City of Leicester & Leicestershire - The Good and Historical Stuff

[Paninistickers]

4 hours ago, Wolfox said:

With the market cleared and the corn exchange made more prominent…. A good clean up of the market facing facades could be epic…. Nice cafes etc. could be a real draw…. And pretty much (?) unique for the UK

I think it'd look great. Very European. Especially with 90% of the punters puffing on shishas or munching on cassava. A scene straight out of Paris, Malmo and Brussels! 

Edited 12 October 2025 by Paninistickers
Malmo

[davieG]

 

History of Leicestershire in Images

Charlotte Victoria Hubbard ·

 

This is Bede Island Railway Sidings on the Great Central Railway.

[davieG]

 

Made In Leicester

Graham Hulme 

An old postcard view of High Street, looking towards Eastgates. The card was posted to Oakham in September 1910. On the right of the picture is the Singer sewing machine company’s showrooms and Midland headquarters in what was known as Coronation Buildings. This was built in 1902-04 and designed by the prominent Leicester architect Arthur Wakerley (1862-1931) who had also designed the Turkey Cafe in Granby Street and many other local buildings. Wakerley took an active part in public affairs and was Mayor of Leicester in 1897-98. The Singer building’s popular name refers to the Coronation of King Edward VII and Queen Alexandra which occurred in August 1902, and it was constructed at a time when High Street was undergoing a great transformation as many new buildings were erected and the street was widened to allow for the laying of a double track tramway at the time of the electrification of the tram system. Wakerley used modern construction techniques for Coronation Buildings with a steel frame which allowed for the facade to have large expanses of plate glass for its display windows. Art Nouveau decorative features are used for friezes and columns (a style also to be seen on the frontage of the Turkey Cafe) with foliage patterns and faience tiling. The long frontage is formed of seven bays, divided into three sections with two three-bay wings flanking a wide central bay. The central bay is crowned by the striking feature of a large, projecting semi-circular fanlight rising above the roof to light an attic. Originally, the top was surmounted by a statue of Britannia and below the fanlight there was a sculptural group of figures but these were removed after a fire caused some damage. The central bay of the first floor has a giant segmental arch over its broad window and foliage decoration is displayed over the shoulders of the arch. To each side of this arched window are the three bays of the wings which have large rectangular windows. Above the first floor windows is a frieze of faience panels which are adorned with decorative features in relief. Each of the six panels along the wings displays a cartouche appearing as if suspended from chains, with a Union Flag pattern on a central boss, and each cartouche is topped by an animal representing six named countries which were then part of the British Empire - a Kangaroo for Australia, a Camel for Egypt, a Tiger for India, an Elephant for ‘Burmah’, a Bear for Canada and an Ostrich for Africa. The second floor of the building has a long row of smaller windows with bulbous-shaped colonettes between them. Overall, Coronation Buildings is extraordinary and must once have seemed to be a shocking contrast to its more conventional neighbours.

[davieG]

 

Story of Leicester

 

What an interesting photo we have to share with you today! Taken from the very top (town end) of Glenfield Road looking towards top of King Richards Road where it meets Fosse Road.

This crossroads was once know as 'God's Corner' due to there being 2 churches (St Pauls and St Andrews) and a Roman Catholic Convent on three of the corners.

You can see all three of these here; St Andrews in the middle right, St Pauls to the right and the wall of the convent to the left.

Do any of our fans remember the convent? It was demolished sometime in the 1960s.

#StoryofLeicester

[davieG]

History of Leicestershire in Images

Jan Smith 

A very busy Leicester,looking up Silver Street to the left and High Street to the right. I remember Swears & Wells the furriers. Probably 1960s.

[Trav Le Bleu]

4 hours ago, davieG said:

History of Leicestershire in Images

Jan Smith 

A very busy Leicester,looking up Silver Street to the left and High Street to the right. I remember Swears & Wells the furriers. Probably 1960s.

Looking at the vehicles it's very early 60s, possibly late 50s.

[Free Falling Foxes]

30 minutes ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Looking at the vehicles it's very early 60s, possibly late 50s.

I would say 60s.

There's a warehouse along Silver Street that stocks LSD!

[Trav Le Bleu]

1 hour ago, Free Falling Foxes said:

I would say 60s.

There's a warehouse along Silver Street that stocks LSD!

Pounds, shillings and pence?

[davieG]

10 hours ago, Trav Le Bleu said:

Looking at the vehicles it's very early 60s, possibly late 50s.

Is that a mini 3 cars in on the right. If so they came out mid 1959. Chances are early 60s

[davieG]

Story of Leicester

 

Here's a view along Fox Lane, just off Humberstone Gate, taken on 31st August 1965.

To the right we have the back entrance to Lewis's and to the left the back of Marks & Spencer, which looks like it's in the middle of construction.

A lot of you will remember this branch of Brucciani won't you? Ice cream soda anyone?

There's lot's of pedestrians in this photo; what do you think the boys in the bottom right are up to?

#StoryofLeicester

[davieG]

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble ·

Looking down on to Humberstone Gate and The Three Cranes pub. 1950s.

[davieG]

Braunstone History Group  · 

Molly Storer 

It's the summer of 1937 and people are sitting outside Lower Grove Street,In the Wharf Street area.The tenants were rehoused to Gallards Hill in Braunstone and Braybrooke Road in Northfields.

[davieG]

Leicestershire Football Archive  · 

Nigel Freestone 

A fascinating article published by the Leicester Mail in 1934

[davieG]

 

Some interesting articles, Bombs, National Front, Inflation, Transport ideas for Leicester that never come to fruition

 

The Army Recruitment Office in Charles Street was bombed during 'the troubles' with the IRA claiming responsibility. 

 

I also remember at work, being supervisor during a bomb alert having to walk around the offices and shopfloor to look for any unusual or dodgy looking packages. There were so many bomb alerts that the Fire Brigade and Police weren't always available. Scary stuff.

[davieG]

Alan Freeman

Map of central Leicester in the 1960s

found at: https://www.flickr.com/photos/25797459@N06/6315540260

[Parafox]

On 23/10/2025 at 15:18, davieG said:

 

Some interesting articles, Bombs, National Front, Inflation, Transport ideas for Leicester that never come to fruition

 

The Army Recruitment Office in Charles Street was bombed during 'the troubles' with the IRA claiming responsibility. 

 

I also remember at work, being supervisor during a bomb alert having to walk around the offices and shopfloor to look for any unusual or dodgy looking packages. There were so many bomb alerts that the Fire Brigade and Police weren't always available. Scary stuff.

 

Back when the LM used to publish proper news.

[PAULCFC]

8 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

Back when the LM used to publish proper news.

Was just about to say the same......i don't live in Leicester anymore but have fond memorys of the Buff and being all excited to get the Xmas Eve one to see what was on telly over the holiday.Don't know if it's still the same but seemed more adverts than news the last time i bought it............How much is it now?

[Parafox]

1 minute ago, PAULCFC said:

Was just about to say the same......i don't live in Leicester anymore but have fond memorys of the Buff and being all excited to get the Xmas Eve one to see what was on telly over the holiday.Don't know if it's still the same but seemed more adverts than news the last time i bought it............How much is it now?

 

I remember the Buff too.

 

It's pretty dull now but I haven't bought one in ages. The last time I gave up because it was pages of ads and not much news. I look at the online version sometimes and it's just full of clickbait and nothing much that is newsworthy. You can subscribe to avoid ads but the shite reporting and journalistic standards are still as crap as it is if you go for the free "with ads" version.

 

It's £2 a copy of the printed version. Or you can have it posted to your home address for about £27 a week

[PAULCFC]

15 minutes ago, Parafox said:

 

I remember the Buff too.

 

It's pretty dull now but I haven't bought one in ages. The last time I gave up because it was pages of ads and not much news. I look at the online version sometimes and it's just full of clickbait and nothing much that is newsworthy. You can subscribe to avoid ads but the shite reporting and journalistic standards are still as crap as it is if you go for the free "with ads" version.

 

It's £2 a copy of the printed version. Or you can have it posted to your home address for about £27 a week

Suspected as much! My mum and dad had it delivered to our house on Groby Road up until 99/2000 then they started printing an early edition which was yesterdays news really!Used to like the Hatched,matched and dispatched bit though........it was like Bingo with my parents knowing who had died!

Edited 24 October 2025 by PAULCFC
Spelling

[davieG]

Made In Leicester

Rob Hubble 

Irish Menswear.

[davieG]

John Ghent Leicester Estate Agent ·

Follow

 

At its height, the British United Shoe Machinery Company (BUSMC) employed over 9,000 people worldwide — making Leicester a global hub for footwear machinery.

From precision engineering to worldwide exports, BUSMC’s inventions powered shoe factories from Northampton to New York.

Its site on Ross Walk was once a city within a city — a monument to Leicester’s industrial strength and innovation.

Did you or someone in your family work at BUSMC? Share your memories below.

[davieG]

Good or bad - depends on where you live.

 

Alberto Costa  ·

 

CITY LANDGRAB UPDATE

Leicester City Council has now published its plans for the reorganisation of local government across Leicester and Leicestershire.

As expected, the City Mayor’s preferred option is to expand the city boundary, taking in Oadby, Wigston, and parts of Blaby and Harborough districts.

The City’s “base proposal”, required to comply with government guidance that new unitary authorities must initially be based on whole existing district boundaries, goes even further, expanding the city to include ALL OF Blaby, Harborough and Oadby & Wigston.

Both options would be awful for our communities. Our villages and market towns risk being swallowed up into the city, losing their voice, their identity, and their ability to make decisions close to home.

I believe our current two-tier system works well. It keeps decision-making local and reflects the character of our distinct communities.

If Labour insists on pushing ahead with reorganisation, I am backing the three-unitary model: North Leicestershire & Rutland, South Leicestershire, and Leicester City. Fair, balanced and locally accountable.

Like so many of you, I am wholly opposed to any attempt to expand the city boundary. This is nothing more than an opportunistic power and tax grab, and I will continue to fight it every step of the way.

 

[davieG]

Leicester Memories

Jayne Wills 

 

 

 

 

 

[davieG]

Made In Leicester

Gareth Jones

Recruiting office in the town hall 1915. By the end of the war 9,300 men of Leicester had given their lives.

[davieG]

 

John Ghent Leicester Estate Agent ·

Follow

 

 

A Glimpse into Leicester’s Past

In 1839, the Leicester Union Workhouse opened its doors following the Poor Law Amendment Act of 1834. Designed by local architect William Flint, it was originally built to house 650 people but later expanded to hold over 1,000. Life inside was tough — residents wore uniforms, ate plain meals like bread and dripping, and faced long hours of hard labour. The workhouse was deliberately harsh, intended only for those in real need.

In later years, the building became Hillcrest Hospital for elderly care before being demolished in 1977. Today, Moat Community College stands on the site, with just the old gateposts remaining as silent witnesses to its past.

It’s a powerful reminder of how Leicester once dealt with poverty and hardship — and how far the city has come.

#LeicesterHistory #Workhouse #VictorianLeicester #LocalHeritage