The Definitive Guide to the History of
Pubs and Beerhouses in Coventry

Drinking in an Old English Town

Canal Tavern, 5 Leicester Row

Alternative Addresses:	Dog Lane
These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
		1835	Beerhouse
	1836	1969	Canal Tavern
Named due to its proximity to the Coventry Canal, in 1835 this was recorded as the BEERHOUSE, Leicester Row. In October 1836 Robert Golsby was granted a new public house license for the Canal Tavern. In 1844 the seventeen month old daughter of the licensee, Robert Golsby, was found dead in the tavern. Her nurse-girl, Susannah Jarvis, who was under 13 years of age, was accused of her wilful murder, but found not guilty at her trial, although had to endure being locked up for eleven months before acquittal. The deed occured whilst Mrs Golsby was putting her 4 year old daughter to bed. Interestingly, at the same time her third daughter, Anne, aged just 9, was left to tend the bar! In 1879 the pub was purchased by Phillips & Marriott and in 1899 they valued it at £4,500. From 1955 it was referred to as a hotel. In March 1968 plans were being drawn up for the Canal Basin to become a leisure ground, and for the Tavern to be re-sited. In April 1969, however, the Narrow Boat Owners' Club still held their annual meeting at the tavern, although by January 1970 the Canal Tavern's Ladies' Darts Team had had to move, to it appears to have closed later in 1969. Interestingly, Josiah Keatley (licensee from 1894 to 1897) was a veteran of the American Civil War (1861-1865). He served in the 11th Kansas Cavalry for three years, and in 1880 was granted a Federal War Veteran's pension. He is buried in the London Road Cemetery, Coventry. Grateful thanks for this information from Michael Hammerson (suvcw.org.uk).
LICENSEES: 1835 - 1844 Robert Golsby 1844 - 1860 Charles Spicer (died 1860) 1860 - 1866 Sophia Spicer (widow of Charles) 1866 - 1867 Thomas Goode 1867 - 1870 Arthur Birch 1870 - 1871 Mary Birch 1871 - 1874 Luther Drakeford 1879 John Deeming 1881 William Thompson 1886 - 1893 Frederick Bushill 1893 - 1894 Louisa Hampton 1894 - 1897 Josiah Keatley (see note above) 1897 - 1901 John Payne 1901 - 1916 Amelia Payne (including music license) 1916 - 1921 Daniel Hopkins 1921 - 1924 William Sagar manager 1926 - 1929 W. Statham 1931 - 1940 T. Bates 1950 - 1962 Harold A. Allen 1967 - 1970 Dennis McCallum (also see Courthouse Inn and Meriden Tavern)
Street plan of 1851