City of Leicester & Leicestershire - The Good and Historical Stuff

[Wolfox]

Apparently General Ulysses S. Grant was a bit boring !

 

Remarkable that he was ever in Leicester though 

 

I thought he went to the corn exchange?

Edited 2 June by Wolfox

[davieG]

Joanne Vigor-Mungovin - Author Hidden Leicester ·

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**On This Day in Leicester History – 3 June 1882**

Imagine Leicester on a warm Saturday afternoon in June 1882.

The city was booming. Factory chimneys filled the skyline, thousands of people worked in the hosiery and boot-and-shoe industries, and the streets bustled with traders arriving for summer markets and fairs. But on this day, Leicester's residents had something entirely new to celebrate.

**Abbey Park opened to the public.**

Built on land beside the ruins of Leicester Abbey, the park was one of the most ambitious civic projects the city had ever undertaken. Just days earlier, the Prince and Princess of Wales had officially opened the park, and by 3 June crowds were flocking through its gates to see it for themselves.

Victorian visitors wandered along newly laid pathways, admired ornamental gardens, and enjoyed views of the River Soar. For many working families, this was their first opportunity to enjoy a purpose-built public park designed purely for leisure and recreation.

At a time when Leicester's factories were entering their busiest months of the year, Abbey Park offered something precious: fresh air, open space and a chance to escape the noise of the city.

More than 140 years later, generations of Leicester people have picnicked on the same lawns, walked the same riverside paths and enjoyed one of the city's most treasured green spaces.

 

[davieG]

[davieG]

John Ghent Leicester Estate Agent

Remember when a trip to the cinema felt like an event?

This was Leicester's Picture House cinema, seen from Granby Street in the 1970s.

Long before streaming services and giant multiplexes, places like this were where Leicester families spent their weekends. The bright lights, film posters, queues outside, and the excitement of seeing the latest release made a night at the pictures something special.

For many locals, the Picture House wasn't just a cinema — it was part of growing up, first dates, family outings, and unforgettable memories in the city centre.

Today, Granby Street looks very different, but this photograph captures a time when the cinema stood at the heart of Leicester's entertainment scene.

Did you ever visit the Picture House, or remember what stood here before?

[davieG]

Just now, davieG said:

John Ghent Leicester Estate Agent

Remember when a trip to the cinema felt like an event?

This was Leicester's Picture House cinema, seen from Granby Street in the 1970s.

Long before streaming services and giant multiplexes, places like this were where Leicester families spent their weekends. The bright lights, film posters, queues outside, and the excitement of seeing the latest release made a night at the pictures something special.

For many locals, the Picture House wasn't just a cinema — it was part of growing up, first dates, family outings, and unforgettable memories in the city centre.

Today, Granby Street looks very different, but this photograph captures a time when the cinema stood at the heart of Leicester's entertainment scene.

Did you ever visit the Picture House, or remember what stood here before?

Queued up to see Dr No there and a few years later my brother a couple of mates and myself were refused entry for causing trouble the weekend before, we were never there that weekend.

[davieG]

John Ghent Leicester Estate Agent

 

Friday night in Leicester once looked like this

This was the Cameo Cinema on High Street in June 1971 — a place where film lovers gathered long before Netflix, smartphones, or streaming services existed.

The glowing signs, film posters outside, and bustle of the city centre made a trip to the pictures feel like a real occasion. Whether it was a first date, a family outing, or simply escaping into another world for a few hours, cinemas like the Cameo played a huge part in Leicester life.

Looking at this photo now, it's not just the building that stands out — it's a reminder of a time when entertainment brought people together in person.

The cinema may be gone, but the memories made there still live on.

Did you ever visit the Cameo, or remember what was showing there?

 

Saw my first filmed naked breasts here and very large they were too as the women was washing them over a sink  .

 

The story goes the back row which I seemed to remember had double seats men in long baggie overcoats were covertly finding some relief. 

 

And no it wasn't me, I never saw it and it wasn't a cinema I usually used.

[davieG]

[davieG]

More historical than good

Made In Leicester

James Greig 

Leicesters engineering in the 20th Century was unrivaled. We made machines for knitting for making shoes ( BUSM) and all manner of things. We made lenses and camera's ( Taylor Hobson and Reid) and lots more to numerous to mention. In the 50s Charles Street was the richest street in Europe. This shot was taken @ National Trusts Upton House where during the second world war the bankers were kept together to help the nation fund the war effort. Imperial typewriters on East Park Road helped with this cause. I am very pleased to have met workers in these industries that taught me their skills when I was young. For this I am eternally grateful to them.

 

 

Gent & Co made sonar equipment in the war as well.

 

 

In the 50s Charles Street was the richest street in Europe and one of the cleanest - How far we have fallen.

 

[Innovindil]

36 minutes ago, davieG said:

More historical than good

Made In Leicester

James Greig 

Leicesters engineering in the 20th Century was unrivaled. We made machines for knitting for making shoes ( BUSM) and all manner of things. We made lenses and camera's ( Taylor Hobson and Reid) and lots more to numerous to mention. In the 50s Charles Street was the richest street in Europe. This shot was taken @ National Trusts Upton House where during the second world war the bankers were kept together to help the nation fund the war effort. Imperial typewriters on East Park Road helped with this cause. I am very pleased to have met workers in these industries that taught me their skills when I was young. For this I am eternally grateful to them.

 

 

Gent & Co made sonar equipment in the war as well.

 

 

In the 50s Charles Street was the richest street in Europe and one of the cleanest - How far we have fallen.

 

Hey now. We still make cool stuffs! 

[davieG]

John Ghent Leicester Estate Agent

 

This is High Street... but Leicester is literally being rebuilt around it

Captured in 1951, this fascinating photograph shows shoppers carrying on with their day while major roadworks take place right outside the city's busy shops.

Look closely and you'll see something timeless about Leicester. Despite the disruption, people still went shopping, met friends, and carried on with daily life. Some things never change.

The shopfronts, fashions and street scene may belong to another era, but the mix of construction work and city centre hustle feels surprisingly familiar today.

Photos like this remind us that Leicester has always been evolving. Every generation has watched old streets change, new projects emerge, and the city adapt to the future.

What catches your eye first in this photograph — the roadworks or the shopfronts?

[davieG]

 

Leicester's new 'go-to' social destination is in an underground car park
The old industrial site has been transformed into a creative events space hosting a variety of markets

 

An underground car park in Leicester has become the city's "go-to" social destination.

St Marys Works, located in Burnmoor Street, near the King Power stadium, was once a hosiery factory before being turned into a hotspot for creative people to set up their stalls.

The site now sees events put on inside its underground car park, with the most recent one taking place on Saturday, June 6, featuring a retro market with a variety of stalls, including clothes, furniture, comics and food.

The idea to turn the old industrial site into a creative hotspot came from the event's organiser, Caroline Belfie.

She said: "The factory has been in my husband’s family for many years, but instead of keeping it as a usual old factory, we thought to bring creatives into the space and make it something special.

"We started off with an event late last year, where we hosted a Christmas Market and then we did a foodie event in March and every time the number of visitors just keeps growing.

"So it’s kind of snowballed, turning the factory into a hotspot for the community where they can enjoy the space."

According to Mrs Belfie, the recent event attracted more than 2,000 people to the old factory, a steep increase from March's foodie event, which drew around 1,000 visitors.

She said: "I quit my job as a teacher at Loughborough University last summer because I knew I wanted to do something more creative with my life.

"That is when I looked at the car park and thought, 'this has a lot of potential', and we’ve been hosting different events ever since.

"The first couple of events were attended by about 1,000 people each and then this retro market on Saturday attracted around 2,000 guests, so it was really well attended."

For Mrs Belfie, an important aspect of the events she hosts is to make sure that everyone feels welcome.

She added: "The vibe was amazing on Saturday. The music plays a big part and we have two DJ sets playing in two different places.

"We had some really cool guests wearing flamboyant clothes, older people, families, it just showed that it was a great destination for all."

Mrs Belfie said her events show that the city still has a thriving community ready to support it.

She said: "Our event shows that Leicester’s social side is not dying.

"People kept walking up to me and telling me they were so happy that the event was on and that the city needs more of this, so it proves we have a thriving social scene.

"I’m sure the next one will be even bigger as it keeps growing into a go-to destination."

St Marys Works has not confirmed when the next event will take place, but hinted that something maybe coming to the car park in September.

Take a look around the event through our gallery below.

 

Leicester's new 'go-to' social destination is in an underground car park - Leicestershire Live

 

[davieG]

New jobs set for Leicester as historic firm reveals major plans for city site
The company has been based in the city for more than 100 years

 

Leicester is set for a number of new jobs courtesy of a company's "extensive" redevelopment of its headquarters.

Parker Plant, which has been based in Leicester's Canon Street for more than 100 years, is set to create the jobs as it redevelops its site in Viaduct Works.

The company, which manufactures and supplies asphalt, sand, gravel, concrete and other materials, was founded by Frederick Parker, in 1911, inside a single railway arch.

By 1925, the business had relocated to the expansive 18-acre site on Canon Street, where the new 75,000 sq ft facility has been purpose-built to house manufacturing operations for crushing, screening, concrete and asphalt plants, bringing Parker Plant's full product range under one roof.

The building will comprise four dedicated production bays, a separate paint shop, and a two-storey office block.

To support heavy manufacturing operations, nine new overhead cranes will be installed across the facility, with lifting capacities ranging from 10 to 30 tonnes, equipping the team to handle "even the most demanding" production requirements.

The company said that sustainability has been central to the building's design, as it will feature solar panels, LED lighting throughout and improved insulation to better control noise and heating.

The exact number of jobs being created as part of the move has yet to be confirmed, but a Frederick Parker spokesperson said: "We aren't sure at the moment how many new jobs the site's redevelopment will create.

"It's going to be a process of moving into the new facilities and establishing where we need more team members as we scale up operations and to meet market demands.

"It will definitely create new jobs, however we cannot give an estimate of how many that might be."

 

 

New jobs set for Leicester as historic firm reveals major plans for city site - Leicestershire Live

[davieG]

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble ·

West Bridge Railway Station.

Dated 1962....

[davieG]

 

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble 

Brex Rise Braunstone Frith 1950.

[davieG]

Charnwood Street