The old Marquis of Granby Inn stood on Sherrard Street and was replaced by what we know today as the Odd Clock Cafe.
Its licence to sell alcohol was withdrawn when the building was deemed to be uninhabitable. After standing vacant for a while, it was demolished in 1936 and a link to Melton’s historic past was lost.
It is believed to have been built in the first half of the 12th century and some reports say it was a nunnery. Whether nuns lived there is not sure but it is believed to have been [part of a small priory to house cluniac monks as part of the Priory of Lewes.
The Priory of Lewes and along with it the small affiliated establishment in Melton came to an end with the dissolution of the monasteries.
In 1534, the value of the Priory of Lewes possessions in Melton were recorded as:
Spirituals: £59 8s 1d
Temporals: £63 15s 4d
In demesne: £6 0s 0d
Total: £129 4s 2d
Melton Priory stood along the South side of Sherrard Street.
On the 20th August 1859, the Leicestershire Mercury reported the discovery of a gravestone – About a week ago, while Mr Freeling the keeper of the Marquis of Granby, Sherard Street, Melton was having a new floor laid down in the front of his house when the gravestone was discovered with the following inscription: THE GLASS OF OUR LIVES DO PASS Here lies the
body of Mary Needham, Widow who departed this life on the 11th day of March Anno Dom 1702 in the 67th year of her age. On removing the stone, they came in contact with an arch, about 6 feet long by 6 feet wide, and upon raising up one of the bricks, it appeared to be hollow, as a crowbar was shoved in but nothing could be traced. No doubt it had been a vault some time ago and Mr Freeling was persuaded not to meddle further with it.
During the demolition of the old Marquis of Granby Inn, it was discovered that the roof was constructed from a massive oak frame work, suggesting that it was once a single story building, probably used as a chapel. At a later date a second floor had been added, converting the building into 2 stories.
During demolition, sections of medieval painted frescoes, believed to be of religious significance, were found on some of the walls. An old bricked-up stained glass mullion window was also uncovered.
Evidence of a past fire in the building was visible on the roof timbers. A large wooden beam, roughly one foot square and 15 feet long, was removed and remained in the yard of Hart’s the builders for several years.
One of the few reminders of this ancient building is a passageway with a rounded arch entrance next door to what is Wise Place Fish and Chip shop. Back in the day, this was Hollingshead’s butchers.
Next door to Hollingshead’s was Hellowell’s tobacconist and what today is Meltan was J Vine Confectioners and the entrance at the side with the arched top (62a Sherrard Street) led to Vines yard.
In front of Vines, you will see what appears to be two lamp posts, a shorter one and a taller one. The taller one is not a lamppost but in fact a vent pipe for the sewers. An example still stands today on the edge of Mill Street car park opposite Elms Road.