George, his brother Isaac and his two sisters were the children of William Harrison and Sarah Abell, who died when their children were very young. George and his siblings were raised first by their aunt and uncle, Henry and Hannah Harrison, and then by their aunt and uncle Isaac and Catherine Harrison (who were brother and sister) at “2, Haymarket”, which was also a maltings belonging to their uncle Isaac.
George followed his uncle into the maltings trade, as well as increasing his extensive land ownership to include local farms which enabled him to malt his own barley to supply the breweries and the public houses in Leicester that brewed their own beer. George also owned of a number of public houses in and around Leicester. In addition, George and his brother Isaac owned extensive property and land portfolios in various parts of Belgrave, the surrounding districts and in the county. George also owned a number of the local breweries including the brewery at Langham in Rutland which (in the 20th century) became famous for its “Ruddles Ale”.
George was still living at “2, Haymarket” when his aunt Catherine (who was living at Belgrave House) died in 1880. He then moved to Queniborough in Leicestershire, where he remained a batchelor, employing three servants.
George Harrison died at Queniborough in 1881. The inscription on his granite tombstone reads: “Blessed is he that considereth the poor”, a quotation from Psalm 41:1. This sentiment is reflected in his bequests to several of his employees in his (extensive, sixteen-page) Will, as well as his servants, friends and family.
George’s brother, Isaac Harrison (also a major landowner in Leicester) was High Sherriff of Leicester. He was also involved in the Temperance Movement, and would not allow any public houses to be built on his land – a contrasting view to his brother!
Harrison Road in Belgrave is named after the family, Catherine Street after George’s aunt Catherine, and a number of other streets in the area are named after members of the Harrison family. A picture of George’s aunt can be seen in this History Page article:
https://belgraveheritagetrust.org/history/belgrave-people/