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Ghost sign for W. W. Busby & Sons. on Knighton Lane, 2017.
No full textGhost sign for W.W. Busby & Sons, reading '...Busby / Masons & Sculptors / Craftsmen in Marble'. There are two layers to this sign, both for W.W. Busby & Sons. The second layer reads '... Busby / ... / Stone, Marble & Granite'. Between 2019 and 2022, the ghost sign was covered with a poster sign. The Kelly's directories for 1936, 1941 and 1951 shows Walter Busby, a monumental mason, at 186 Knighton Road.
Established in 1926, W.W. Busby & Sons are one of the oldest stonemasons in Leicester and still operate as a specialist firm supplying memorials and materials to the public and trade, headstone cleaners, and granite and quartz kitchen worktop suppliers
Ghost sign for 'Colour Printers' on Southampton Street, 2017.
No full textGhost sign reading: '...olland & Co. / Colour Printers'. This sign has two smaller signs to the left and right of this lettering, but it is too deteriorated to read
Ghost sign for British Steam Specialties Ltd. (BSS) on Lee Circle, 2017.
No full textGhost sign for British Steam Specialties Ltd. (BSS) advertising 'valves, tubes, fittings and engineering accessories'. The words 'Barker Cundy Signs' can be seen in the bottom left-hand corner, indicating the painters of the sign. Between 2023 and 2024, the sign was repainted, but a new building was constructed partially obscuring the view of the sign.
The British Steam Specialties (BSS) was founded in 1899 in the East Midlands and still owns the building. According to the British Metal Tubes and Fittings Association (BMFTA) in 2024, they are the UK's largest distributor of pipeline and heating solutions
Ghost sign for Bovril on Beaconsfield Road, 2017.
No full textThis is a three-layered sign for Bovril, a company selling meat extract typically used to make 'beef tea' and later beef stock. Bovril was developed in the 1870s as a 'war food' for the Franco-Prussian War before launching in the UK in 1886. Bovril is still available for purchase and is now owned by Unilever.
The top layer featuring the ‘Little Bovril’ calf and the slogan ‘A little Bovril puts beef into it’ has almost entirely deteriorated. The date of the sign could be anywhere from the start of the ‘Little Bovril’ advertising campaign in 1947 into the 1950s. An older sign featuring the text, ‘Bovril the essence of good cooking’ has been revealed. The third layer can be seen in the top left-hand corner, although it's not certain this is a Bovril advert. The painter's name - Cundy & Son (probably the local firm T.E. Cundy & Son Ltd) - can now be seen in the bottom left-hand corner
Lionel Oakley interviewed by Julie Hollingsworth, 13 March 2017
No full textLionel Oakley (LO) interviewed by Julie Hollingsworth (JH), 13 March 2017. [00:00:00] LO describes early life and family, one of nine children, father worked at Bardon quarry. Briefly mentions fire watching on Dover Street during Second World War, learning boxing at Jolly Angler on Wharf Street. Mentions moved to Leicester before the war to Glenfield Road area, father went to work in a dye works. Comments on rationing during and after war, children collecting coke fuel from power station. [00:11.00] Details employment, worked as a Surgical Instrument Engineer, then went for National Service in late 1940s, returned to same job afterwards. Briefly describes large family, lodgers and evacuees during war. Looked for alternative work as needed more money to get married in early 1950s. Recalls learning ball room dancing, singing with the Blue Stars, anecdote about first dancing with wife. [00:36:46] Anecdote about courting his wife, had nowhere to go so they would sit in the entry of his wife's parents' house in Tewkesbury Street as the wall was warm from the fire in the house. Comments on leisure time, dancing, going to De Montfort Hall, Corn Exchange. Wife worked at Morley's Haberdashery, made own weddings dress, married at St Paul's Church in 1954. Lived with family when first married, then got a new council house at Thurnby Lodge. Mentions sustained injury in a motorbike accident early 1970s, used compensation to put down deposit for mortgage on house in Evington. Wife worked at Co-op for twenty years. [00:48:13] LO lists jobs and companies worked for; William Freers as Welder, William Herberts as Plasterer, Hallwell Works Foundry. Sister found job for LO in Hosiery Factory, Byford's, LO worked next 20 years in Hosiery Industry. Went to Foister, Clare and Wards as Sock Knitter, later worked at The Debonair and finally Colledge Hosiery for ten years. Was made redundant from Colledge Hosiery and went to work as an operator at Post Office. [01:01:19] Describes work at the Post Office, Leicester Telephone Exchange, switchboard tests, majority of day staff were female. LO was later made Supervisor, took supervision course, had to wear collar and tie. Retirement age decreased to sixty, LO left Post Office, worked in Security at Armorgard and later Guardian. Finally worked in Video shop before retiring aged 76
Mavis Wood interviewed by Peter Wood, 19 September 2017
No full textInterview with Mavis Wood [MW], born 1929 in Bridlington, East Yorkshire. Moved to Leicester with her husband who worked as a teacher in a flat on Stretton Road in 1953. MW was a teacher in Home Economics. [00:01:49] Discusses decoration and furniture at flat. Describes teaching cookery at Fosse Girls School on Mantle Road. Describes churches around Anstey Lane going to Buckminster Road Baptist Church. Describes attitude taking care of children. Discusses education and money pre-war. Describes father's time enlisted in World War One and his post war struggle. Mother in Bridlington baking and selling food for profit to provide for family. Describes introduction of National Health Service in 1948 and experience for maternity on Bond Street Maternity Hospital in 1957. Describes Trade Union and NUT Trade Union. Describes finances in household. Comments on domestic tasks. Describes holidays in the 1950s and Holiday Companies. Describes social classes in Leicester. Describes social activity in Leicester. Describes hobbies. Describes introduction of television. Describes major events of 1950s, Festival of Britain and The Coronation. Discuss comparison of old age now compared to the 1950s.File replaced with redacted file on 23.01.2024 by Colin Hyde
Nancy Moore interviewed by Julie Hollingsworth, 6 July 2017
No full textInterview with Nancy Moore [NM], born in Melbourne, Australia [00:01:05]. Speaks of travelling from Australia to London, and then from London to Leicester in 1947 [00:13:03]. Lived at Gainsborough Road, Leicester: very small house, lived with father's auntie [00:04:10]. Speaks of a house in Kirby Muxloe which her family bought; NM worked at Wolsey in accounts, where she met her husband, Dennis [00:04:53]. Initially worked at a bank in London [00:13:55]. Speaks of a family member losing his arm during a black-out on a train during the war [00:06:40]. Worked in an engineering factory near East Park Road, Leicester in accounts [00:32:58]. Speaks of how she met her husband, Dennis, and where they went whilst courting [00:44:00]. Married at St. Bartholomew's in Kirby Muxloe in 1952. Her father was in the church choir [00:36:01]. Had a real wedding cake made by her Aunt Connie despite rationing [00:39:55]. Daughter Helen Moore reminisces about their family holiday to the coast [00:51:30]
Ghost sign for Parkinsons' Ltd. on the corner of Lorne Road and Avenue Road Extension, 2017.
No full textGhost sign for Parkinsons' Ltd., a manufacturing chemist. There are at least two layers to this sign with the most recent layer reading: 'Quality Parkinsons' Pills / Famous since 1848'. The second layer reads: 'Pills from Parkinsons'. The second half of the older layer is more difficult to make out, but it may say 'makers of'.
Parkinsons' Ltd. was founded by Richard Parkinsons and his brother in 1848 as a manufacturing chemist firm. When the firm moved to Burnley, the business thrived before moving to a mill on Curzon Street in 1887 until the 1980s when it was closed. The company manufactured medicines, beauty products and kitchen products, specifically baking powder
Ghost sign for Mitchells & Butlers on Granby Road, 2017.
No full textGhost sign for Mitchells & Butlers. The sign reads: 'Mitchells & Butlers / "Good honest beer". An off-licence sign partially obscures the bottom right-hand side of the sign. In 2017, a newly built house partially blocked the sign from view. To the left of this sign are three other ghost signs which are available to view in our collection.
Mitchells & Butlers Brewery was founded in 1898 when it merged Henry Mitchell's old Crown Brewery with William Butler's Brewery. In 1961, the company merged with Bass. Their beer, including their famous Brew XI, is still brewed under the Coors licence. A descendant company under the same name of Mitchells & Butlers still manages pubs, bars and restaurants throughout the UK
Ghost sign for Chrysler, Lanchester, & Daimler Servicing on Avenue Road Extension, 2017.
No full textGhost sign for Chrysler, Lanchester, & Daimler servicing. The sign does not reference a specific business and may refer to a number of different engineers or garages in the area. L.M. Jackson, a motor engineer, operated a garage at 154 Avenue Road Extension according to the 1932, 1941 and 1954 Kelly's Directories. To see a ghost sign for L.M. Jackson, view our collection. Bonsell Sid, a taxi proprietor and motor car proprietor, operated out of 39 Avenue Road Extension according to the 1932 and 1941 Kelly's Directories, and in the 1954 Directory, 39 is listed as Avenue Garage. Lastly, Charles Edward Welsh (or Welch as the spelling changes between directories), motor engineer, operated from 134 Avenue Road Extension in the 1941 and 1954 Kelly's Directories