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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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May be an image of 4 people and text that says "HEA 超品 OHNSON OG LEICESTER. LR2772 172"

A postcard view of Market Street, looking from King Street, early 1900s. Joseph Johnson & Co's department store, which later became Fenwick’s, can be seen on the right hand corner of Market Street. Joseph Johnson was born at Husbands Bosworth in 1843. He served an apprenticeship at Adderley's in the Market Place (later Marshall & Snelgrove) and opened his own fancy drapers shop at 26 Market Street in 1869. By 1871 the occupants at no. 26 included three milliners, an apprentice and a shopman as well as Joseph Johnson himself with his family and two domestic servants. By 1875 he had added a ladies outfitters at no. 28a. He and his family had moved out to Albert Villa at Aylestone Park, which made more room for the business in Market Street. Johnson continued to expand his business in Market Street and took over further adjacent premises. His impressive new building at the corner of Market Street and Belvoir Street, shown in the picture, was constructed in 1883-84 and was designed by Isaac Barradale, a leading architect in Leicester at that time. It was one of the architect’s most notable buildings to be erected in the city centre and provides an eye-catching focus at the junction of roads here, designed in a 16th/17th century “Jacobethan” style with a large timbered, overhanging gable towering over the corner elevation. To each side of the large gable are gabled attic dormers which add to the overall turret-like effect at the top. The two storeys below the attic have large stone mullioned and transomed windows with a double-height deep bow window at the corner above the entrance. The entrance itself is distinctive with pointed gothic arches of stone set at right angles at the corner and supported by a thick central pillar of polished red marble. Johnson was aiming for the 'carriage trade' of middle and upper class customers with this prestigious store and the expansion allowed him to employ a large staff - the 1891 census gives 62 female staff living on the premises (their bedrooms were on the top floor). By the beginning of the 20th century the store was described as "drapers, silk mercers, ladies outfitters, milliners, mantle-makers and costumiers". Joseph Johnson died in July 1906, when he was living with his wife and family at 'Forest Edge' in the Forest Fields area of Kirby Muxloe. After his death the business remained in the Johnson family until it was bought by Fenwick's in 1962. Sadly, Fenwick’s closed in 2017. The building seen on the left hand corner of Market Street was also designed by Isaac Barradale and was completed in 1890, two years before the architect died. It was originally built as the Granville Hotel, with shops occupying the ground floor units, for Orson Wright the well-known builder, developer and local entrepreneur who is particularly remembered as the developer of South Wigston and the builder of Leicester’s Grand Hotel in Granby Street. Orson Wright continued to own the hotel for some years but eventually sold it and the Granville subsequently closed in 1911. Afterwards, various businesses occupied the building.
davieG

davieG

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The Haymarket Shopping Centre during construction, 24th April 1973.
Construction began in 1971 and from this view along Humberstone Gate you can see the new shopping centre linked Littlewoods at the Clock Tower with C&A which was on the corner of Charles Street and Humberstone Gate.
Do you remember visiting when it was new? Or maybe you remember going to Burton on the right corner here for a new shirt or suit?
davieG

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THE HINCKLEY SPITFIRE
🛡️ Purchased for the War effort by the townspeople of Hinckley, Leicestershire, Hinckley's Spitfire had a long and varied career with the Royal Air Force during World War Two. Designated P.7916 it was built at Castle Bromwich in Birmingham and powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin XII engine. It was armed with eight wing-mounted Browning .303 machine guns.
The plane was assigned to 145 squadron stationed at Tangmere on the 22nd February 1941 to be piloted regularly by a Flight Lieutenant Newling who took it on patrols around the Selsey, Shoreham, Littlehampton, Beachy Head and St. Catherines Head areas. There were also some convoy and offensive patrols that it was involved with at the time.
Douglas Bader took over the command at Tangmere in March 1941 and during his command the 'Spit' flown by a Sergeant Johnson crashed on landing on the 27th of that month. However it was quickly repaired and was "up and flying" with the same pilot three days later.
The squadron moved to Merston on the 28th May and patrols carried on but the plane was used by other pilots for the many practices which had to be carried out.
These included scrambles, mock interceptions and dog-fights, and aerobatics and gunnery. Among its pilots was Squadron Leader Leather.
In the first of its many transfers it was sent to 485 squadron at Leconfield which was manned by New Zealanders.
The records are a bit thin on its career with the 485 but it was flown over France in sweeps to engage the enemy and also flown on convoy patrols.
Late August 1941 found P.7916 with 130 squadron at Portreath in Cornwall. The C.O. Squadron Leader C.J. Donovan seems to have taken a liking to the "Hinckley" as no-one else records having flown it until mid October. He flew her on convoy patrols, operations over France and practice attacks on troop-carrying gliders. Donovan was replaced as C.O. by Squadron Leader Gibbs on the 9th October and he too used the plane a great deal. At the end of that month the squadron moved to Harrowbeer, also in Cornwall, where Pilot Officer Arnott became a regular pilot of the 'Spit' flying on sweeps and patrols.
On the 17th November it joined the newly-formed Eagle Squadron (133) where it spent a lot of time with practice on formation flying, scrambles, interceptions, aerobatics and air-firing interspersed with the occasional convoy patrols during December.
On the 31st December the Spitfire joined yet another squadron seeing the New Year in with 134 Squadron which had just returned from Russia. They had left their own Hurricanes with the Soviet forces after helping them to familiarise with the aircraft.
On reforming, the squadron carried out many operational practices together with convoy patrols to the north of Ireland. Both 133 and 134 were stationed at Eglington in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
On the 26th March 1942 134 moved to Baginton and soon after the plane left the squadron. Over the next two years it was stationed at various Officer Training Units in northern England. These were respectively 57, 52 and 58 O.T.Us.
Unfortunately there are no flight records for this period. The "Hinckley" left 58 O.T.U. on the 30th of June 1944 to be flown at the Fighter Leaders School at Milfield. This establishment was opened in January '44 by Air Chief Marshal T.
Leigh-Mallory who was Air Commander-in-Chief Allied Expeditionary Air Force. His words were "to train officers in readiness for Overlord." which was the code-name
• for the planned invasion on the mainland of Europe and took place on the 6th of June that year.
The "Hinckley" Spitfire reached the end of her career on the 26th of January 1945 when she was declared to have "deteriorated beyond repair". She survived a long time by the standards of those days due to the flying skill of her pilots and the excellent work of the ground crews and gave valuable service to her country both in combat and the training of new pilots. 🛡️
SPITFIRE FUND PRESENTATION AIRCRAFT
In order to raise funds for the war effort the 'Spitfire Fund' was created.
The cost of a Spitfire was set at a nominal £5000 and individuals, businesses and communities could have a Spitfire inscribed with a name of their choice if the requisite amount was raised. The funds eventually raised over £13 million.
 
May be an image of aircraft and text that says "SOOB B The TheHinckleySpitfire Hinckley Spitfire"
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Foxdiamond

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4 hours ago, davieG said:
THE HINCKLEY SPITFIRE
🛡️ Purchased for the War effort by the townspeople of Hinckley, Leicestershire, Hinckley's Spitfire had a long and varied career with the Royal Air Force during World War Two. Designated P.7916 it was built at Castle Bromwich in Birmingham and powered by a Rolls-Royce Merlin XII engine. It was armed with eight wing-mounted Browning .303 machine guns.
The plane was assigned to 145 squadron stationed at Tangmere on the 22nd February 1941 to be piloted regularly by a Flight Lieutenant Newling who took it on patrols around the Selsey, Shoreham, Littlehampton, Beachy Head and St. Catherines Head areas. There were also some convoy and offensive patrols that it was involved with at the time.
Douglas Bader took over the command at Tangmere in March 1941 and during his command the 'Spit' flown by a Sergeant Johnson crashed on landing on the 27th of that month. However it was quickly repaired and was "up and flying" with the same pilot three days later.
The squadron moved to Merston on the 28th May and patrols carried on but the plane was used by other pilots for the many practices which had to be carried out.
These included scrambles, mock interceptions and dog-fights, and aerobatics and gunnery. Among its pilots was Squadron Leader Leather.
In the first of its many transfers it was sent to 485 squadron at Leconfield which was manned by New Zealanders.
The records are a bit thin on its career with the 485 but it was flown over France in sweeps to engage the enemy and also flown on convoy patrols.
Late August 1941 found P.7916 with 130 squadron at Portreath in Cornwall. The C.O. Squadron Leader C.J. Donovan seems to have taken a liking to the "Hinckley" as no-one else records having flown it until mid October. He flew her on convoy patrols, operations over France and practice attacks on troop-carrying gliders. Donovan was replaced as C.O. by Squadron Leader Gibbs on the 9th October and he too used the plane a great deal. At the end of that month the squadron moved to Harrowbeer, also in Cornwall, where Pilot Officer Arnott became a regular pilot of the 'Spit' flying on sweeps and patrols.
On the 17th November it joined the newly-formed Eagle Squadron (133) where it spent a lot of time with practice on formation flying, scrambles, interceptions, aerobatics and air-firing interspersed with the occasional convoy patrols during December.
On the 31st December the Spitfire joined yet another squadron seeing the New Year in with 134 Squadron which had just returned from Russia. They had left their own Hurricanes with the Soviet forces after helping them to familiarise with the aircraft.
On reforming, the squadron carried out many operational practices together with convoy patrols to the north of Ireland. Both 133 and 134 were stationed at Eglington in Londonderry, Northern Ireland.
On the 26th March 1942 134 moved to Baginton and soon after the plane left the squadron. Over the next two years it was stationed at various Officer Training Units in northern England. These were respectively 57, 52 and 58 O.T.Us.
Unfortunately there are no flight records for this period. The "Hinckley" left 58 O.T.U. on the 30th of June 1944 to be flown at the Fighter Leaders School at Milfield. This establishment was opened in January '44 by Air Chief Marshal T.
Leigh-Mallory who was Air Commander-in-Chief Allied Expeditionary Air Force. His words were "to train officers in readiness for Overlord." which was the code-name
• for the planned invasion on the mainland of Europe and took place on the 6th of June that year.
The "Hinckley" Spitfire reached the end of her career on the 26th of January 1945 when she was declared to have "deteriorated beyond repair". She survived a long time by the standards of those days due to the flying skill of her pilots and the excellent work of the ground crews and gave valuable service to her country both in combat and the training of new pilots. 🛡️
SPITFIRE FUND PRESENTATION AIRCRAFT
In order to raise funds for the war effort the 'Spitfire Fund' was created.
The cost of a Spitfire was set at a nominal £5000 and individuals, businesses and communities could have a Spitfire inscribed with a name of their choice if the requisite amount was raised. The funds eventually raised over £13 million.
 
May be an image of aircraft and text that says "SOOB B The TheHinckleySpitfire Hinckley Spitfire"

Leigh-Mallory later killed in an air crash. Brother of George the famous mountaineer killed on Everest. 

davieG

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LEWIS’S STORE, LEICESTER 🛡️
Few of a certain will forget Lewis's department store on Humberstone Gate in Leicester. It closed and was demolished in the 1990s, with only its Art Deco tower now remaining as a standalone feature.
Lewis’s, first opened on Saturday the 21st March 1936, with one of the main attractions on the first day being donkey rides for children on the roof. “It was great for shoppers because it sold everything from a thimble to a greenhouse and was noted for good quality.
The restaurant on the top floor was famous for being modelled after a restaurant on the Queen Mary liner, with porthole windows, and where from personal experience I had ‘Silver Service Afternoon Tea with my grandparents in the 1950s.
“There was also a hair salon, bank, travel agent and pets corner, and few will for get the Food Hall and the quality of the products it sold there.
Thousands will remember visiting Santa in his magical grotto.
“Father Christmas” would arrive in a blaze of glory in late October and, one year, he climbed the famous tower amid laser beams.
The first Lewis's store was opened in 1856 in Liverpool by entrepreneur David Lewis, as a men's and boys' clothing store, mostly manufacturing his own stock.🛡️
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Absolutely diabolical the building wasn't reconfigured for modern day shopping. 50 years and I'm sure it was built of stone to last for another 50 or more years.
 
I wonder where all the stone went? Probably crushed and used for roadbuilding or some modern concrete monstrosity.

 

 

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davieG

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History of Leicestershire in Images
Graham Hulme

Old postcard view of Rutland Street, looking from the corner of Queen Street.  The card was posted in May 1916 and is before the construction of the Odeon cinema (now the Athena building) on this corner.  The building shown in the picture was the premises of Walker, Kempson & Stevens, boot and shoe manufacturers who went into voluntary liquidation in 1936 and their building was subsequently demolished.  The new cinema was completed on the site in 1938.  Seen further along Rutland Street, at the corner of Southampton Street, is the impressive bootlace warehouse named Alexandra House, the premises of the shoe mercers Faire Bros.  The building still stands and has now been converted into apartments.  Alexandra House was originally constructed for Faire Bros. in the late 1890s and was designed by the Leicester architect Edward Burgess.  It is one of his finest buildings and is strikingly clad in buff terracotta, richly adorned with decorative details.  The distinctive corner entrance is crowned by a dome which can faintly be seen above in this view.  The original dome suffered bomb damage during World War Two and was removed.  A replica of the dome was added during the restoration and conversion of the building in the early 2000s.  The building is listed Grade 2 and has been considered one of the finest warehouses of its time in the country.

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davieG

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An Industrial Giant Beneath Our Feet - Yhe Glenfield Tunnel
How incredible is this shot? 📸 A follower sent it over after visiting Glenfield Tunnel at the weekend, and it perfectly captures the hidden scale of this Victorian marvel.
🔸 Britain’s First Steam Railway Tunnel
Built in 1832, Glenfield Tunnel stretched over 1 mile long and was the longest railway tunnel in the world when it opened. It carried the Leicester & Swannington Railway, feeding the coal-hungry factories that powered the Industrial Revolution.
🔸 Engineering Ingenuity
See that huge concrete ring? It’s a modern reinforcement protecting the original brickwork. The person is standing directly beneath a vertical shaft—one of several sunk from the surface to speed up digging. These shafts let teams work on multiple sections at once, a radical method for the 1830s.
🔸 Leicester’s Hidden Landmark
Thousands walk and drive above it every day, unaware that this pioneering piece of engineering history lies right under their feet. It’s a reminder that Leicester’s industrial story isn’t just in museums—it’s literally below the pavements we stand on.
Next time you’re in the area, picture this vast tunnel carved through solid rock with nothing but hand tools and sheer determination. Two centuries later, it’s still standing strong.
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davieG

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🚋 Great Central Station – What Could Have Been 🚂
Every time I see old photos like this, I can’t help but feel a bit gutted. I never got to experience Leicester’s Great Central Station in its full glory—trains, trams, buses, all pouring into the heart of the city.
Imagine if we’d kept it all… a modern network of rail and tramlines feeding the centre, connecting us to everywhere. Instead of traffic jams and endless roadworks, we could have had a green, efficient system that kept the city buzzing and the shops thriving.
How different would Leicester feel today if we’d protected this? How much stronger would our city centre be?
I missed it—and I know many of you did too. But some of you were there. What was it like? Share your memories below. Let’s keep this part of Leicester’s story alive. 🕰️💬
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davieG

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May be an image of 5 people and text that says "0こ生 一色 芦国國華臨 UlTnD 藤国 ACTS 0円 国地品 [221 COFaL YAHI H1Ry Belgrave RoadStation Road Station had six platforms in an airy 3-span train shed, seen here with 1963 enthusiasts' special, which may have been the last passenger train to use the station"

💔 Leicester’s Lost Giant – Belgrave Road Station 💔
This photo stops me in my tracks every time.
Belgrave Road Station once had six full platforms under a vast three-span iron and glass roof—a MONSTROUS piece of engineering that could have been the backbone of Leicester’s transport today.
Here it is in 1963, packed with people for an enthusiasts’ special, possibly the very last passenger train ever to leave. Imagine if we’d kept these rail links alive. 🚂
It kills me inside to think this no longer exists.
Just look at the size of it. The ambition. The foresight.
Do you remember it? Did your parents or grandparents ever travel through here?
Share your stories, old photos, or memories—let’s bring this mighty station back to life, if only for a moment.
📸 Belgrave Road Station, Leicester – 1963
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