City of Leicester & Leicestershire - The Good and Historical Stuff

[davieG]

Kelly's History and Hauntings

Good morning, it's back to the 80's with this advertisement of Leicester City Shops, from the Melton Times newspaper.
Who remembers Rackhams and Littlewoods stores

Credit www.findmypast.co.uk and www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk

[Stadt]

On 16/03/2025 at 14:02, davieG said:

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble  ·

Woolworths on the market place back in the day.

This is particularly bad stretch of the market now. Feels sketchy along there

[davieG]

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble  

London Road 1940s.....I've no idea what's going on.....

[davieG]

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble  

 

High Street 1975.

[kenny]

2 minutes ago, davieG said:

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble  

London Road 1940s.....I've no idea what's going on.....

That is working electric tram in the centre of Leicester. Something our Mayor describes as "simply not feasible to set-up in Leicester".

 

On the positive side, another £100m for cycle lanes can be found!

[lcfc278]

20 hours ago, davieG said:

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor  ·

A sunny day out at the Abbey Park Paddling Pool 1950`s ?

 

 

Used to be fine until yobs started breaking bottle in it.

I remember going in this as a little kid, one summer in the early 90's I'd say. I don't think it went on much longer than that though as I never saw it used again after that.

Edited 18 March by lcfc278

[davieG]

 

History of Leicestershire in Images

Jan Smith 

Leicester,Welford Road in the 1920s.

[davieG]

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble  · 

Belgrave Gate / St Mathew's Way before the Flyover 1969.

[ajthefox]

On 18/03/2025 at 09:09, davieG said:

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble  

London Road 1940s.....I've no idea what's going on.....

 

On 18/03/2025 at 09:14, kenny said:

That is working electric tram in the centre of Leicester. Something our Mayor describes as "simply not feasible to set-up in Leicester".

 

On the positive side, another £100m for cycle lanes can be found!

Maybe I'm too cynical but it looks like AI to me.

 

Look at the face of the bloke on the left, look at the left hand side of the bonnet/windscreen on the nearest car, the writing on the tram. I know photos deteriorate and colouration can make things look a bit different but this looks odd to me.

[Free Falling Foxes]

1 hour ago, ajthefox said:

 

Maybe I'm too cynical but it looks like AI to me.

 

Look at the face of the bloke on the left, look at the left hand side of the bonnet/windscreen on the nearest car, the writing on the tram. I know photos deteriorate and colouration can make things look a bit different but this looks odd to me.

Colourised yes, not sure about AI.

I think it's damage from the traffic accident on the vehicle you mention.

Also, the chap on the left just happens to be the same head height as the column behind him which has paint or some other feature on it.

[davieG]

 

 

News Feed posts

Story of Leicester

 

Braunstone Gate has always been a vibrant street with many shops and pubs. Seen here around the turn of the 20th Century with lots of shop awnings and signage advertising wares.

The area has a rich industrial past with it's location next to the canal and the old Central Railway. Today, it’s a cool blend of old and new, with its unique character and historic buildings giving it plenty of charm.

What’s your favourite memory of Braunstone Gate?

[davieG]

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble 

Braunstone Gate 1968.

[lcfc278]

38 minutes ago, davieG said:

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble 

Braunstone Gate 1968.

Not a fan of the AI enhancing at all just looks fake

[davieG]

Story of Leicester

Today we have this amazing map of Medieval Leicester - date unknown (around 600 - 700 years old).

To get your bearings - 'Swines Market', right centre of the map is what we now call High Street. Just below that, marked as 'Sheepmarket' is what we now call Silver Street.

Do you see any other roads or landmarks you recognise, that still exist today?

[davieG]

Story of Leicester

Today we have a photo from November 1969 showing roadworks underway on Belgrave Road at the point where it turns into Melton Road.

We love looking at the signs and shop fronts in the background - did you spot the 'Rugby Football' fixtures list to the far left, or the East Midlands Electricity advert for 'High capacity storage radiators'?

Finally - does anyone remember the Cadbury's Golden Crisp? It looks good!

#StoryOfLeicester

[davieG]

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor

 

High Street Leicester 1950`s .

[davieG]

Leicester Memories

Peter Taylor  

 

Vestry Street Swimming Baths Leicester 1965 .

[Free Falling Foxes]

Saff Estate exhibition

[davieG]

[davieG]

Story of Leicester

 

What a shot of Welford Road this is! So much going on in this photo from the late 1960s / early 1970s - You can see the John Biggs statue poking above the bus in the middle right. This was created by sculptor, George Anderson Lawson; John Biggs (1801-1871) was a radical politician, hosiery manufacturer, philanthropist, and Mayor of the City of Leicester three times.

Other interesting things we spotted in the photo - the Fyffes branded lorry and the Number 60 Bus to Braunstone.

To the right you can see the building that were demolished to make way for the Welford Place Council Offices, themselves demolished back in 2015 to make way for the mixed retail and residential buildings there today!

#StoryOfLeicester

[Parafox]

On 24/03/2025 at 10:22, davieG said:

Story of Leicester

 

What a shot of Welford Road this is! So much going on in this photo from the late 1960s / early 1970s - You can see the John Biggs statue poking above the bus in the middle right. This was created by sculptor, George Anderson Lawson; John Biggs (1801-1871) was a radical politician, hosiery manufacturer, philanthropist, and Mayor of the City of Leicester three times.

Other interesting things we spotted in the photo - the Fyffes branded lorry and the Number 60 Bus to Braunstone.

To the right you can see the building that were demolished to make way for the Welford Place Council Offices, themselves demolished back in 2015 to make way for the mixed retail and residential buildings there today!

#StoryOfLeicester

 

I wonder where the 26 "special" bus was going.

 

And IIRC, the building in the background behind the Briggs statue was some kind of exclusive members club for the rich and influential business folks, along the lines of gentleman's clubs in London at the time.

 

Now I think's a pizza restaurant or something.

Edited 25 March by Parafox

[davieG]

1 hour ago, Parafox said:

 

I wonder where the 26 "special" bus was going.

 

And IIRC, the building in the background behind the Briggs statue was some kind of exclusive members club for the rich and influential business folks, along the lines of gentleman's clubs in London at the time.

 

Now I think's a pizza restaurant or something.

I'm sure it used to be the Conservative Club so yes.

[davieG]

Leicester Memories

Peter Casey  

H.M.P. Leicester History:

The walls of Leicester Prison were said to be the highest prison walls in the country.? Which might be why there's only ever been (1) escape.

Building work started on the prison in [1825] and it finally opened in [1828]

In December [1953] Albert Hattersley managed to get through a skylight in the workshop. He had broken a pipe from the workshop toilets and used that and webbing to help him scale the wall. Despite trying to drop from the wall near to the Governor's garden, in the hope the soft ground would be easier, he suffered a broken ankle in the fall. After hours on the run with his broken ankle, he was re-captured the following day.

Over the years there have been (23) executions at the prison, with the last being in [1953] From a triple execution in [1829] for "horse stealing" to a double hanging in [1944) following a murder on Springfield Road in the city.

The only female to be executed at the prison was Sarah Smith in [1832] a (28) year old woman from Mountsorrel, who had killed a woman in her care by adding arsenic to her tea.

NOTABLE INMATES:

• Actor Ricky Tomlinson was here for (18) months following his part in a building workers strike in the 1970s.

• Reggie Kray spent (2) years here in [1972] between spells at Parkhurt.

• Charles Bronson spent (10) days at Leicester Prison in between his period of isolation at nearby Gartree Prison in Market Harborough.

• Mark Morrison had a stint here too. In fact he said that he wrote Return of the Mack from Welford Road Prison.

B&W photos - Leicester & Leics Records Office

[davieG]

Not so good news

 

https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/news/leicester-news/leicester-drivers-hit-higher-parking-10055613

 

Leicester drivers to be hit by higher parking charges in city car parks

Leicester drivers will soon have to pay more to park in the city. Leicester City Council has said it will be increasing the cost of stays in its car parks, multi-storeys and on-street pay and display areas.

It will also be scrapping its 'Night Owl' rate for evening visits and free on-street parking on Sundays. Currently, people can park overnight in most city car parks for a reduced rate when tickets are bought after 5pm, including for a £2 fee in Haymarket, Newarke Street and Upper Brown Street. The changes are expected to come into effect on Monday, May 12, or “as soon as practicable thereafter”.

 

 

The council has also said it will be increasing the costs at its car parks yearly going forwards, starting on Wednesday, April 1, 2026. The new fees are needed to “help address rising running costs” of the car parks and “ongoing challenges” to the cash-strapped city council’s budgets.The fees are expected to bring in an addition £1.1 million. Half of this will cover rising management, operation and enforcement costs for the sites, with the rest to be set aside to cover “budget pressures” in the council’s highways services, the authority added.

Under the new parking charges proposed in city centre car parks, costs will go from £2 to £2.50 for a one-hour stay. A three-hour visit will increase by £1, going from the current £4 fee to £5. Stays of four hours will increase to £6.30 from £5.

 

Fees at Leicester’s parks will also rise, with costs starting at £2.20 for a two-hour stay, up from the current £2. Parking charges on Victoria Park will increase by slightly more, with the council saying this is “to bring it more closely in line with city centre car parks”. Rates will start at £1.30 for a one-hour stay, up from £1. A two-hour stay will cost £2.50, up from the current £2. A full breakdown of the new costs in each of the city council’s car parks, multi-storeys and pay and display areas can be found below.

Leicester City Council said this is just the second time it has increased these fees in over a decade, and the new rates will bring the authority in line with “other similar authorities”. The last increase came into effect in January 2023.

 

The authority is also increasing the costs of parking permits for those who live and work in areas covered by permit schemes. These will go from £25 to £35 for residents of those areas. You can find the full changes here.

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby said: “Increasing car parking charges is not a decision we take lightly. However, running costs across our car parks and parking services have risen and, like most councils, we continue to face a severe budget crisis. With this in mind, we are introducing revised parking fees and charges that are proportionate and very similar to what other operators and cities are charging for car parking. We also need to ensure parking charges take into account current bus fares.

“Any additional revenue from our parking charges is always reinvested in highways and transport maintenance and improvements. In recent years, we have made significant investment in improvements to our car parks in the city centre and are proud to have been awarded a national Park Mark award in recognition of the high standards of safe and secure parking provided.”

City mayor Sir Peter Soulsby outside Haymarket Theatre (Image: LeicestershireLive)

All of the new charges

Haymarket Car Park

• One hour - £2.00 to £2.50
• Three hours - £4.00 to £5.00
• Four hours - £5.00 to £6.30
• Six hours - £7.00 to £8.80
• Nine hours - £10.00 to £12.50
• 12 hours - £12.00 to £15.00

Newarke Street Car Park

• One hour - £2.00 to £2.50
• Three hours - £4.00 to £5.00
• Four hours - £5.00 to £6.30
• Six hours - £7.00 to £8.80
• Nine hours - £10.00 to £12.50
• 12 hours - £12.00 to £15.00

Dover Street Car Park

• One hour - £2.00 to £2.50
• Three hours - £4.00 to £5.00
• Four hours - £5.00 to £6.30
• Six hours - £7.00 to £8.80
• Nine hours - £10.00 to £12.50
• 12 hours - £12.00 to £15.00

Phoenix Car Park

• One hour - £2.00 to £2.50
• Three hours - £4.00 to £5.00
• Four hours - £5.00 to £6.30
• Six hours - £7.00 to £8.80
• Nine hours - £10.00 to £12.50
• 12 hours - £12.00 to £15.00

Upper Brown

• One hour - £2.00 to £2.50
• Three hours - £4.00 to £5.00
• Four hours - £5.00 to £6.30

Abbey Park Car Park

 

• Two hours - £2.00 to £2.20
• Three hours - £3.00 to £3.30
• Four hours - £4.00 to £4.40
• 12 hours - £9.00 to £9.90
• Sunday/Bank Holidays, up to three hours - £1.00 to £1.10
• Sunday/Bank Holidays up to six Hours - £3.00 to £3.30

 

Victoria Park Car Park

• One hour - £1.00 to £1.30
• Two hours - £2.00 to £2.50
• Three hours - £3.00 to £5.00
• Four hours - £4.00 to £6.30
• Nine hours - no existing tariff to £12.50
• 12 hours - £9.00 to £15.00

Watermead Park Car Park

• Two hours - £2.00 to £2.20
• Three hours - £3.00 to £3.30
• Four hours - £4.00 to £5.40
• 12 hours - £9.00 to £9.90

On-Street Pay & Display Bays

• City Centre Inner one hour - £2.00 to £2.50
• City Centre Inner two hours - £3.50 to £4.40
• City Centre Outer two hours - £2.00 to £2.50
• City Centre Outer three hours - £2.50 to £3.10
• City Centre Long Stay three hours - £2.00 to £2.50
• City Centre Long Stay 10.5 hours - £8.00 to £10.00
• London Road Outer one hour - £1.00 to £1.30
• London Road Outer two hours - £2.00 to £2.50
• London Road Outer 6.5 hours - £7.00 to £8.80
• London Road Inner 0.5 hours - £1.00 to £1.30
• London Road Inner one hour - £2.00 to £2.50
• London Road Inner two hours - £3.00 to £3.80
• London Road Inner three hours - £4.00 to £5.00

[davieG]

 

Born and Raised in Leicester  · 

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Humberstone Gate 1960s