The Duke of York was built in 1795.
In the 1840’s the landlord of the Duke of York was Joseph Jelly. The Jelly family remained landlords for the next 30 years. It is thought that Jelly Island (so-called) must have been named after the Jelly family and that (rumour has it) Jelly island was once lost in a card game to a Leicester scrap dealer. The pub itself was actually owned by the Kirk family. After the death of John and ZD Kirk it was put up for sale in 1869 and advertised thus:
All that commodious old licensed PUBLIC HOUSE, called the Duke of York, adjoining the canal lock, with stabling for 12 horses, coach house, piggeries, and numerous offices, with garden and orchard, in the occupation of Mr. Thomas Jelly.
In 1881 it was sold again.
A FULL-LICENSED Freehold PUBLIC HOUSE, at Mountsorrel, known as “The DUKE of YORK,” in the occupation of Mr. Geo. Allen, the owner. Also, newly built a COTTAGE adjoining, occupied by Mr. George Hill. The Licensed-premises are well placed near the celebrated Granite Quarries, in which over 1000 men are employed; a great amount of traffic by the road and by canal passes the door daily. ‘The House contains good entrance, tap room, bar parlour, kitchen, scullery, two cellars, large club room, sitting room, four bed rooms, two attics, large yard and garden, a skittle alley, stabling for twelve horses, with chamber over, piggery, coal house and poultry run.
It has been known as the Waterside Inn since 1965 when Everards Brewery bought it and changed its name.
Hi I have a picture of the duke of york pub when it was owned by great great grandfather Herbert Edward John Lake. He ran the pub in the 1920S and maybe before. He died in the pub on 21st February 1925.
My Great Aunt Ella Whittington told my mother that this was once used as a morgue, does anyone know if this is true