The Nag's Head
Public House Harby
At the heart of every English village is a public house colloquially known as “the pub”.
It’s is in fact the only remaining public house of three in the village and little wonder as to why, the Nags Head is legendary.
If the walls of this particular ale house could talk, the tales it might tell about the folk of this village, would be the envy of a good novelist! MS©
The Nags Head 2026
The history of the Nag's Head Harby is believed to date back to as early as the 13th Century. It is thought to have housed monks on their travels.
There is suggestion that they lived in the upper part of the building and had cattle in the lower ground floor.
What is now known is that it remains one of the oldest buildings in Leicestershire.
It is likely that at the reformation in 1539 that the building was sold and tenant farmers took over the building.
We know that certainly by 1528 Ralf Whittle was farming on the site and what is now know as Burton Close.
Drunkenness Act 1623
An Act for the better repressing of drunkenness, and restraining the inordinate haunting of inns, alehouses, and other victualling houses.
Lilac Cottage in School Lane
The Whittle family owned several houses in the village and managed a great deal of agricultural land around Harby.
A Victualler is traditionally person who sells food or other provisions; a purveyor of spirits. A licensed victualler refers to a the landlord of a public house or similar licensed establishment.
Alehouse Act 1828
An Act to regulate the granting of licenses to keepers of inns, alehouses, and victualling houses in England.
An Act to permit the general sale of beer and cider by retail in England.
Licensing Act 1872
The act:
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restricted the closing times in public houses to midnight in towns and 11 o'clock in country areas.
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regulated the content of beer – one common practices was to add salt to the beer, which increased thirst and therefore sales.
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Licensing hours were determined by local authorities.
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gave boroughs the option of becoming completely 'dry' i.e. banning all alcohol.
These policies were enforced by the police.
Licensing Act 2003 is the current primary law governing sale of Alcohol and openiing times for all public houses in England.
This Photograph taken around 1900 shows the Butcher family as
resident and Landlords of the Nags Head Inn
The Landlords
The first listing for the Whittle family in Harby, Leicestershire
- Ralph Whittle in 1528
In 1649 the will of Ralf Whittle he leaves Item "I give unto my sonn James this house I dwell"
In the 1719 UK, Poll Books and Electoral Register, there is a listing for John Whittle, Ralph Whittle and Ralph Whittle.
In the Will of John Whittle 1727, there is no mention to indicate the sale of Ale or other refreshement.
In the Will of Thomas Whittle 1738, the list of contents mentions -
“In the cellar Tubs and Barrells and Beer” worth £1 s1
In the Will of Thomas Whittle 1784, his nephew John Whittle is listed as victualler.
1846 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer [First official listing]
1851 Elizabeth Whittle [1851 census]
1854 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer
1855 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer
1861 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer
1863 John Whittle, (Senior)
1870 John Whittle, (Senior)
1875 John Whittle, (Senior)
1876 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer / Victualler
1877 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer / Victualler
1880 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer
1881 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer
1887 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer
1891 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer
1892 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer
1895 John Whittle Landlord and Grazer
1899 Walter Cox Landlord and Grazer
1908 Horace William Butcher - Helena May Butcher
1911 Horace William Butcher - Helena May Butcher
1912 Horace William Butcher - Helena May Butcher
1914 Richardson Frances (Mrs.)
1916 Richardson Frances (Mrs.)
1922 Luke Samuel Swingler - Rosie Annie Swingler
1925 Luke Samuel Swingler - Rosie Annie Swingler
1926 Frank William Tustin - Sheila Tustin
1928 Frank William Tustin - William Pearse
1931 William Pearse - Jack Abbott - Edna Abbott - Ada Paling
1932 Hector Gerald Hamer
1936 Ernest King Trotter
1939 Austin F Price - Blanche Price
1950 Mr Field-Richards
1960 Ken and Betty Newman
1971 Keith and Marjorie Buxton
1981 David & Betty Dorkes
2006 Unknown still researching
2008 Andy Smith
2014 Leon and Gemma Stewart
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