8370 research outputs found
Sort by
Donisthorpe Mill, Bath Lane, 2005-2006
No full text7 photographs of Donisthorpe Mill on Bath Lane taken in 2009
Guild of the Crippled
No full textColour photograph of the Guild of the Crippled, later the Shri Shirdi Sai Baba Temple, abandoned and boarded up
Equity Shoes
No full textThe film shows the Equity Shoe factory on Western Road, Leicester at the time of closure in January 2009. Cut in between the scenes of deserted machinery which were shot at that time are scenes of the workers actually producing shoes. This much older and poorer quality film was shot by a visiting student some years before. The whole film shows the process of producing machine-made shoes from cutting the leather to packing the finished shoes
The Recapping of Hough Windmill
No full textIn April 2000 Swannington Heritage opened to the public its Swannington Hough Mill which it had refurbished from a ruinous state with help from the National Heritage Lottery fund.
During 2009 work was carried out on the cap to enable it to rotate as it would have done when the mill was in full working order. On 5th November 2009 the new cap was hoisted into place.
This short film captures this historic and very proud moment.
Hough Windmill is now open to the public every Sunday from April until the end of September, between 2pm and 5pm
Interview with John Dean. Track 1 of 7
No full textBorn Bolton, lost family early, briefly outlines work through civil engineering; becoming concerned with process while working in Cheltenham, planning dept in Manchester where took postgraduate course in town and country planning, then to Cheshire, to Leicester in 1972 as deputy, replacing Donald Sabey as Chief in 1973
Talks about course at Manchester, examples of success of colleagues later in careers. Mentions being planning assistant for Barbara Castle’s rapid transit study in Manchester. Names Martin Bradshaw as a kindred spirit.
Explains that as an engineer saw a lot of schemes that lacked planning, wanted to learn about it, others came from similar backgrounds; planning not strong at the time, some cities ahead of others, Leicester prominent through Konrad Smigielski. Briefly recalls little planning in engineering course. Mention of Roland Nicholas in Manchester, land use transportation study on large scale, ‘systemic planning’ using forecasting models.
Suggests own approach as Fabian, gradual improvement; utopianism more from the generation before, thinks may not have been a good assistant for Smigielski for this reason; town and country planning can be means of improvement, but some is unrealistic.
Example of monorail in Leicester as being unrealistic, most effective transport being busses to this day, illustrates this with example in Manchester in 1950s.
Recalls regarding some of previous generation as utopian although recognises achievements; brief recollection of seeing terraced slums disappearing in Manchester. Anecdote about Martin Bradshaw and Moss Side scheme illustrates generational differences; briefly recalls people in Leicester wanting their slums demolished.
Brief mention of John Boynton in Cheshire, difficulty with local authorities. Tells story of applying for job at Leicester, name being salvaged from rejection pile due to Bob Bryant.
Mentions limited previous knowledge of Leicester – mainly Smigielski’s work on New Walk - anecdote of receiving invitation to interview while on holiday. Recalls wife giving favourable report of New Walk.
Brief anecdote of colleague thinking Leicester would be like Chester (as both Roman).
Talks about Donald Sabey, his influence in keeping department going, lack of credit for this, move to County.
Mentions Smigielski’s team unfairly known as ‘Polish Embassy’, thumbnails of the two other Poles – Jan Ziebicki and Henry Blachnicki. Recalls differences in opinion over Eastern Relief Road scheme (refers to document), defending plans at public meeting; Beaumont Leys being other major scheme, soil problems on site, expectation of private housing, plans created in light of new structure plan.
(Refers to photo of Beaumont Leys) comments on the lack of good urban design, too much housing being concentrated in the area although general designs were good.
Further comment on Eastern Relief Road, attitudes, influx of different disciplines into planning highlighting social consequences of redevelopment; early listing of buildings, mention of Prof. Jack Simmons and St Pancras Station; gives own attitude to conservation, need for balance; issues.
Expands on early days in Leicester, department overhaul being priority. Gives brief impression of Smigielski’s team, the ‘Household Brigade’, whiff of elitism. Brief mention of joint structure plan, sub-regional study, Brian McLoughlin, Leicester’s tendency to respond to government initiatives. Explains how local government reorganisation may have helped this by shaking things up, bringing in new people.
Recalls attitude as ‘gradual improvement’. Talks about renewal strategy for older housing areas, issue of ‘best’ or ‘worst’ first, this being a new type of planning (refers to document), names Chris Geere & Tim Cordy, project continuing to this day, lack of glamour but satisfaction of seeing people in good housing.
Comments on the amount of work being done at the time. Refers to information contained in documents.
Question about Clarendon Park leads to issue of public participation, regret that a rural parish council system not adopted in urban areas, brief example of Bologna; suggests consultation won’t lead to good design, examples of Poundbury, Braunstone (Leics), states techniques for consultation have been lacking.
Mentions publications about heritage, conservation; being ahead of current thought but not advertising this enough. Example of Chris Gossop travelling to Holland to investigate areas (Wooneven) where people have priority over cars, trip to London where civil servants quashed the idea, ‘Home Zones’ appearing years later; Abbey District Plan used as example across country
Ghost sign for 'Hopkins' on Evington Road, 2009.
No full textGhost sign reading 'Hopkins' a butchery near the corner of Evington Road and Lyme Road. In 1932, Fred Hopkins, a butcher, was at 1 Lyme Road. Earlier, in 1916, he had been at 14 Devana Rd and the building at Lyme Rd wasn’t a shop. By 1963, a Mrs. Fannie Hopkins was listed as the butcher at 1 Lyme Road
Interview with John Dean. Track 4 of 7
No full textBriefly reflects that housing renewal strategies undermined by large amount of cars, although houses improved. Expresses preference for good building rather than any period or type, refers to lectures attended on subject. (Interviewer refers to list)
Thumbnail of Jim Marshall MP’s progress in Leicester.
Recalls little difference between administrations, housing programme continued regardless, chief officers seeming non-partisan. Briefly refers to situation when joined council, Sun Alliance building situation.
Comments on not being of same age as Peter Soulsby generation, being quite traditional, Jan Ziebicki saying that how one did things was important in Britain, brief anecdote about consensus. Describes situation when officers disagreed with elected officials and might leave them hanging in committees. Comments on how this relationship has become unsatisfactory elsewhere; gives opinion that process should be democratic, councillors were involved in the process.
Commends John Phipps for creating good coordination service, carried on by David Mellor. Mentions chief officers entertained leaders of main two parties on council at Christmas.
Comments on good city/county relationship during his tenure.
Talks about inner city urban programme from 1977, visit of minister Peter Shore who arrived alone, had tour of Leicester; belief that discretion for local spending a good thing, mentions process in Leicester which eventually extended to outer areas, green corridors.
Briefly describes the trip round Leicester with Peter Shore, doesn’t recall the economic slump of the time being very visible, unlike present situation.
Briefly mentions ‘Centre 21’ proposal (Fosse Park development) threatening city centre.
In response to interviewer comments, doesn’t recall the city looking too bad in late 1970s - passing mention of Ken Middleton’s insistence on good punctuation - reflects that St Margaret’s bus station has lasted well, Haymarket theatre was prospering. Comments on Haymarket shopping centre being a poor building from a good company.
Briefly comments on work not being affected by economic downturn of 1970s, keeping an eye on spending, first using computers.
Mention of land purchase of Great Central Railway, northern section privately owned, Civic Society cleaning canal.
Comments on relationship with Victorian Society, reason for leaving Civic Society, fraught period of conservation sub-committee involving Civic Society. Comments that planners can’t be single issue as societies often are, mentions establishment of officer and team for conservation, brief mention of joining Civic Trust national panel
Thumbnail sketch of Ken Middleton, involvement with purchase of New Walk centre, support for younger people such as Derek Fryatt.
Mention of Cllr Toft having interest in conservation, being supportive, commenting in 1979 that Fryatt should follow him on committee although from other party.
Brief further comments about Ken Middleto
Robert Gadsby interviewed by Colin Hyde, 16 March 2009
No full textRobert Gadsby (RG) interviewed by Colin Hyde (CH), 16 March 2009. RG talks about family background in relation to mining industry, paternal grandfather worked at colliery in Swaddlingcote and died of coal dust related illness. Father worked in the mines as an Electrician and later Engineer at Whitwick colliery. RG started work as apprentice at Ellistown colliery and later Whitwick colliery, father became Manager. Comments on importance of using correct titles of managers in the mine. Mentions attended grammar school and completed an electrical and mechanical apprenticeship, learned about mining science, equipment used in mine. Mentions worked in mine for 16 years, talks about changes that occurred, machinery improved. Talks about miners' strikes in 1970s, as he was an apprentice he wasn't permitted to strike. RB suggests mines relied on men working overtime. RG left the mines in January 1986. Recalls being supplied with tools as an apprentice, talks about pumping station in mine. Talks about sustaining injuries in the mine, describes dangers in the pit, falling rocks and high water levels. Comments on steam winder and the change to electric winders, recalls fire at Whitwick colliery that occurred when new electric capacitors were built. Recalls incident at Markham colliery when electric winder malfunctioned, a number of men died. Mentions when mines began to close, miners were transferred to other mines and were paid a transfer fee. Talks about wages for working in mine and relationships with unions. Mentions took redundancy when mines began to close, felt ready to leave. Recalls Whitwick colliery had felt like a family, this changed when men were transferred after mine closures. Mentions after leaving Whitwick colliery, went to work as an Electrician. Talks about conditions in the mine, RG struggled with lack of daylight. Mentions fitters and electricians had three tallies to keep track of who was down in the pit, would hand over cigarettes and lighters before going to the pit. Talks about general social life of miners, recalls Coleorton Show, mentions father won Best Floral Display on colliery stand. Mentions inter-colliery competitions, Christmas parties, sports events. Recalls miners' stag parties. Talks about nick names given to equipment and tools used in the mine. Reflects on career in mining industry, mentions it was hard work but has fond memories, made good friends. Recalls multiple miners took their own lives after the mines closed down
