Henry Lapworth

Henry Lapworth, Mitre & Keys, 26 Applegate Street, Leicester.

The pub dated back to 1560. The earliest clear evidence of brewing was in 1763 when John Nutt moved from the Red Lion, Hinckley, to the Blue Boar. Then in 1772 he moved to Blue Bell, followed by a further move in 1778 to the Swan with Two Necks (see Watts entry). Finally in 1793, together with his son Thomas he arrived at the Mitre, where the latter married Mrs Stafford, the widow of the late landlord. In 1781, Dorothy Watts had been shown at the Mitre & Keys. The following year, Thomas was shown as the victualler at the Inn.

In November 1799, Nutt was looking to let the Mitre. It was described as being free of tie and with brewing vessels “second to none”. In March 1800, Mr Hunt was selling his brewing vessels at the Fox and Goose on Humberstone Gate, before he moved to the Mitre and Keys, but shortly afterwards it was again to let.

In 1800, James Nutt, at the Castle on Humberstone Gate, was advertising bottled London porter at 4s 6d per dozen “ale at this time being very indifferent and consequently not a wholesome liquor”. The following year he advertised having a large quantity of his incomparable bottled porter and brown stout. However, in 1802 he seems to have overstretched himself in that he was bankrupt. He was described as a grocer and dealer, which suggest that the family no longer brewed. In 1808 he retired completely and his business as a liquor merchant was taken over by Thomas Eyre.

Perhaps Mr Nutt had been badly affected by the budget and competition. Mr Richards on the corner of Humberstone Gate was advertising that he had 36 gallon barrels at 48s and 18 gallons at 25s. These had been laid in before the new duty of 6s per barrel. Samuel Bradley on High Cross was also selling at pre-budget prices. Possibly their descendants are now driving white vans across to France for cheap beer!

In 1801, the Mitre and Keys was taken by Richard Poole, who moved there from the White Bear. He was still at the pub in 1812. It continued to brew throughout the nineteenth century, in 1835 John Nokes and in 1870 William Whatton were the respective victuallers.

Henry Lapworth seems to have taken the Mitre by December 1873, although it was owned by Mary Whatton of Spinney Hills. He was still brewing in 1877, but in the December, it passed to Charlotte Lapworth. She was the licensee until May 1879, when it was taken by Henry Jackson, from the Duke of Northumberland. He was followed by Elizabeth Jackson from August 1881 to March 1884.

Although Henry was still listed at the pub in 1892, brewing seems to have ceased by then and ownership may have returned to the Whattons. It was certainly leased by Everards Ltd in January 1896. The pub was rebuilt towards the end of the nineteenth century, and was owned by Everards Ltd around 1900. The licence was transferred to the Rocket on Stephenson Road and the pub closed in April 1956.

In 1908, an Arthur Lapworth was the local sub-agent for George Eaton, Cavendish Bridge Brewery.