhouse known as The White Hart - the premises still standing, now a private house, close to what was formerly John Stinson's butchers shop (Top of the Dumps). Little else is known of this hostelry, which is believed to have ceased trading as such prior to 1890.
As noted under the Railway Hotel, there was also once a Joiners Arms, subsequently built over by the Railway Hotel circa 1882 when the road level was raised.
(c) Stephen Neale Badcock, Whitwick, September 2000 - present.
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Pubs page
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Useful Sources :
Knight, Jeffrey, "From Barn End to Pare's Hill", published by Whitwick Historical Group, 1993.
Smith, Sheila, "A Brief History of Whitwick", published by Leicestershire Libraries and Information Service, Leicester, 1984.
"The Changing Face of Whitwick", published by Whitwick Historical Group, 1990.
Acknowledgements:
Mr John Colledge
Mr Steve Duckworth and the Coalville 150 Group
Mr Ron Goacher
Miss Lesley Hale
Mrs Maureen Partridge
Mr Paul Taylor ('Of Fossils and Foxes')
Whitwick Historical Group