Hello Lesley Thanks for the reply. I was about to update as thanks to Suzie Woodward I've found a most interesting site http://www.historicaldirectories.org/hd/index.asp In the Leics Kelly's of 1908 my grandfather is indeed listed alongside the Harborough (now just called Harboro) Hotel. It's interesting that the Harborough is not listed under "public houses", but rather "hotels". It says "commercial and posting". Not entirely sure what that means but it obviously was more than just a watering hole. Otherwise the Rothschilds would not have stayed there ! You're correct about "painting the town red". The Marquis of Waterford & friends, 6/4/1837 ! My grandfather did mention how, after "lights out", the visitors would be straight into each others' bedrooms and more. I think the stories of what the blue bloods got up to are more than just rumours ! Regards Francis ----- Original Message ----- From: "Lesley Chaney" <chaneys@clara.net> To: "Francis Payne" <francisp@xtra.co.nz>; <LEICESTERSHIRE-PLUS@rootsweb.com> Sent: Monday, October 01, 2007 12:50 AM Subject: RE: [LEI] Harborough Hotel > Hi Francis, > > To add to Don's reply, the Harborough Hotel is on Burton Street close to > the > town centre and just yards from The Basin, which is on the canal through > Melton and is where the barges used to load and unload. It flooded about > 5 > years ago in a heavy storm so may well have flooded in your grandfather's > day, which tends to support your belief that he was in Melton rather than > Market Harborough. > > Melton Mowbray was THE place for hunting and anybody who was anybody would > come for the hunting season (October-March), as both the Cottesmore and > Belvoir hunts were (and are) active. The Rothschilds may well have come > up > too. The Prince of Wales, later Edward VIII, was a well known visitor in > the > 1930s as was Wallis Simpson. The saying, "painting the town red", > originates from Melton when some blue bloods got very drunk and literally > did just that, about 1825, if I remember correctly. And there always have > been rumours of those scattered blue blood genes! > > The Harborough Hotel is still there and still open for business, if ever > you > visit. It is just a across the road from the railway station, so handy > for > all those hunting types. > > HTH > Lesley > > -----Original Message----- > From: leicestershire-plus-bounces@rootsweb.com > [mailto:leicestershire-plus-bounces@rootsweb.com]On Behalf Of Francis > Payne > > > My grandfather Ted Wadsley ran a hotel in the early 1900s. > > I'd always thought it was called the Harborough Hotel and he was in Melton > Mowbray. New info suggests he may have been in Market Harborough. > > Does anyone know if there is an establishment called simply the > "Harborough > Hotel" and where it might have been ? > > The Rothschilds, etc stayed there and tipped in half-sovereigns. One day > the > hotel got flooded, beautiful carpets under inches of mud. > > Any info greatfully received ! > > Regards > > Francis Payne > Auckland, New Zealand > > Internal Virus Database is out-of-date. > Checked by AVG Free Edition. > Version: 7.5.467 / Virus Database: 269.13.21/1010 - Release Date: > 15/09/2007 > 19:54 > > > __________ NOD32 2552 (20070926) Information __________ > > This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system. > http://www.eset.com > >