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

Drinking in an Old English Town

Prince William Henry, 252 Foleshill Road

Alternative Addresses:	Old Leicester Road, Coventry & Hinckley Turnpike Road
These premises have been known by different names during their history:	FROM	TO	NAME
	1794	1840	Prince William Henry
	1835	1841	Beerhouse
	1840	1842	Queen Victoria
	1842	c2004	Prince William Henry
Prince William Henry (1743-1805) was a grandson of George II and younger brother of George III. He was born at Leicester House, London, fifth child of Frederick, Prince of Wales, and Princess Augusta of Saxe-Gotha. The previous children were Augusta, George, Edward and Elizabeth. Frederick died in 1751 leaving his eldest son, Prince George, as heir apparent. He became King George III in 1760 and 1764 he created Prince William Henry Duke of Gloucester and Edinburgh. He never seems to have done anything remarkable, so why name a pub after him? There have been various estimates that it dates from 1760 to 1794. It looks like a longhouse, an early farmhouse, so may be even earlier. It is said that it was originally called the GREEN DRAGON until Prince William Henry stayed here so that afterwards the name was changed to the Prince William Henry. This seems unlikely, however, as the dates of both pubs overlap by at least two decades. A change of name did occur, though, because when James Howe handed the license of the PRINCE WILLIAM HENRY to Thomas Sabin in July 1840, it was under the changed name of THE QUEEN VICTORIA. Some time in 1842 the name reverted. In 1835 and 1841 it is listed as simply the BEERHOUSE, Foleshill Road. In 1982 it was said to be 'very long with many interconnected rooms. Recommended for a visit'. In 2005 there were plans to bulldoze the pub and build a three story apartment block. These plans were turned down by Coventry Council for the following reasons : A. Loss of a locally listed building B. Would result in the loss of an area of Urban Green Space C. No evidence of need for the proposed development D. Applicant failed to demonstrate an acceptable standard of living next to a source of considerable traffic noise. E. No air quality assessment was submitted with the application However, that didn't make the pub viable. By 2010 it had become the offices for Darlaston builders merchants. It still looks like a pub today, surrounded by stone and gravel.
LICENSEES: 1828 - 1840 James Howe 1840 - 1842 Thomas Sabin (as The Queen Victoria) 1842 - 1848 Elijah Dalton to 1958 Derek Maynard (see also Tollgate, Holyhead Road) 1958 onwards Robert Rawlinson