City of Leicester & Leicestershire - The Good and Historical Stuff

[davieG]

John Ghent Leicester Estate Agen

 

A Leicester shop that generations of families will remember…

Robotham’s Baby Kingdom on Belvoir Street was once a familiar name in Leicester.

This photograph captures the shop during its final years, with prams, baby clothes and children’s essentials filling the windows.

The store closed in 1973, after becoming part of everyday life for countless Leicester families. One of the most fascinating details is that the manager, Mrs Vera Aucott, had worked there for an incredible 49 years.

For some Leicester families, this wasn’t just a shop. It was where they bought their first pram, their children’s shoes, dolls and outfits.

Did your family ever shop at Robotham’s?

Belvoir Street, Leicester

Robotham’s Baby Kingdom

Closed in 1973

#Leicester #LeicesterHistory #OldLeicester #LeicesterMemories #BelvoirStreet #LeicesterShops #LeicesterThenAndNow #Nostalgia #LostLeicester #LeicesterLife

 

[davieG]

[davieG]

[Trav Le Bleu]

On 05/10/2026 at 09:38, davieG said:

John Ghent Leicester Estate Agen

 

A Leicester shop that generations of families will remember…

Robotham’s Baby Kingdom on Belvoir Street was once a familiar name in Leicester.

This photograph captures the shop during its final years, with prams, baby clothes and children’s essentials filling the windows.

The store closed in 1973, after becoming part of everyday life for countless Leicester families. One of the most fascinating details is that the manager, Mrs Vera Aucott, had worked there for an incredible 49 years.

For some Leicester families, this wasn’t just a shop. It was where they bought their first pram, their children’s shoes, dolls and outfits.

Did your family ever shop at Robotham’s?

Belvoir Street, Leicester

Robotham’s Baby Kingdom

Closed in 1973

#Leicester #LeicesterHistory #OldLeicester #LeicesterMemories #BelvoirStreet #LeicesterShops #LeicesterThenAndNow #Nostalgia #LostLeicester #LeicesterLife

 

I'm not surprised that Baby Kingdom isn't around anymore. Using robots to turn babies into ham is vile!

[davieG]

On 04/10/2026 at 15:23, Free Falling Foxes said:

Too young to remember it, but there is a photograph of myself aged about 12 months being helped by our then next-door-neighbour to paddle my feet in the water at that lido.

It would be great to have such a resource now.

Another pic of Kenwood

 

[DJW1]

23 hours ago, davieG said:

Where is/was that building?

Those kinds of places were often elegant buildings set in landscaped grounds, like the one in St. Albans that I visited a couple of times (to play cricket)

[davieG]

10 minutes ago, DJW1 said:

Where is/was that building?

Those kinds of places were often elegant buildings set in landscaped grounds, like the one in St. Albans that I visited a couple of times (to play cricket)

 

One of the few historic buildings that survived

 

AI

 

Towers Hospital in Leicester was a historic psychiatric facility in Humberstone that permanently closed in April 2013. [1]

 

History and Timeline

• Opened (1869): Founded as the Leicester Borough Lunatic Asylum on a 30-acre site designed by Edward Loney Stephens. [1, 2]

• Renamed (1920s - 1947): Known as the Leicester City Mental Hospital before officially becoming the Towers Hospital upon joining the NHS in 1948. [1]

• Operations: Operated as a self-sufficient community with its own working farm and workshops where patients took part in outdoor treatment. [1, 2]

• Closure (2013): Services wound down over decades as care shifted into the community and general hospitals, leading to final closure. [1, 2]

 

Current Site Status

• Redvelopment: The Grade II listed Former Towers Hospital main buildings have been converted into residential apartments. [1, 2]

• Towers Park: The former hospital grounds now serve as public open space known as Towers Park. [1, 2]

• Historical Records: Official archives and administrative documents detailing the hospital's history from 1869 to 1989 are preserved via The National Archives. [1]

 

 

 

 

[Jon the Hat]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

 

One of the few historic buildings that survived

 

AI

 

Towers Hospital in Leicester was a historic psychiatric facility in Humberstone that permanently closed in April 2013. [1]

 

History and Timeline

• Opened (1869): Founded as the Leicester Borough Lunatic Asylum on a 30-acre site designed by Edward Loney Stephens. [1, 2]

• Renamed (1920s - 1947): Known as the Leicester City Mental Hospital before officially becoming the Towers Hospital upon joining the NHS in 1948. [1]

• Operations: Operated as a self-sufficient community with its own working farm and workshops where patients took part in outdoor treatment. [1, 2]

• Closure (2013): Services wound down over decades as care shifted into the community and general hospitals, leading to final closure. [1, 2]

 

Current Site Status

• Redvelopment: The Grade II listed Former Towers Hospital main buildings have been converted into residential apartments. [1, 2]

• Towers Park: The former hospital grounds now serve as public open space known as Towers Park. [1, 2]

• Historical Records: Official archives and administrative documents detailing the hospital's history from 1869 to 1989 are preserved via The National Archives. [1]

 

 

 

 

A number of these closed at about the right time to be redeveloped instead of knocked down.  10 years earlier they might have been doomed.  

[davieG]

2 hours ago, Jon the Hat said:

A number of these closed at about the right time to be redeveloped instead of knocked down.  10 years earlier they might have been doomed.  

Like the Hillcrest Hospital near Swain Street Bridge would have made some great apartments a stroll into town or the station.

[davieG]

Leicester looked so different in 1951…

This incredible view of Narborough Road at the Braunstone Gate junction captures a Leicester that feels worlds away from today.

From the old buildings and shopfronts to the street furniture, trees and everyday activity, there are so many little details to spot in this photograph.

Narborough Road, Braunstone Gate, Leicester
1951

 

 

Underground toilet - I can't imagine how bad they'd be if the still existed with today's level of vandalism
 

[davieG]

On 08/10/2026 at 11:24, Jon the Hat said:

A number of these closed at about the right time to be redeveloped instead of knocked down.  10 years earlier they might have been doomed.  

And another obviously colourised but how good would it be if that all still existed. The bit that's left is so uninspiring after you've seen what was there before.

 

[davieG]

John Ghent Leicester Estate Agent

 

A hotel with a surprisingly long Leicester history.

The Belmont Hotel at 20 De Montfort Street has been part of Leicester’s story for generations.

Originally built around 1861 as a girls’ school, the building later became a tax office and YMCA before being bought by the Bowie family in 1934 and turned into a hotel.

By 1950, James Bowie had even been granted a licence to sell alcohol.

Belmont Hotel, 20 De Montfort Street, Leicester

From a girls’ school to a hotel, this building has seen quite a transformation. Did you ever visit the Belmont Hotel?

Follow for more Leicester history, memories and then-and-now photos.

#Leicester #LeicesterHistory #LeicesterMemories #LeicesterNostalgia #OldLeicester #DeMontfortStreet #BelmontHotel #LeicesterHistory #Leicestershire #UKHistory

[davieG]

Paul Hartshorn ·

Follow

 

 

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗻. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲.

Blaby Golf Centre is now being advertised for sale as development land, with outline planning permission for 200 homes.

I opposed this development because this is far more than a piece of land. It is a valued community facility, supporting businesses, jobs and recreation.

Yet our planning system allows landowners to secure permission, increase the value of their land and sell it on. They can collect the financial reward without building a single home.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲.

• Residents face losing a much-loved facility and green space.

• Existing businesses face disruption and relocation.

• Housebuilders must pay for the land before funding construction and infrastructure.

• People needing homes face the consequences of a system that rewards expensive land.

We expect developers to provide affordable homes, strong environmental standards and proper infrastructure. But inflated land costs put pressure on the money available to deliver those things.

The listing advertises 25% affordable housing. That is welcome, but it does not answer the bigger question: why should private landowners capture so much of the value created by a planning decision, while the community bears the loss?

𝗜𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺.

I want planning permission tied to the landowner who secured it. If they sell before development, the permission should lapse and the buyer should have to apply again.

That would need careful rules. But we must stop treating planning permission as a ticket to a private windfall.

𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀.

https://www.landsale.co.uk/properties/158831

 

[Jon the Hat]

13 hours ago, davieG said:

Paul Hartshorn ·

Follow

 

 

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗻. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲.

Blaby Golf Centre is now being advertised for sale as development land, with outline planning permission for 200 homes.

I opposed this development because this is far more than a piece of land. It is a valued community facility, supporting businesses, jobs and recreation.

Yet our planning system allows landowners to secure permission, increase the value of their land and sell it on. They can collect the financial reward without building a single home.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲.

• Residents face losing a much-loved facility and green space.

• Existing businesses face disruption and relocation.

• Housebuilders must pay for the land before funding construction and infrastructure.

• People needing homes face the consequences of a system that rewards expensive land.

We expect developers to provide affordable homes, strong environmental standards and proper infrastructure. But inflated land costs put pressure on the money available to deliver those things.

The listing advertises 25% affordable housing. That is welcome, but it does not answer the bigger question: why should private landowners capture so much of the value created by a planning decision, while the community bears the loss?

𝗜𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺.

I want planning permission tied to the landowner who secured it. If they sell before development, the permission should lapse and the buyer should have to apply again.

That would need careful rules. But we must stop treating planning permission as a ticket to a private windfall.

𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀.

https://www.landsale.co.uk/properties/158831

 

This is why in certain circumstances at least Capital gains tax should be equivalent to the higher rate of income tax.  If they rezone and make 10m quid, the state should take 40%+ of that profit.

[Trav Le Bleu]

On 10/10/2026 at 14:15, davieG said:

Paul Hartshorn ·

Follow

 

 

𝗚𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿𝘀 𝘄𝗶𝗻. 𝗢𝘂𝗿 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀 𝗽𝗮𝘆 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲.

Blaby Golf Centre is now being advertised for sale as development land, with outline planning permission for 200 homes.

I opposed this development because this is far more than a piece of land. It is a valued community facility, supporting businesses, jobs and recreation.

Yet our planning system allows landowners to secure permission, increase the value of their land and sell it on. They can collect the financial reward without building a single home.

𝗧𝗵𝗲 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗲𝘁𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗱𝗳𝗮𝗹𝗹. 𝗘𝘃𝗲𝗿𝘆𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗲𝗹𝘀𝗲 𝗽𝗮𝘆𝘀 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗰𝗲.

• Residents face losing a much-loved facility and green space.

• Existing businesses face disruption and relocation.

• Housebuilders must pay for the land before funding construction and infrastructure.

• People needing homes face the consequences of a system that rewards expensive land.

We expect developers to provide affordable homes, strong environmental standards and proper infrastructure. But inflated land costs put pressure on the money available to deliver those things.

The listing advertises 25% affordable housing. That is welcome, but it does not answer the bigger question: why should private landowners capture so much of the value created by a planning decision, while the community bears the loss?

𝗜𝗻 𝗺𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝗲𝘄, 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗮𝗻𝗱𝗼𝘄𝗻𝗲𝗿 𝗴𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝗲𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗮 𝗯𝗿𝗼𝗸𝗲𝗻 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺.

I want planning permission tied to the landowner who secured it. If they sell before development, the permission should lapse and the buyer should have to apply again.

That would need careful rules. But we must stop treating planning permission as a ticket to a private windfall.

𝗪𝗲 𝗻𝗲𝗲𝗱 𝗮 𝘀𝘆𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗺 𝘁𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝘄𝗮𝗿𝗱𝘀 𝗯𝘂𝗶𝗹𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱 𝗵𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗰𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝘁𝗶𝗲𝘀, 𝗻𝗼𝘁 𝗰𝗮𝘀𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗶𝗻 𝗼𝗻 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝗹𝗼𝘀𝘀.

https://www.landsale.co.uk/properties/158831

 

And the 25% of affordable housing is usually the shoddy bit of the estate, owned by a housing society to rent out, which isn't usually part of the estate all together, but rather 25% on each road, typically tucked away so as not to be conspicuous.

 

There will be no amenities and very little green space. Roads may not be big enough for two large vehicles to pass easily, despite the fact that, obviously, with no amenities, there will be an increased reliance on deliveries.

 

But, however, £££££££££££...

[davieG]

The big A-Z guide of everything to be proud of in Leicester

The big A-Z guide of everything to be proud of in Leicester

 

 

 

[Free Falling Foxes]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

The big A-Z guide of everything to be proud of in Leicester

The big A-Z guide of everything to be proud of in Leicester

 

 

 

Golden Mile.

Narborough Rd.

Peter Soulsby.

 

This is meant as a joke.........isn't it?

 

Thank goodness we had Jamie for the letter V, otherwise there was a very good chance they would have put Vaz in.

[Grebfromgrebland]

I was always so proud that the elephant man and Daniel Lambert were from Leicester.

And we have part of a Roman wall.

[boots60]

2 hours ago, davieG said:

The big A-Z guide of everything to be proud of in Leicester

The big A-Z guide of everything to be proud of in Leicester

 

 

 

Agree with most of this but replace Peter Soulsby with Peter Shilton.

[davieG]

Exploring GB  ·

Follow

 

The Romans laid out this 182 mile road in an almost perfectly straight line.

Shortly after invading Britain in AD 43, Roman surveyors charted a remarkably direct route across the landscape.

What makes it extraordinary is its precision: along the 182 mile stretch between Lincoln and Ilchester, the road never strays more than six miles from a perfectly straight line, cutting through Leicester, Cirencester, and Bath while steadily forging across hills and rivers.

Taking its name from fossa, the Latin word for ditch, the road was used as the frontier marker of Roman territory during the early decades of the occupation. Incredible.

Beyond this line lay untamed lands outside Rome’s control.

Today, much of this ancient highway remains beneath modern asphalt. Major routes like the A46 (Lincoln to Leicester), the A429 (into Cirencester), and the A37 (towards Ilchester) follow its exact path—meaning if you've traveled near Newark, Stow, or Shepton Mallet, you’ve likely driven along a 2,000-year-old Roman road without realizing it