Category: Historic Pubs

One hundred and eighty-seven years ago, on the 6^th April 1837, an event took place in town that put Melton Mowbray in the news. The event involved some notable Meltonians and today we know the event as “Painting the Town Red” but at the time it was reported as an “Aristocratic Spree or Riot”.

Today the phrase “Meltonian” means “A native or inhabitant of the Melton district” but back in the 1830’s the term Meltonian also included people that came to Melton to take part in the past times fox hunting and horse racing.

3rd Marquess of Waterford – Henry Beresford

But who were these Meltonians? A gentleman named Henry Beresford, the 3^rd Marquess of Waterford and his aristocratic friends, including Mr Reynard, Sir F Johnstone and the Hon. Mr Villiers had spent the day at Croxton Park races and were making their way back into Melton. They were stopped at the Thorpe End toll house and refused entry as they were too drunk.

They then rode around town and entered by a different route ending up at Lord Rokesby’s Club in Burton End. At around 3am in the morning, they returned to the toll house and boarded up the windows.

A Spree at Melton Mowbray – Larking at the Grantham Toll Gate – or Coming kn for the Brush by H Alkin

After getting their hands on some red paint, they proceeded down Sherrard Street, into marketplace and down Burton Street causing mayhem as they went.

The doors of the properties of Mr Norman and the surgeon Mr Berridge were smeared with red paint and the door knockers from Mr Gray, Miss Gray and Mr Corner were ripped off. Flowerpots at Mr George Bishops were also smashed and at the Swan Inn, the Marquis was lifted up and he painted the White Swan turning it into a “Red Eagle”.

Most of the houses in this part of town including the Post Office came in for a splash of red. A caravan at Burton End was tipped over and the Red Lion pub sign was ripped down and thrown into the canal.

A year after this event took place, the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane London hosted a play titled “The Meltonians” which ran for 17 performances from the 16^th April to 5^th May 1838. The play which was written by Richard Brinsley Peake was described as “a perfectly illegitimate drama and extravaganza.”

One of the things Melton is famous for is its involvement in the wool trade, being part of the Trade Council of Edward III in 1339. In the March edition of Historic Melton, I look at the connection between Park House on Leicester Street and the ancient medeival wool trade.

Melton Cloth is traditionally made of wool that is woven in a twill form and recognised for its windproof and waterproof qualities. Garments such as donkey jackets, Navy Pea coats, military uniforms and the scarlet hunting jackets are examples of clothing made from Melton Cloth. Queen Victoria even had a pair of curtains commissioned for Windsor Castle made from Melton Cloth.

But what is there today in Melton that connects us to this historic trade?

The building we know today as Egerton Lodge was built in the 16^th Century and originally known as Park House. It is often confused with Parke House situated at Thorpe End which was named after a local solicitor, James Parke, who lived there in the late 18^th Century.

In 1597, Park House was home to William Alkins, a Town Warden. He was also a Merchant Stapler working for the Company of Merchants of the Staple of England, a company incorporated by Royal Charter in 1319. Dealing in wool and skins it also controlled the export of wool to the continent during the late medieval period.

An ancient woolhouse run by the Merchants of the Staple believed to have been built in the early 1200’s once stood on the South side of Sherrard Street. Although this disappeared many years ago, remnants of this 13^th Century building still exist.

Another Park House, now the House of Beauty by Bailey, stands on Leicester Street. Standing proud on its roof is an intricately carved medieval pinnacle believed to be from the woolhouse and sited there when it was built in 1892. Stone tracery from one of the woolhouse windows is also said to be preserved in St Mary’s Church.

There were also several pubs in town that hinted towards the wool trade, for example, the Golden Fleece on Leicester Street, the Woolpack Inn, originally on Sherrard Street then later at Thorpe End and the Bishops Blaze on Sherrard Street. Bishop Blaze was the Patron Saint of Wool Coombers.

Like many of Melton’s historic buildings, evidence of the wool trade has now been lost but signs are still there if you know where to look.

Category: Historic Pubs

54 – Meltonians Painting the Town Red

53 – Park House and the Wool Trade Connections