In 1745 the Corporation were sufficiently Hanoverian to hold their Venison Feast at the Three Crowns, and in the following year they met there to express by a banquet their thankfulness at the quelling of the late Rebellion. The Constitutional Society, which was formed in 1789 as a countermeasure to the Revolution Club, there enjoyed some of its dinners. Various business meetings were also held there, connected with the woollen manufactures, the circulation of base coin, the sale of the Town Gates in 1774, and the Leicester Navigation in 1791. William Gardiner offers us a casual glance through the windows of this inn at the close of the i8th century, which permits us to catch sight of the Due de Chartres, the father of King Louis Philippe, who happened to be staying there at that time, having come to Leicester to hunt with the Prince of Wales. On hearing the sound of music, coming from some local amateurs who were engaged in singing glees and catches, "he was curious enough to enter the room, and remain a short time as an auditor." In 1801 the annual meeting of the subscribers to the Leicester Permanent Library was held at the Three Crowns, "dinner on the table at half-past two."
The most important rival of the Three Crowns in the affection of Hanoverians was the Three Cranes, which stood nearly facing it on the Eastern side of Gallowtree Gate.
Although the Three Cranes was a favourite sign in London, the original name of this house seems to have been the Crane. It is so called in 1730 and in 1754. In 1759 and 1762 it is described as the Cranes, but thereafter it is usually named the Three Cranes, except in an official poster, where it appears as "The Cranes Inn." Possibly the Cranes became multiplied to match the number of Crowns over the way. It was from this house that one of the earliest of the Leicester mailcoaches began to run in 1764, the Flying Machine, which left Leicester at 2 a.m. and was timed to arrive at London the same night. The Venison Feast, and the Constitutional Society's dinners were held here from time to time, on one occasion as many as 900 persons sitting down "at the Cranes and Crowns." It is more worthy of record that a meeting was held at the Three Crowns
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