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Ghost sign for A. Lord & Son, corn & seed merchants, on Victoria Road North, 2017.
No full textGhost sign reading, 'A. Lord & Son / Corn & Seed Merchants / Specialists in pet food, bird seeds, pigeon corn, poultry, & horse feeds / Horticultural Supplies / Delivery Service'. In 2017, the sign was covered with a poster, but in 2021, the building was painted, covering the sign
Ghost sign for R. Kingerley's 'Cash, Grocery, Provision Stores' on the corner of Clarendon Park Road and Lytham Road, 2017.
No full textGhost sign for 'Cash, Grocery, Provision Stores'. Prior to 2003, this sign was partially covered, preserving the paint beneath. Since the raised sign has been removed, the ghost sign beneath is visible. On this same building but facing Lytham Road, there is a second ghost sign for R. Kingerley available to view in our collection
Peter Soulsby interviewed by Catherine Hallsworth, 3 February 2017
No full textPeter Soulsby (PS) interviewed by Catherine Hallsworth (CH) on 3 February 2017. PS comments on his role as Leicester City Mayor. Came to Leicester in 1968 as a student at the City of Leicester College of Education. Immediately grew very fond of Leicester, its heritage, communities, entertainment offering and particularly its social history. Talks about joining Labour party at age 16, stood to become a Councillor in Leicester in 1973 and was elected for Spinney Hill Ward whilst still a student. Recalls slum clearance and construction of St Peter's Estate. PS details his early opposition to road schemes and large scale demolition of inner city. Recalls involvement in campaign against proposed Eastern Relief road. Prioritised preventing further housing demolition, the development of tower blocks, deck access and major urban motorways. PS talks about development of Fosse Park shopping centre in 1980s, led to a loss of investment in the future of the city centre. City and County went to High Court to reduce scale of Fosse Park development. Describes development of St Martin's Square and preservation of original facades. Mentions development of Highcross. Comments on significant archaeological discoveries in Leicester. Describes Richard III excavation and extensive archaeological exploration that lead to the discovery. Description of relationship between Leicester City and its heritage, comments on greater public awareness of its history and importance of retaining physical representations of that history. Describes achievements of Leicester City Planning Officer John Dean who promoted conservation and preservation of historic built environment. Describes importance of heritage to neighbourhoods in Leicester, comments on activity of Stoneygate Conservation Area Society and Braunstone History Society. Detailed description of importance of heritage in the planning and development of cities. Comments on policy of reinvention and re-use of historic buildings and heritage sites to accommodate the requirements of modern city
Dennis O'Brien interviewed by Jenny Escritt, 27 October 2017 and 17 November 2017
No full textDennis O'Brien (DO) interviewed by Jenny Escritt (JE), 27 October 2017 and 17 November 2017. DO describes early life, born in Bond Street Nursing Home, lived on Tewkesbury Street in 1945. Mentions house built by Great Central Railway Company. Describes last day of Second World War, recalls leaving a school swimming lesson and hearing celebrations in town. Thought rationing would end next day. Comments on schooling, describes wide variety in curriculum e.g. woodwork, bookbinding, metal work, states purpose was to educate children for local industry. Left school at 16, no opportunity to go to university, needed to earn a living. Recalls first job East Midlands Electricity Board, clerical and cashier work. Left for National service when conscripted. Returned after National Service; job held open. Mentions moved to John Bull Metalastik in 1956, stayed for four years, worked at National Westminster Bank (NWB) for rest of career. Describes working at NWB in 1961 and manual labour involved in deliveries of coinage. Describes interest in rambling as young man, anecdote about using gas mask bag as rucksack and gas cape as waterproof. Comments on loss of footpaths in Leicester, DO later joined Leicester Footpath Association. Describes availability of coal, two hours of electricity a day, low gas pressure and implications. People burned what could to keep warm e.g. doors, furniture. Slept in same bed as family to keep warm, chamber pot contents frozen by morning, outside toilets frozen. Recalls rations were decreased after the war as country suffered economically. Anecdote about riding bike over frozen canal in Aylestone. Recalls ground was frozen, couldn't dig graves to bury the dead. Mentions National Service and where stationed, hitchhiked home when on leave. Describes how area of New Parks was armaments dump prior to development. Comments on D-Day in the area and housing development after war- New Parks quickly developed, Eyres Monsell soon after. Describes nationalisation of industry under Labour Government and the advantages. Comments on entertainment in Leicester, went to Palace Theatre and Floral Hall ; saw French films there. Aware of local cinemas; Tudor, Fosse and Sovereign. Describes Opera House, had travelling companies, pantomimes. Describes foraging; rosehips, acorns, crab apples, sloes, hips, blackberries. Went to cornfields gleaning, collecting fallen corn and feeding chickens in coal house, sometimes made beer with it. Western Park put on 'Holidays at Home': games, races, theatres built of lath and hessian. Local amateur groups performed. DO recalls US forces stationed in Leicester during the war. Anecdote about Aunt who and GI boyfriend, Quartermaster Sergeant who provided extra food. Mentions that school children picked potatoes - compulsory work, carried out in November. Describes VE celebrations, ice cream suppliers in town provided small amount to celebrate VE day. Decorations, streamers, flags made from discarded underwear, remembers bonfires in the street. DO detailed description of creating device for dragging canal for bike part, took spare part to Piggotts scrap yard in Red Cross Street. Used money to buy the bike parts needed. Police later intervened on health and safety grounds. Comments on women leaving jobs after Second World War. Anecdote about taking elderly lodger in during the war, describes the 'Cripples Guild', now named Mosaic. Describes bed bugs and how dealt with, had to burn bedding and strip wallpaper. Details how land was used during war for growing food, change in field boundaries and footpaths, some acquired by Ministry of Defence. Ramblers Association worked hard to restore footpaths. Government keen for people to walk for health. Movement grew in strength, also supported local economies of places visited e.g. rural pubs and shops. Comments on potential risks to future of footpaths.File replaced with redacted file on 23.01.2024 by Colin Hyde
Arthur Preece interviewed by Colin Hyde, 25 May 2017
No full textArthur Preece (AP) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 25 May 2017. AP describes family background, grandfather worked at Bagworth Pit, ran the cage. Father was a plumber, mother took care of children. [00:01:59] Comments on schooling, went to St Peter's School, won a scholarship but mother couldn't afford school necessities. Later went to Melbourne Road School, was member of choir at St Peter's church, left school aged 14. [00:04:34] Describes entering hosiery industry, started at Wolsey, little choice over career, comments on siblings' careers. At age 16 began work at Taylor Hobson. Recalls working in wool department at Wolsey, AP was good a geography and was assigned to packing department. Story about cutting hand at work, almost had finger removed. [00:12:13] Recalls starting work at Taylor Hobson, anecdote about personnel officer checking his hands for sweat before starting; sweat would mark glass. Recalls little training given, learned on the job, first job was preparer, putting palettes on glass. Detailed description of work done at Taylor Hobson, preparing lenses for polishing etc. [00:24:29] Comments on lens polishing, had to make own tools. Detailed description of lens making. Comments on reworking stained lenses and strict inspectors and standards. [00:37:12] AP describes outbreak of Second World War, couldn't go into Army because of job. Mentions joined Home Guard, was trained by Army. Further comments on Taylor Hobson, had to ensure lenses were meticulously clean before polishing. Mentions married in 1946, living with parents but brother returned from Air Force, no room at home. Bought house on Melbourne Road with wife. [00:49:04] Recalls buying second hand furniture for first home, rationing still in place. Mentions difficulty getting cigarettes and beer, people would travel to London to get cigarettes. Recalls ease of getting a mortgage, used West Bromwich Building Society. [00:53:09] Recalls winter of 1947, snow piled in the gutters. Reflects on harsh winters as a child, lined shoes with newspapers to cover holes. Describes living conditions as child, mother had six children in house, two toilets between six houses, no running hot water, bread and margarine at meal times. Anecdote about lack of food, children from low income backgrounds would ask schoolmates for the core of their apples to eat. [00:59:53] Comments on housing in Leicester, few new houses being built in 1940s. Mentions bananas and oranges were not available during war, had own allotment to grow food. [01:05:44] Describes healthcare before the National Health Service (NHS), paid sixpence a week to doctor who had own dispensary. Mentions daughter was born in 1950, little advice given about child rearing from doctors or hospital. Mentions worked in Stoughton Street Factory. [00:00] Detailed description of lens making process. [03:11] Mentions changes to production at Taylor Hobson during Second World War, began making periscopes and aircraft cameras, often not told what they were making. [04:43] Describes changes during 1950s, work more available, paid better and could save money. [05:13] Recalls buying washing machine and fridges, brother in law was washing machine salesman, bought from him. Mentions using wooden mangles during war, later used rubber rollers. Mentions buying television, recalls it being expensive at the time. Comments on family, had one daughter, lived on Melbourne Road for 15 years, sold house to council and was demolished to build shopping centre. Comments on roads lived on as a child. Describes biggest changes witnessed at Taylor Hobson, introduction of electric motors to drive lathes, few changes to machines. [18:08] Mentions hobbies and pastimes, took part in whist league, played billiards, darts, skittles, cribbage. Recalls holidays in 1950s, would often go to Blackpool by train or Skegness for the day by bus
Gina Ward interviewed by Jenny Escritt, 29 March 2017
No full textGina Ward (GW) interviewed by Jenny Escritt (JE), 29 March 2017. GW describes early childhood in Leicester, England. Approximately two years old when moved to Leicester, parents had ironmongery shop in Cork Street, Highfields. Comments on religion, belonged to Wesley Hall Church. Recalls moving to Welland Vale Road where new estate was being built. Parents needed bigger premises for ironmongery business. Went to Moat Road first then Whitehall School, later changed to Linden School, Evington village. GW mentions becoming 'Ladies Chess Champion' in fourth year of school. Talks about home life as child, no TV, only basic electric radio, no washing machine or electric kettle until 1969. GW did the washing on Saturday mornings for pocket money, used mangle outside, sheets and towels collected by Belgrave Laundry for washing. No central heating. Comments on local area, shop shut on Wednesday afternoons, Mother went to town, shopped at Walkers, often bought polony, black pudding and brains. Mentions fried brains in butter sandwiches were a treat on Wednesdays. Family ate breakfast together, Father cooked full English breakfast every morning. On weekend had Sunday lunch around table and Saturday tea - always egg and cress sandwiches. GW recalls playing outside with children on service road behind shops. At home played a lot of cribbage, Ludo, Monopoly. Mentions listening to radio programmes with family: Sunday lunchtime half hour comedy 'The Navy Lark', 'Billy Cotton's Band Show', 'Archers'. All together in same room, usually around kitchen table. Parents went to night school separately, Mother studied Sewing and Embroidery, Father studied Art. Talks about family holidays, went to Southwold for four weeks each year for seven years. Dad would drive home to look after the shop for two weeks then return, Mother would go home on the train to look after shop for final two weeks. Parent's first transport was motorbike and side car, then had Austin Cambridge car, then Hillman. GW learnt to drive doing deliveries. Comments on winter of 1963, brother made sledge and took to Thurnby Hill, good place for sledging
Mary Percival interviewed by Julie Hollingsworth, 4 August 2017
No full textInterview with Mary Percival [MP], born 1921 in Newcastle-Upon Tyne. Recalls memories of Second World War. Worked at Vickers Armstrong Engineering, Newcastle on shell casings. Talks about long working days. Husband in The Royal Navy [00:08:06], met in a milk bar in Newcastle at age 19. Mentions danger of Russian convoys. Recalls married life in wartime in Newcastle. Son born 1944. Moved to Leicester [00:13:13]. Husband drafted to Malta 1951. Describes living in Scotland after the war [00:13:58]. Husband still in navy. Talks about living in Leicester [00:15:12]. Describes the Clarendon Park Road area of Leicester. Tells story of living in Malta [00:18:58] Talks in detail about son's education and career. [00:22:55]. Describes working in offices in Leicester as a book keeper and purchasing clerk. [00:32:01] Mentions Berridges, Dryad Iron Works and Northbridge Engineering. Describes enjoyment of playing golf. [00:40:45] Was a committee member of Western Park and Kirby Golf Clubs, played in many tournaments. MP learned to play bridge through golfing friends. [00:51:10] Tells story of playing in international competition
Imogen Cox Oral History Interview
No full textAn oral history interview from Imogen Cox, a learning officer for Leicester Museums. She talks her role within the museum, the workshops that Leicester Museums offer and the development of the service. Talks about the importance of being 'hands on' and how technology is not making a big impact upon the learning sessions offered
Rowan Roenisch interviewed by Abigail Turner , 6 December 2016
No full textRowan Roenisch (RR) interviewed by Abigail Turner (AT) on 06 December 2016. RR came to Leicester, England in 1973 to work at De Montfort University as Art Historian, Architectural Design Historian. Talks about teaching History of Silver and Jewellery, would take students to Leicester Town Hall to view the silver collection. Joined the Leicester Victorian Society in 1980s, wrote application to make Spinney Hill Park a conservation area: declared conservation area in 1982. Description of Victorian Society and its origins. RR details biggest physical changes she has witnessed in city. Description of redevelopment of St Martin's Square. RR with Victorian Society campaigned against large scale demolition of buildings in this location. Saved four buildings in total, two of which were designed by Francis Hames, architect and designer of Leicester Town Hall. Joined committee of the Victorian Society during 1980s; sat on the Buildings Sub-Committee. Describes Leicester's Victorian heritage. RR became volunteer Conservation Adviser for the Leicester Victorian Society from 1990 to 2008. Lead many campaigns to gain listed status for historic buildings in Leicester. Attained 50 listed buildings between 1990 and 2008. Regrets failure of campaign to prevent development of Spinney Hill Park Police Station. Mentions winning Volunteer of the Year award for the Victorian Society in 2004. Anecdote about demonstration to prevent demolition of Thomas Cook Hotel; Victorian Society marched into town, some wore kilts and played bagpipes. Detailed description of campaigns carried out by RR and Victorian society to preserve Leicester architecture, including St John the Divine Church and facade of Fielding Johnson Building. Describes promotional campaigns for the architectural work of Ernest Gimson lead by Leicester Victorian Society. Raised over £600 for blue plaque on the Belmont Hotel where Ernest Gimson's family lived. Detailed description of significant heritage sites in Leicester associated with the life and work of Thomas Cook. RR describes stepping back from active campaigns. Comments on successes of Victorian Society, preserved Maker's Yard and Master Hosier's house on Darker Street. RR comments on changes to city planning processes; mentions pressure on city for further housing developments and potential cost to Leicester's existing architecture. Suggests that local citizens are being encouraged to get involved with local plans to their neighbourhoods. RR works as host at Stoneywell, conducts guided tours at the Botanical Garden. Mentions work with Leicestershire and Rutland Gardens Trust, conducting research on walled gardens in the county. Comments on importance of heritage in the development of cities, suggest heritage sites provide an anchor for modern development
University of Leicester in the Snow, 2017
No full textColour photograph of the view from University Road of the University in the snow. Submitted for the 'Campus' Category, Student Life Photograph Competition, 2016-2017. Entered with the caption 'Wet winter's morning.