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The George & Dragon was situated on Dragon Lane. This pub first appeared in 1810 in licensing records, but given its proximity to the Foston turnpike road (opened approximately 1788) it may well have been around for some time before this and could have been renamed through the years. The Star Inn (1790 - 1805) and even earlier, The Hollybush Inn (1783 - 1791) could very well be linked to the same site of the former beerhouse. The Star Inn was first mentioned in 1790, when trustees of the turnpike met at the pub – it would make sense for turnp ike trustees to meet at a public house on the turnpike road. Charles Eames lived at The Star Inn in 1791 when the second meeting was held. He was also recorded as living at The Hollybush Inn in 1783, when in the Leicester and Nottingham Journal, it was advertised as selling oak trees. The George and Dragon Inn was used by the Enclosure Commissioners in 1810 for their first public meeting, just like The Star Inn twenty years earlier. The George and Dragon Inn was mentioned in both the Leicester Journal (1810) and the Beresford Enclosure book (1811) and between 1817 and 1827 William Wood was the licensee of the pub, as referenced by the Alehouse Recognizance Book. He is also mentioned in newspaper reports of 1832 and 1834, as being the residence of William Wood. James Topliss ran the Inn from 1841 - 1846 when the licence was transferred to Richard Herrick. In 1848, there was a newspaper report about a second meeting at the George and dragon, for over 80 fellows of the Nottingham Ancient Imperial United Order of Oddfellows. They met again there for their fourth meeting as Richard Herrick hosted the meeting. Herrick ran it until 1855 when Robert freeman then took over until at least 1863 when the licence was transferred to Thomas Richards. However, Richards was charged with having the Inn open on a Sunday. In 1878, Richards was refused the renewal of the pubs licence and Thomas Howgill took over until 1891, during which time in 1882, the George and Dragon Inn was put up for auction. Henry Culverwell was the landlord from 1891 - 1899, with Robert Pruden then running the George and Dragon Inn until 1903. Then for 31 years Charles Starbuck was the landlord until he died, passing this licence over to Florence Starbuck, his widow. until 1953. Florence ran it until the George and Dragon Inn finally succumbed to mining subsidence in 1970 and was demolished.
Source: Newbold Verdon Parish Archive
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