The name in this case is probably because a greyhound was a fast canal boat.
The greyhound is first mentioned on 11th September 1829 when the Coventry Herald announces it as a new public house, with the owner Thomas Worthy, described as a farmer. Later he is described as a butcher and farmer and a farmer and innkeeper. The local history collection has a photograph of Benjamin Beesley, landlord in the 1890s, with his wife Mary (ne Davenport) and children. One child, Clara, later married John Charles Nelson, who took over the pub after Benjamin died.
In 1976 £15,000 was spent in refitting the lounge.
In 1982 it was described as 'a popular pub at the junction of the Coventry and Oxford canals'. It is now part of an industrial archaeology conservation area of special interest to canal enthusiasts. A Grade II listed building.
There are a number of possible explanations of this name:
a) A famous mail coach which travelled between London and Birmingham.
b) A heraldic reference to the Dukes of Newcastle.
c) The greyhound was formerly used in the chase but is now mainly associated with greyhound racing. |
LICENSEES:1845 Thomas Worthy & butcher & farmer
1861 Edward Watton
1863 Mrs. Abigail Worthy
1866 Thomas Barnett
1868 William Barnett
1874 William West
1876 William Lee
1880 William Ratliff
1888 - 1900 Benjamin Beesley (Beasley)
1904 - 1924 Mary Beesley, wife of above (died 1928)
1929 Clara Beesley, daughter of Benjamin and Mary
1931 - 1940 John Charles Nelson, husband of Clara
1957 Clara H. Nelson, wife of John Charles, daughter of Benjamin and Mary Beasley
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