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davieG

City of Leicester & Leicestershire - The Good and Historical Stuff

By davieG, in General Chat

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davieG

davieG

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Berni Inns Menu dated shortly after Decimalisation on Feb 15th 1971. The prices are shown in and Decimal. Prime Fillet Steak with chips mushrooms tomatoes a bread roll followed by ice cream or cheese & biscuits for only 21/ or £1:05 😱😱

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davieG

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https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/roman-shrine-found-under-leicester-8991348

 

Roman shrine found under Leicester Cathedral set for BBC Two's Digging for Britain

By

Lee GarrettReporter

Leicester Cathedral is sitting on top of a wealth of history

 

 

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Professor Alice Roberts presents the BBC's Digging for Britain series
 


An astonishing find at Leicester Cathedral will feature in an episode of the BBC’s Digging for Britain this week. The extraordinary archaeological adventure will look deep into the dig itself and show how the city is chocked full of history.

The show, which is hosted by Professor Alice Roberts, will look into the dig which took place at the cathedral earlier this year. The dig, led by the University of Leicester with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, amazed the world when teams uncovered a potential Roman cellar, shrine and altar in the grounds.

The discovery, which was captured by the Digging for Britain cameras, is thought to date back thousands of years. The shrine is also a significant find as it was the first Roman altar stone ever found in Leicester.

 

Archaeologists from the University of Leicester excavate early medieval burials interred in the top of the backfilled Roman cellar at Leicester Cathedral
The cellar was found by archaeologists from the University of Leicester
The dig has taken place over the past three years with archaeologists from University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), who have been working with Leicester Cathedral to reveal the story of what is below the city landmark. The excavations were carried out before construction of the new Heritage Learning Centre in the Cathedral Gardens.

Over the three years, a “remarkable” archive of archaeological significance has been found by teams. This includes a highly unusual, continuous 850-year sequence of burial activity, as well as Anglo-Saxon, Roman and prehistoric activity dating back over 15,000 years.


John Thomas, ULAS deputy director, who managed the cathedral dig, said: “ULAS has built a good relationship with Digging for Britain over the years, and through the programme we’ve been able to share amazing stories that have resulted from several of our major projects. It is fantastic that we are now able to include this wonderful story from our Leicester Cathedral excavation in the new series, which sheds important new light on some of the formative changes that took place in the journey towards the city we know today.”

The dig, which is part of the Leicester Cathedral Revealed project, was made possible with the backing of a £6.4 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. That money, which has been raised by the public through playing the lottery, has helped revitalise the cathedral, seeing a new fully accessible and environmentally friendly heated limestone floor put in place, while the interior has been redecorated too.

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Paninistickers

Paninistickers

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1 hour ago, davieG said:

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/roman-shrine-found-under-leicester-8991348

 

Roman shrine found under Leicester Cathedral set for BBC Two's Digging for Britain

By

Lee GarrettReporter

Leicester Cathedral is sitting on top of a wealth of history

 

 

image.png.11db60f84477580d506e904ee8c0c515.pnge 
Professor Alice Roberts presents the BBC's Digging for Britain series
 


An astonishing find at Leicester Cathedral will feature in an episode of the BBC’s Digging for Britain this week. The extraordinary archaeological adventure will look deep into the dig itself and show how the city is chocked full of history.

The show, which is hosted by Professor Alice Roberts, will look into the dig which took place at the cathedral earlier this year. The dig, led by the University of Leicester with funding from the National Lottery Heritage Fund, amazed the world when teams uncovered a potential Roman cellar, shrine and altar in the grounds.

The discovery, which was captured by the Digging for Britain cameras, is thought to date back thousands of years. The shrine is also a significant find as it was the first Roman altar stone ever found in Leicester.

 

Archaeologists from the University of Leicester excavate early medieval burials interred in the top of the backfilled Roman cellar at Leicester Cathedral
The cellar was found by archaeologists from the University of Leicester
The dig has taken place over the past three years with archaeologists from University of Leicester Archaeological Services (ULAS), who have been working with Leicester Cathedral to reveal the story of what is below the city landmark. The excavations were carried out before construction of the new Heritage Learning Centre in the Cathedral Gardens.

Over the three years, a “remarkable” archive of archaeological significance has been found by teams. This includes a highly unusual, continuous 850-year sequence of burial activity, as well as Anglo-Saxon, Roman and prehistoric activity dating back over 15,000 years.


John Thomas, ULAS deputy director, who managed the cathedral dig, said: “ULAS has built a good relationship with Digging for Britain over the years, and through the programme we’ve been able to share amazing stories that have resulted from several of our major projects. It is fantastic that we are now able to include this wonderful story from our Leicester Cathedral excavation in the new series, which sheds important new light on some of the formative changes that took place in the journey towards the city we know today.”

The dig, which is part of the Leicester Cathedral Revealed project, was made possible with the backing of a £6.4 million grant from The National Lottery Heritage Fund. That money, which has been raised by the public through playing the lottery, has helped revitalise the cathedral, seeing a new fully accessible and environmentally friendly heated limestone floor put in place, while the interior has been redecorated too.

On that note, when's Jewry Walk due for reopening? 

 

Places like Bath (admittedly pretty spectacular) and York make a whole industry out of their roman/viking history....so far as I know, we are the only big UK city with extensive Roman remains and it barely gets a mention. 

 

 

 

 

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davieG

davieG

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1 hour ago, Paninistickers said:

On that note, when's Jewry Walk due for reopening? 

 

Places like Bath (admittedly pretty spectacular) and York make a whole industry out of their roman/viking history....so far as I know, we are the only big UK city with extensive Roman remains and it barely gets a mention. 

 

 

 

 

So much of it is buried like under the Holiday Inn and Dragon Square. 

westernpark

westernpark

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1 hour ago, Paninistickers said:

On that note, when's Jewry Walk due for reopening? 

 

Places like Bath (admittedly pretty spectacular) and York make a whole industry out of their roman/viking history....so far as I know, we are the only big UK city with extensive Roman remains and it barely gets a mention. 

 

 

 

 

Initial contractors went bust during Covid, who were managing the whole project. We have to also remember that Vaughan College is a listed building, that has needed works. Council have been very unlucky, it will be great when finished. 
But you’re right, we need to start shouting from the rooftops about our 2000 year plus history, Snottingham don’t have that to shout about. Nonetheless, I’m certain Jewry Wall will be a catalyst for greater awareness when finished.

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davieG

davieG

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  · 
 
 
Western Park
Western Park was a forest called ‘Herewoode’ and belonged to one of William the Conqueror’s most trusted Barons; Hugh de Grandmesnil
For many decades Western Park was well known for its 1930s Open Air School, now Grade II Listed
During the First World War, the Wartime Ambulance Station trained on Western Park and it was also the training ground for the Leicester Regiment’s Volunteers
Early occupation and construction
There is evidence at Western Park of possibly Leicester’s earliest occupation. What is believed to be an early Bronze Age henge site and burial mounds have been discovered there along with evidence of Roman occupation as well.
It is thought the Roman road linking Leicester (Ratae Coritanorum) and Manchester (Manduessedum) runs through the park although the exact location remains unknown. Areas of the park have also seen multiple phases of sandstone quarrying which also possibly date as far back as the Roman period. This ‘Dane Hills Sandstone’ (now known as Arden Sandstone) is thought to be the material from which many of Leicester’s earliest churches were built, as well as The Magazine.
Old Major
By the time of the 1089 Domesday Book record, Western Park was a forest called ‘Herewoode’ and belonged to one of William the Conqueror’s most trusted Barons; Hugh de Grandmesnil. The park was part of the wider Leicester Forest and by the 12th Century had passed into the hands of the Earls of Leicester. ‘Assarting’ or the removal of trees for fuel and grazing saw the forest dwindle in size until the Frith (the approximate area of today’s park) was fenced off –the tree known as ‘Old Major’ is thought to be a surviving remnant of this forest and possibly the oldest tree in any of Leicester’s parks.
A park and school
In 1897 the Leicester Corporation bought the park for £30,000 primarily for the enjoyment by residents of Leicester’s expanding West End. The park was officially opened by the Mayor of Leicester in 1899 and an Oak tree and Californian Fir were planted to commemorate the occasion. Initial complaints by the Parks Committee stated that the park was not frequently used by the public due to its location outside the town and as a result a tram line was constructed in 1904 to bring in visitors to the city.
For many decades Western Park was well know for its 1930s Open Air School, now Grade II Listed. This was constructed for children who were recovering from debilitating illnesses, particularly of a respiratory nature and was characterised by programs of hydrotherapy, exercise and nutrition aimed at improving the health of the most impoverished of Leicester’s children. In the Committee Minutes it was explained that the aim of the school was to ‘so train the children that they would eventually become hardy men and women’. The school was open from 1930 to 2005.
Early occupation and construction
There is evidence at Western Park of possibly Leicester’s earliest occupation. What is believed to be an early Bronze Age henge site and burial mounds have been discovered there along with evidence of Roman occupation as well.
The World Wars
During the First World War, the Wartime Ambulance Station trained on Western Park and it was also the training ground for the Leicester Regiment’s Volunteers. Even the grass of the golf course was used for the war effort when it was harvested to feed horses and cattle when Great Britain’s agriculture was stretched under rationing.
During the Second World War, air raid drills were carried out at the park with military inspections and processions taking place in the grounds. There was a public air raid shelter in the corner of the park next to Hinckley Road and children recalled seeing guns and search lights illuminating the sky above it, with concrete sewer pipes being laid across the grassy areas to prevent enemy aircraft from attempting to land.
A beautiful local park
Leicester City Corporation took pride in providing their citizens with a public park with a majestic entrance and lined avenue of trees. The ‘fair pool’ became the much-loved paddling pool, and that, along with tennis courts, the band stand and a play area secured the immediate success of the park with all social classes.
The park today is still a popular visitor spot for families and boasts frequent concerts in the bandstand as well as a wide variety of sporting and recreational facilities.
Photo 1. Western Park
Photo2. Children playing around the famous ‘Old Major’ tree, circa 1900
Photo 3 Pupils playing sports with the school buildings in the background, circa 1930s

 

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davieG

davieG

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Story of Leicester  · 

 
A look back 100 years ago at the development of Saffron Lane, when building started on the Park Estate in 1924.
Image credit: Leicester & Leicestershire Record Office.
After the end of the First World War there was a serious housing shortage in Leicester. By the early 1920s, over 5,000 people were on the waiting list. In April 1924, Leicester Corporation bought 169 acres of land from Mrs Sybil Eyres-Monsell. They planned to create a ‘garden suburb’ with 1,500 houses, called the Park Estate. It is now the Saffron Lane Estate. Work started on 20 September 1924, with the first 30 houses being completed 11 months later.
davieG

davieG

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7 minutes ago, kenny said:

What an amazing building 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/history/lotta-bottle-demolish-unique-landmark-552993

 

They had a lotta bottle to demolish unique landmark
Elegant 1930s Art Deco dairy building was one of several landmarks destroyed in the area


ByAustin J Ruddy
12:04, 29 SEP 2017


This was one of the most vibrant and stylish buildings in Leicester, giving a subtle hint of colour to an old industrial building and brightening up a backstreet corner of the city.

Kirby and West’s Alderney Dairy, on Western Boulevard, was designed by architects the Riley Brothers in 1935, to an elegant Art Deco design, which managed to be both classical and cutting-edge at the same time.

Smart white, green and blue biscuit tiles were placed over the facade of an old chemical factory, making an attractive place for its employees to work and improving the area.

Correspondent Michael Clarke took these two photos towards the building’s latter years, after Kirby and West had moved to new premises in nearby Richard III Road in 1980.

“At the time of my photograph, this former Western Boulevard building had until fairly recently been occupied for many years by second-hand furniture dealers, Mick and Den,” explains Michael, now of Norfolk.

“The graffiti seen on the doors provide details of the address of the premises they had moved on to in King Richards Road and eventually moving to a building of modern contemporary style, the relatively short-lived former Bosworth pub, built about 1962, on the site of another hostelry the Danes Hill Tavern.


“Ironically, they had moved close to Kirby and West’s new dairy,” adds Michael.

Michael took the photograph – along with pictures of the impressive neighbouring Victorian, red brick Great Central Railway goods offices – as a reference for a painting he was about to undertake.

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art 43.tif
He also took this more unusual black and white angle for his late 1970s photograph of the building.

It shows the plain brick frontage that, apart from three decorative bands and lower tiling, that extended from the admired tiled facade, along the length of the bottling plant to the loading dock visible through the arched gate. Michael adds that ornate white tiling work capped the gate, where Leicester’s largest “pinta” was displayed in a rounded gallery arch.

Michael was born in Leicester’s New Park Street, within sight of the dairy and the railway goods offices.

Unbelievably – or believably, depending on your view – both buildings were demolished in 1997, to make way for the Bede Island development.

Michael feels the eventual demolition of these two unique West End landmarks caught people by surprise.

At the time, with demolition of the goods offices already under way, Michael was moved to comment in the letters page of the Mercury on the prospect of losing the Art Deco gem.

He still reckons it was no coincidence that the bulldozers were switched from the railway offices to flatten the dairy first, before preservationists could stage a late protest to save its magnificent tiled facade.

Indeed, the destruction was to continue: both the historic Bowstring Bridge and popular Pump and Tap pub were also demolished in 2009 – so that was three major Leicester landmarks levelled in the space of 12 years.

Regular readers will know that I often “bang on” about the destruction of our city’s irreplaceable elegant heritage.

Stadt

Stadt

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Western Boulevard and Braunstone Gate have been ruined by the council, demolishing the bowstring bridge and Pump & Tap for a run of the mill uni building. Bede island has aged horribly too.

 

Now the council are petrified of aggressive redevelopment because of past mistakes, they're overly heritage focused now. I went to an event where they basically ruled out tall developments (9 storeys in their opinion lol).

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westernpark

westernpark

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5 minutes ago, Stadt said:

Western Boulevard and Braunstone Gate have been ruined by the council, demolishing the bowstring bridge and Pump & Tap for a run of the mill uni building. Bede island has aged horribly too.

 

Now the council are petrified of aggressive redevelopment because of past mistakes, they're overly heritage focused now. I went to an event where they basically ruled out tall developments (9 storeys in their opinion lol).

You’re right regarding the Western Boulevard demolitions, they got that very wrong at the time. However, I don’t see that as the causation(not suggesting you do) of this heritage and conservation focus we are currently seeing. I think people are more aware of the works going on, because of tangible outposts such as heritage boards and publications of works, to try and engage the public. Although, I would argue there is such a thing as heritage saturation and the boards that seem to breed like rabbits, undermine certain histories importance. Nonetheless, I think the mayor is naturally interested in heritage and conservation, and the brilliant coincidence of King Richard 3rd and us winning the league, left an opportunity to engage with our heritage and thus civic pride. The urban historian Helen Meller in 1997(?), said that going forward the agency of a football team’s success would be one of best purporters of heritage and civic pride for a local authority. We saw Claudio Ranieri and player murals in the immediate aftermath, player flags down Humberstone gate?, but they’ve largely disappeared. 
 

As for developments, I don’t believe the storey limit to be strictly true, except there have been rejections, especially in conservation areas, see the Matalan Car Park proposal (2022?), that would have significantly impacted the character of the area. Nonetheless, it does seem that the only developments over nine storeys are currently student accommodation blocks! I believe there will be a new large development off New Park Street, that may reach above nine storeys, think it was initially rejected but may have now been approved. Of course that is student accommodation.

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