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Author: Keith Foster

The White Swan

Posted on by Keith Foster

The White Swan was a coaching inn once situated opposite the Buttermarket. John Brown was the landlord from the early 1800’s. Prior to that he was landlord of The Harrow on the other side of the road. In Pigot’s 1828 trade directory it is recorded that the White Swan was also the post office and that John Brown was the landlord and postmaster.Letters arrived from London and the south at seven in the evening and from Manchester and the north at quarter to eight in the morning. They were dispatched immediately. Coaches to all parts of the country passed through Mountsorrel almost every hour.

John Brown’s brother Benjamin, who had fought at Waterloo, joined him for a while after he came out of the army in 1821, before he became a village constable. John Brown moved to the King William IV on Leicester Road around 1835 and his brother Thomas took over at the White Swan.

Thomas died at the White Swan in 1838 and the next landlord was Edward Hickling, followed by Joseph Atherley. By 1849 George Bampton had taken over the White Swan and his son, also George Bampton, was still there in 1901. As well as being  landlords father and son, between them, were at various times also farmers, insurance agents, grocers, rate collectors, agents for Burton Ales and excise officers.

They were followed by Samual Moore in 1908, John Hipwell in 1912, Thomas Johnson 1915 to 1925 and Arthur Cook in 1928.

In this painting, attributed to John Fernely or his daughter Sarah, we can see the White Swan and what looks like the landlord, in his white apron, standing outside his pub. The landlord in 1842 was Mr Hickling.

Market Place 1842

Early images of the White Swan

Let no one be charmed by the name of Mountsorrel, for close on a mile along the road runs an abject townlet of  the out of elbows down at heel variety with row upon row of mean cottages. Still stands the Black Swan, although it does little but stand being forlorn and forgotten. The White Swan a contemporary with its black brother is more fortunate and appears still to thrive.  This is modern Mountsorrel but you can still see vestiges of the Mountsorrel from  a hundred to three hundred years ago when the town depended for its existence  on the road. Mountsorrel is precisely as described above, but still it is a charming subject for a sketch.

Standing on the cobblestoned footwalk by the side of the White Swan you  look across to the granite crag, to a group of old houses and the singular temple like market cross.

So wrote Charles Harper in his book, The Manchester and Glasgow Road published in 1907

During the 1930’s, 40’s and early 1950’s the White Swan had a darts team. In 1938 its rivals in Mountsorrel were the following eleven other teams: Stag & Pheasant, Railway Inn, King William, Duke of York, Anchor Inn, Nag’s Head, bull & Mouth, Constitutional Club, Working Men’s Club, Dog & Gun and the Prince of Wales

In February 1950 the license of the White Swan was transferred to The Lindens in Halstead Road. The Parish Council and the local residents objected but in March 1950 the Loughborough magistrates granted an application for a public-house, and the White Swan closed down.

” I used to live in the old White Swan when it was no longer a pub.We moved around 1956 when I was eight. we had a lot of out buildings and I think eight acres of land that used to flood, my father use to keep 150 pigs and horses. People used to hold there noses walking by our house. Sometimes the pigs escaped on to the main road and ran away I’d jump on a horse bare back and go round ’em up, must have looked hilarious; the butcher across the road the bike shop owner next door, the local barber and the local bobby all chasing squealing pigs.” John Roberts

Around 1963 the building was bought by a firm which, according to a Mr Lawrence Vendybuck, a director of that firm living at 175 Leicester Road, had spent money on renovations and intended to turn it into a country club. This never happened and the building fell into disrepair

Councillor Harold Newman declared the White Swan was a menace to public safety and that three cattle trucks were packed in the yard making the appearance very unsightly.

White Swan prior to demolition

In 1963 a villager complained at a Mountsorrel parish meeting about the condition of the Old White Swan public house and was told that the property is on the of ancient buildings list and cannot be demolished until the final list is released be the Ministry.

After it was demolished the site lay empty and derelict for many years until 1987, when houses were built on the site

A door hinge from the White Swan

The Griffin Inn

Posted on by Keith Foster

The Market Place Off License at no 7 and 7a Market Place was once a pub called The Griffin. The Gill family ran this pub for over 100 years. John Gill was born in 1712 in the North End of Mountsorrel. His wife Elisabeth was the licensee of the Griffin Inn

In the Record Office for Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland are two inn licenses issued to Elisabeth Gill one  dated 1776 the other dated 1783

The license was to keep a common ale house for one year only and to sell bread and other victuals, beer, ale and other exciteable liquors except Brandy, Rum, Arrach, Usbequaugh, Geneva, Aqua Vitae and other distilled liquors. No unlawful games, drunkeness, or other disorder to be suffered in the house, out house,yard, garden or backside.

(Arrack is an eastern Mediterranean liquor flavoured with aniseed. Usbequaugh is Whisky, Geneva or Jenever is a Dutch spirit similar to Gin)

John Gill was a barber. He was also a surgeon, which we can deduce from the household papers of the Gill family held in the Record Office for Leicestershire Leicester and Rutland.

Eligha Hampson Dr to John Gill for cureing his leg
Feb ye 1765£-d
Feb ye 3 Bleeding6d
Ditto ye 9 Bleeding6d
3 ounces of tincture1s- 6d
2 ounces of ointment1s-0d
24 times dressing and atendance3s-6d
7s-0d
March ye 16 1765 recev’d in part payment 2 shillings

John Gill also had a recipe for cough medicine

for a Cough of the Loungs

2 oz of Sweet Oyl

? oz of Honey

2 oz of Rhubarb

2oz of fresh Butter

Half a pint ow Water

boyl them till digested

John Gill died in 1776 and was buried in the churchyard of the North End chapel (now St Peter’s Church) on February 26. His headstone is still there. In his will dated November 25 1772 he left his house with yard or backside in Mountsorrel in which he lived in to his wife Elisabeth during her lifetime. Elisabeth lived for another twelve years and died in 1788. She was buried on May 10 in the church yard with her husband where her headstone remains still. When she died she was still the victualler at the Griffin.

After Elisabeth died the pub was taken over by Ann Gill who remained there until 1819 when Mary Gill took over and was there until the early 1840’s. She was succeeded by John Gill who remained there until 1875. The following year another Gill, Elisabeth took over until Joseph Billson became landlord in 1881 until 1899. The pub was sold in 1895 for £1120. Mary Billson took over for a brief period and later landlords were Harry Rudkin and Samuel Stenson.

The Belgrave Cyclists at the Griffin in 1896. The landlord is Bob Bilson, in short sleeves, and next to him, on the right, is J Garner, who later became captain of Leicester Rugby Football Club

Another image of cyclists from our archive, but where?

A fancy dress parade taken outside the Griffin in the summer of 1914. This was an annual event raising funds for the LRI. The cyclists were Annie Houghton, Harry Ward and Dorothy Jacques.

In March1920 an application to renew the license was opposed on the grounds of redundancy and structural defects. The doors could not stand up in some of the rooms. The owners, Sharpe & Son of Sileby, and the landlord Samuel Stenson argued that the house was no worse that any other and that trade was improving. It was referred for compensation. The pub closed on 31 December 1921.

It later became an off license and chemist run by I N Newton

  • lucky to survive
  • 1972 now an off license and a shop

By 1972 the off license was being run by Mr Redhead. The shop changed hands several times. It was a gun shop, a golf shop, Blankley & Poole the upholsterer and a grocery shop run by Roger Boon.

In the 80’s it was sold to Mr and Mrs Patel who are still there and run it as an off license and general store.

Elizabeth Thornton

Posted on by Keith Foster

Elizabeth Thornton was an early Baptist, born in 1632 who lived in Mountsorrel. She died in 1699 and in her will she left three houses and some land in Barrow to four trustees so that the rent could be used to maintain the Baptist Burial Ground. The burial ground was situated on the corner of what is now Barons Way and Leicester Road.

One of the three houses, which was next to the burial ground, was converted to a meeting house for Baptists.This house was on the site of the Thornton & Hickling cottages that were demolished and replaced in 1987 by housing. It was known as the ‘Back Door Meeting House’, its entrance being a corner door at the back in a farmyard. It was a low thatched structure measuring approximately 26 feet by 14 feet.

At one point the house was being used as a hay barn and the burial ground was used as a wood yard, a shame and reproach to Mountsorrel. So in 1880 the burial ground, was restored by the trustees. It was laid out with flower beds and a huge block of undressed granite with an inscription in lead letters “Here lieth the body of Elizabeth, wife of Edward Thornton, who died on the 25th June 1699, in the 67th year of her age The Trustees of Thornton and Hickling’s Charity have erected this memorial, 1880.”

The memorial stone is still there in the front garden of the building on the corner of Barons Way

Baptist Burial Ground

In 1987 the gravestones were removed to Mountsorrel Cemetery where they now lie, some in a very poor state of repair.

The Elizabeth Thornton charity still exists, now linked to the Bartholomew Hickling Charity.

    Elizabeth was married to Edward Thornton. It is not known where in Mountsorrel they lived but the house was a substantial dwelling. There were five rooms on the ground floor, three bedrooms upstairs and a barn outside. On the ground floor were the principal living room (called the ‘house’), the upper parlour, the nether (lower) parlour, the kitchen and the buttery. The buttery was used for brewing beer. When Elizabeth died it contained five barrels and two thralls (frames for holding the barrels).

    Edward died in 1692 and Elizabeth in 1699. The contents of their house when Elizabeth died are recorded below.

    In her will, as well as the land and houses bequeathed to maintain the burial ground she left land, property and money to over twenty friends and relatives. Included in the land in Mountsorrel were Smiths Close, Branch Close and Moncks Close as well as land in the open fields of Hawcliffe and Thorncliffe. She left thirty pounds to Joseph Bolton of Wimeswold, mercer , cancelled the money he owed her and forgave him. To her servant Rebecca Hanson she left forty pounds and the bed whereon which I lye.

    Probate Inventory of Elizabeth Thornton dated July 4th 1699, held in the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland
    Item£-s-d
    Purse & Apparel5-00-0
    In the house one table two forms four chairs six cushions one
    fire iron    		1-10-0
    In the upper parlor one trunk, one table,one cubbard, five
    chairs, one trundle bedstead, three cushions, one stoole    		1-00-0
    In the nether parlor two tables, five stooles, one glass case,
    one cubbard    		1-06-8
    In the kitching browning vessels brass and pewter8-15-0
    In the buttery five barrels, two thralls0-12-0
    In the best chamber one bedstead, beding, sevean chairs,
    two stooles, two trunks, one box, one chest of drawers,
    three stooles, two looking glasses    		5-00-0
    A chest of linen and plate9-00-0
    In the chamber over the house one trundle bed and beding,
    one press, one coffer, two strikes of malt    		3-00-0
    In the chamber over the neather parlor one bedstead and
    beding, two chairs, two stooles, two boxes and a pinchest    		4-00-0
    Wood and cole1-11-4
    Good debts200-00-0
    Debts desperate 10-00-0
    Things not found or forgot0-15-0

    The house= the best parlour

    A trundle bedstead = a low bed, usually on wheels kept under a normal bed

    Neather= lower

    A thrall = a structure for holding barrels

    A press = a large cupboard with shelves

    A coffer = a box or chest for storing clothes or other valuables

    A strike = a dry measure, usually ‘half a bushel (about 4 gallons), but varying locally’

    Debts desperate = debts with little hope of recovery

    Pinchest = don’t know

    Cricket Players Arms

    Posted on by Keith Foster

    George Woolley, in 1841, was the Beerseller at the The Cricket Players Arms. He lived there with his wife, Martha and four children Frances, John, Sarah and William.

    By 1851 the children had left home and George was working as a Brickmaker. His wife Martha was the Beerhouse Keeper.

    In 1861 George was Brickmaker and Innkeeper, Martha the publican’s wife and an Irish quarry worker, Martin King, was boarding with them.

    In 1871 the Beerhouse Keeper at the pub was George’s daughter Sarah Palmer. She lived there with her four children Sarah, Anne,Thomas and Rose.

    After 1871 the pub became a private house.

    The Cricket Players Arms was at the right end of this building, next door to a grocery shop; in 1871 the grocer was Thomas Herrick. By 1901 Joseph Crosby was the grocer.

    It is now a Chinese takeaway

    Mountsorrel in the Great War

    Posted on by Keith Foster

    Timed to coincide with the Centenary of the 1918 Armistice the WWI studies team of the Heritage Group published  as a book the result of over two years research into the lives of the men and women of Mountsorrel who were involved in the Great War. The book, entitled “Mountsorrel in the Great War” runs to some 200 pages and with over 160 illustrations and maps.

    The book is on general sale at the price of £12

    Copies are available at the Group’s monthly meetings or at the Reception Desk of The Mountsorrel Memorial Centre or by emailing John Doyle – johncdoyle@talktalk.net

    Consolidated Charities

    Posted on by Keith Foster

    The Consolidated Charities were formed in 1680. Money donated by six benefactors was used to purchase land in Barrow on Soar. The six benefactors were Thomas Jarrat, Thomas Marriot, Thomas Godard, Mr Watkinson, Ralph Allen and John Thorp. This is recorded on the charity boards in St Peter’s church and summarised in the table below

    Continue reading “Consolidated Charities”

    Thomas Statham

    Posted on by Keith Foster

    Thomas Statham left 10 shillings to be paid to the minister of the north end for preaching a sermon on the Sunday before Epiphany (6 January). And 20 shillings for 40 sixpenny loaves to be distributed to the poor on the Sunday before Epiphany.  This is recorded on two of the three charity boards in St Peter’s Church.If there was no minister then sixpenny loaves were to be provided for the poor on the first Sunday in October. Continue reading “Thomas Statham”

    Mountsorrel United Charity

    Posted on by Keith Foster

    In 1874 on the June 23rd, a scheme agreed by the charity commission, proposed uniting four Mountsorrel charities. These were Richard Nidd’s Charity, the Consolidated Charities, Thomas Statham’s Charity and Joseph Danvers’ Charity. They were all to be administered by a single body of trustees; The new charity was called the Mountsorrel United Charity. The trustees were the vicars of the two churches and 10 others resident in Mountsorrel or living within 3 miles of one of the churches or with a business in the village.

    The income from the Mountsorrel United Charity was to be distributed as follows:

    • One third of the income from the Consolidated charity and Thomas Statham’s charity to be paid to the vicar of the North End
    • One third of the income from the Consolidated charity and Thomas Statham’s charity together with one half of the income from the Richard Nidd and Danvers’ Charities (to be called the Educational Fund) to be used for educational purposes
    • One third of the income from the Consolidated charity and Thomas Statham’s charity together with one half of the income from the Richard Nidd and Danvers’ Charities (to be called the Eleemosynary fund) to be used for the direct benefit of the deserving poor of both ends of Mountsorrel
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