WILLIAM H SHARPE

William Henry Sharpe was born in 1844, the eldest son of William Sharpe, a cordwainer/shoemaker and Mary his wife. Sometimes known as just 'Henry' he grew up to be a forceful figure in the world of local brewing and politics.

After completing his education at the University of London, he spent a number of years learning the brewery trade from his uncle Isaac Sharpe in Derby. In 1868 his father purchased the Duke of York public house on High Street. William Henry began a maltings on a very small scale in the existing buildings behind the pub. In 1876, he and his brother Frederick took over their father's business as equal partners and it is then that the fortunes of the brewery went in an upward spiral. The brothers re-equipped the brewery with new malthouses and union rooms and productivity increased.

Besides the manufacturing of Sharpe's Sileby Ales, the business also purchased or leased a number of beerhouses, off licenses and small pubs to get their products onto the market. By 1906, Sharpe's owned 35 properties in Leicester and Leicestershire along with a further 5 leasehold properties.

William Henry's prosperity meant he could indulge himself in his other passions. For 11 years he had been a Guardian of the Poor for the local Barrow Board, only resigning in 1889 when he became Conservative county councillor for Sileby division. He was very conscientious, attending 33 out of 38 (87%) county council meetings from 1889 to 1891.

In 1873 he married Agnes Warner and had 7 children together. They initially set up home on the Banks, but later transferred to a large property on Cossington Road. This he later demolished, and built Fair Lawn (now known as Chine House veterinary practice) in its place.

William Henry Sharpe died in 1919. His will valued his estate at almost £75,000, an enormous amount. A local newspaper obituary described him as 'very musical, a sound churchman and ever ready to help any cause in the village financially.'