John Illston

John Illston, Nag’s Head, 2 Northgate Street, Leicester, Leicestershire.

Kept in 1815 by Edward Bailey, in 1835 John Crow was at the pub. He was shown as a maltster in 1855 in New Street and Northgate Street. However, in 1870 Mrs Maria Brice was running the Nag’s Head, whilst Crow seems to have been concentrating on the New Street business.

In October 1871, John Illston was the holder of the licence, but the pub seems to have been owned by Cock & Langmore. In 1875 Illston was also listed as a cab proprietor and victualler at the Orange Tree, 55 Northgate Street, before being listed at the Nag’s Head as a brewer by 1877. His son John junior was then shown as brewing at the Orange Tree. The latter pub dated back to at least 1835, when it was kept by William Spencer. In July 1886, George Joseph Illston was at the Nag’s Head.

Around 1890, a George Flude Illston was at the Angel on Oxford Street, suggesting a link with another local family involved with several home-brew pubs.

In March 1897, a sale of three properties reported the following prices:-

• Nag’s Head £5,500

• Orange Tree £4,050

• Sailor’s Return £7,400

This suggests that all three pubs may have been owned by the family and that Cock & Langmore (see All Saints Brewery Co. (Leicester) Ltd) had previously sold their interest.

Everards Ltd were the owners by March 1898 and after the building of the new railway, the Nag’s Head was renamed the Great Central Hotel in 1899.

The Orange Tree was bought by Hole & Co. Ltd of Newark.