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Ghost sign on Vaughan Way for an unknown business, 2018.
No full textGhost sign for an unknown business. Facing this ghost sign on the building opposite is a ghost sign for Salmon & Welch, hosiery manufacturers. Perhaps this sign is related to Salmon & Welch. This sign is severely deteriorated and partially obscured by a building extension added prior to 2003
Ghost sign for 'Bearings' on the corner of Nedham Street and Upper Charnwood Street, 2018.
No full textGhost sign with severe deterioration. Only the word 'Bearings' is still visible. The sign was previously covered by a sign for 'Neyta Buildings' until 2010 and then partially covered by the same sign between 2020 and 2024. This building has two other ghost signs for the same business. The sign facing Nedham Street reading 'Motor Compound' is avilable to view in our collection. The second sign, facing Upper Charnwood Street, has remained covered by a Neyta Motor Engineers Ltd. sign since at least 2008. Only the letter 'b' is visible
Frank Barsby interviewed by Rose Mooney, 1 April 2018
No full textInterview with Frank Barsby [FB], born 1929 in Leicester. Worked at Faire Brothers (shoe company). FB started in an office and then winding; mother worked in office below; compares pay. Comments on Palace Theatre and local cinema. Lived on Wheat Street; describes what remains of the street after the war. Description of pubs. Brief description of Boot and Shoe Club. Married 1953; discussion of getting a mortgage, furniture and moving houses often. Worked in factory running machines; discusses pay; wife worked as tailor. Describes family holidays in England and then abroad (Ostend 1962); description of holidays abroad, using public transport, trips to London; football matches. Speaks about childhood; brother took him to matches; step-father plasterer. Description of train stations in Leicester. 1948 National Health Service (NHS) introduced; description of trips to doctors pre-NHS; discussions of sick clubs; description of hospitals; disliked Hillcrest. Left school in 1943; hard to get job in winter and got laid off; made army socks and peanut yarn for the war due to shortages. Describes school in St Matthews and Taylors Street; worked at 14 after school. War had no impact on school life. Brief discussion of refugees from larger cities came to Leicester. Brother was in the air force and shared films in forces. Describes bombings in Leicester. Discusses that in his field men did not take jobs from women as it was a women's job. States that people changed more than the place changed. Discusses dad's death; dad experienced shell shock and being gassed in the First World War; dad still worked after this experience.File replaced with redacted file on 23.01.2024 by Colin Hyde
Ghost sign for South Leicestershire College's 'The Bobbin Factory' on Canal Street in Wigston, 2018.
No full textGhost sign for South Leicestershire College, reading: 'The Bobbin Factory / South Leicestershire College'. The Bobbin Factory is North Warwickshire and South Leicestershire College's nursery, located on their Wigston Campus. This sign was painted between 2009 and 2011 over the Devas, Routledge & Co. ghost sign which is visible in our collection
Betty Dawkins interviewed by Anne Gilbert, 16 February 2018
No full text[File 1 00:00:00] Interview with Betty Dawkins [BD], born 1935 Leicester. [00:00:43] Recalls childhood in the Second World War (WWII). Describes excitement using Anderson shelter, describes 'Mickey Mouse' gasmask. [00:02:34] Talks about father in shoe trade. Father served in Auxiliary Fire Service then National Fire Service in Hull, Rye, London. [00:03:54] Tells story about visiting father in London. [File 2 00:00:00] Continues story of London visit. [00:01:31] Describes home life after father's return from war. [00:05:42] Talks about death of father in 1948. [00:07:02] Describes in detail hard work of mother, changes to family life after death of father. [00:13:42] Remembers schooldays, taking 11+ exam, attending Newarke Girls School [00:16:18] BD left school at age 15. Talks in detail of working as office junior, later trained in use of comptometer machine. [00:25:17] Talks of social life as teenager, going to Green Lane School youth club and Trocadero cinema. [00:26:35] Describes childhood holidays at Skegness and Great Yarmouth. [00:29:37] Remembers early married life in 1954, renting flat on Upper Tichbourne Street, then buying house on Anstey Lane. Discusses the importance of education for family. [00:36:02] Talks of emigration to Canada in 1957, mentions difficulties finding jobs. Returned to Anstey Lane house in 1958. [File 3 00:00:50] Remembers going to Palais de Danse and having tea at Lewis' store in Leicester. [00:02:03] Talks about birth of two children, working at Richard Roberts Knitwear. [File 4 00:00:00] BD recalls life in Post War Leicester, demolition of shops for building of Holiday Inn. [00:02:03] Mentions membership of Leicester Amateur Dramatic Society, learning to apply stage make-up. [00:04:40] Describes in detail working at Richard Roberts in fabric division. [00:09:09] Comments on changes in Leicester. Mentions pleasure in living in multicultural city.File replaced with redacted file on 23.01.2024 by Colin Hyde
Derek Needles interviewed by Colin Hyde, 22 January 2018
No full textDerek Needles (DN) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 22 January 2018. DN describes family background, father worked for British Shoe Corporation (BSC), chauffeur for Charles Clore. Mother worked in grocery store and later Clarkes shoe shop. [00:02:40] Talks about growing up during Second World War. Recalls American Soldiers stationed in Oadby and Wigston, saw them take off for D-day landings. Mentions watching German planes bombing local farms. [00:08:05] Comments on schooling, 40 children in a class, went to Gartree School in Oadby, left aged 15. Mentions became an apprentice plumber, went to college one day a week, later became plumber, enjoyed the work. Recalls National Service was postponed for apprenticeship, started service aged 21. Detailed description of National Service, posted to Royal Lincolnshire Regiment stationed in Lincolnshire barracks, stayed in Nissan hut with 20 other boys, coke stove in middle of hut. Comments on basic training, square bashing, learned to fire guns and throw grenades, room inspections. [00:20:39] Recalls passing out parade, later went to MO centre for vaccinations in preparation to serve abroad. Describes journey through Karachi, Singapore to Malaysia. Talks about jungle training, anecdote about using cigarettes to burn leeches off of body, using water tablets. Mentions was told they were fighting communism in British Malaya, capturing terrorists. Comments on British built camps to capture terrorists, burning villages and moving civilians into camps. Describes duties in National Service, was a storeman, wasn't allowed to communicate with local Malay people. Recalls sending gifts home to family. Mentions returned to Malaysia with wife later in life. Spent two years in National Service, spent relief period in Penang. Recalls fellow Serviceman contracted malaria, Servicemen often had heat rash, had to be careful of snakes, mentions wildlife observed. [00:46:29] Talks about Malaysian Independence, describes transition as quiet, recalls celebrating Christmas in Malaysia. Comments on discipline, regimental marches, was asked to stay longer in Malaysia but declined. Describes journey home, went by plane and got home earlier than rest of regiment, returned to plumbing job. Lists places stationed in Malaya. [01:03:03] Mentions later joined Veterans Association for Borneo and Malaya Veterans, met at Ex-Servicemen's Club. Story about meeting Prince Charles and Camilla at opening of Arboretum and at Sandringham Flower Show. [00:00] Suggests few British people knew of conflicts happening in Southeast Asia when he returned from National Service, wasn't allowed to wear National Service Medals. [03:47] DN talks through photos taken in Malaya. [05:18] Comments on housing estates built after the war by Jelson Homes, mentions encounters with Tom Wheatcroft. [09:18] Married in 1958, took mortgage through insurance company. Suggests working class people could begin to afford to buy houses, wages higher and housing affordable, more estates being built. [18:24] Talks about father and job as chauffeur for Charles Clore. Comments on changes witnessed in plumbing trade, copper pipe used instead of lead pipe. [24:13] Comments on precautions taken to avoid lead poisoning whilst plumbing, would hold sandwiches with piece of newspaper to avoid ingesting lead, few health and safety precautions. Recalls decrease in industry in Leicester during 1960s. [27:40] Describes social life as teenager during 1950s, attended Church Youth Club in Oadby, bell ringing once a week, dances at youth club in Oadby Church Hall on Saturday nights, had to attend church once a month. Mentions went cycling often. [32:32] Talks about health care, families would pay money weekly to Doctor before NHS. Final reflections on National Service, camaraderie amongst servicemen.File replaced with redacted file on 23.01.2024 by Colin Hyde
Maureen Partridge interviewed by Colin Hyde, 12 February 2018
No full textMaureen Partridge (MP) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH) at interviewee's home, 12 February 2018. Describes early life in Whitwick, talks about family, her father and grandfather worked for colliery; family moved house often with changing jobs. Talks about father's accidental death in detail; drafted into coal mines during Second World War, killed in mine. Talks about passing Eleven-plus, attended Ashby Grammar School. Mentions issues of social class at school. Wanted to become Nurse but mother couldn't afford the books. Describes getting job at Marshall and Snelgrove in Leicester, was taught how to speak and behave with customers; many customers had accounts. Wore black dress to work, discrete makeup. Made own clothes, bought fashion patterns and fabrics. Thursday was half-day, visited historic buildings such as Roman mosaics. Mentions meeting her husband through youth group, would go to Theatre Royal, Brucciani's, went dancing in Whitwick rather than Leicester. Talks about choral music; states performed at event at De Montfort Hall conducted by Sir Malcolm Sargent. Mentions leaving Marshall and Snelgrove after two years as no career progression, went to work in shop in Loughborough. Married in 1958 started family; lists children. Talks about being unable to get a house, not getting on council list, having to live with parents in small house. Mentions moved into farm cottage with no piped water in 1959. New house in 1962 that then subsided; modern houses were being built at that time but wife's income wasn't considered for a mortgage. Recalls winter of 1947, doors being blocked, her Mother had concessionary coal so stayed warm. Story of visiting dentist, cost five shillings, a large proportion of weekly income. Recalls Dr Harris as a particularly strict but good doctor. Story of having first child in Roundhill Hospital, difficult birth, mentions callousness of Doctor. Comments on positive aspects of National Health Service. Reflects on the 1950s as being fun, gives example of church choir and music. Suggests music is important locally, would visit pubs on Christmas Eve to sing before midnight Mass; would sometimes go to church four times a day. Describes Marshall and Snelgrove as useful for meeting different sections of society and learning how to behave. Doesn't think class consciousness has been a major factor in her life.File replaced with redacted file on 23.01.2024 by Colin Hyde
Ghost sign for Royal Mail on Campbell Street, 2018.
No full textGhost sign for the Royal Mail. The sign is severely deteriorated. It was previously painted over before being replaced with a different Royal Mail sign. The more recent sign was removed in 2015, revealing the ghost sign beneath
Geoff Fenn interviewed by Colin Hyde, 22 January 2018
No full textGeoff Fenn (GF) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 22 January 2018. GF details early life in Narborough, Leicestershire during Second World War. Story about landmine dropped opposite Carlton Hayes Hospital, suggests bombers were aiming for quarry. Mentions war had little impact on life, other than Saturday evening dances where American Soldiers came. [00:02:40] Talks about parents, both local, father ran agricultural implement manufacturing business. Recalls beginning of Air Raid Precaution (ARP), parents joined, father also joined Home Guard, describes duties; ARP organised pantomime locally to raise money for Leicester Royal Infirmary. Mentions health care pre-National Health Service. [00:13:00] Comments on education, description of local infants' school, at age eight went to school nicknamed 'Bacon Box College'. [00:21:25] Outlines starting work in 1950 at Gimson's as office boy at 47 Welford Road, Leicester. Names other premises at time. Talks about the work; some companies collected wood with hand-carts, no mechanical handling. Talks about National Service; job kept open. Recalls cycling to Nottingham and Northampton, to watch football - left bikes at local houses; brief discussion on routes taken. Contacted by letter for National Service, sent to Padgate, Manchester for kit, then to RAF Innsworth, for square bashing, later went to Compton Bassett for Radio Telephone Direction Finding course (RTDF). [00:36:10] Explains how RTDF worked, designed to direct aeroplanes into airfields. Recalls new method CRDF, cathode ray. Stayed at home an extra day after Christmas and given 'jankers', then went to RAF Leeming until demobbed. Mentions night flying station for Meteor NF 13s, talks about work there, regime less strict than elsewhere. Describes barracks, living with other people from different backgrounds, good atmosphere, used local pub. [00:48:45] Talks about class - pilots often from public schools. Reflects on National Service as a good thing, taught discipline, looking after others. Reflects on down sides, suddenly being away from family for extended periods of time. [00:00] Detailed description of playing in Narborough Littlethorpe cricket club at age 14 with second team. Father was treasurer of club. Comments on teams played, Blaby, Dunton Bassett, and Hinckley. GF was bowler, recalls Asian players began taking part in Leicester Village cricket teams in 1970s and 1980s. [12:40] Talks about returning to Gimson's after National Service, worked behind sales counter. Talks about using long hand to total costs. Later moved to Gimson's at Upperton Road, comments on different departments of Gimson's across Leicester. Learned to drive and became Sales Representative for Gimson's in 1966, recalls little traffic on motorways, comments on national scope of company. Recalls company bought soft wood timber from Russia, timber also bought from Sweden and Finland. Mentions Gimson's looked after vast amount of timber stored at Wetstone for use in event that Cold War escalated. Mentions most timber was imported in 1950s. [30:12] Timber frame houses introduced in 1960s, timber used for roofing prior to this. Comments on changes to industry, maintenance no longer required for hosiery factories as they began to close. Explains how timber was transported. [40:50] Comments on relationships between companies in Leicester, marriages between children of factory owners. Talks about deals made with companies outside of Leicester. Describes competition between timber companies in Leicester as 'cut throat', competing with Scotts, J L Walkers, and Jewson. GF present CH with papers relating to 150th anniversary of Gimson. [00:00] GF presents photos to CH and talks through persons within photos. Talks about 25 year club, employees who had worked at Gimson's for 25 years or more, went for a meal once a year. Presents photos of himself at Gimson's Sales Office on Welford Road, social gathering at The Oriental and programme for 150th anniversary of Gimson's
Ghost sign for 'E Squires, The Handy Stores' on the corner of Florence Road and Vulcan Road, 2018.
No full textGhost sign that reads 'E Squires / The Handy Stores'. While this is quite faint in this photo, the lettering becomes clearer in the following years, which you can see on this website. In 1916, Arthur Farmer is in Kelly's directory as a greengrocer at 97 Vulcan Road, but by 1928 the shop is being run by Ernest Squires, also listed as a greengrocer