City of Leicester & Leicestershire - The Good and Historical Stuff

[davieG]

Story of Leicester

tendopsroS39i4fh15ga6u8a1mfgcici304u5am874iu2i658l150mh55c3f  · 

 

How many of our readers remember going to Granby Halls, back in the day?

The site between Welford Road and Aylestone Road started in 1915 as a Junior Training Hall, to prepare young men for future war service. Described as 'immense', it included a large drill hall, a swimming bath, and two underground rifle ranges. It was later extended by the acquisition of the adjacent Empress Skating Rink, together forming what was to become Granby Halls.

Between the two world wars Granby Halls hosted a great variety of events with popular boxing matches, exhibitions, political meetings and even a Yo-Yo championships staged by the Leicester Mercury in 1932.

Ran by the Leicester Corporation since 1940, many will fondly remember it as a Roller Skating hall but it was used for many other wide ranging activities such as the annual Home Life exhibition, Christmas 'spectaculars', motor shows and concerts for pop groups including The Who, the Rolling Stones and Oasis. It was also the base for Leicester Riders basketball team until it was closed at the end of the 20th century.

Image from the Leicester & Leicestershire Record Office.

#StoryofLeicester #Leicester 

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[Parafox]

3 hours ago, davieG said:

Story of Leicester

tendopsroS39i4fh15ga6u8a1mfgcici304u5am874iu2i658l150mh55c3f  · 

 

How many of our readers remember going to Granby Halls, back in the day?

The site between Welford Road and Aylestone Road started in 1915 as a Junior Training Hall, to prepare young men for future war service. Described as 'immense', it included a large drill hall, a swimming bath, and two underground rifle ranges. It was later extended by the acquisition of the adjacent Empress Skating Rink, together forming what was to become Granby Halls.

Between the two world wars Granby Halls hosted a great variety of events with popular boxing matches, exhibitions, political meetings and even a Yo-Yo championships staged by the Leicester Mercury in 1932.

Ran by the Leicester Corporation since 1940, many will fondly remember it as a Roller Skating hall but it was used for many other wide ranging activities such as the annual Home Life exhibition, Christmas 'spectaculars', motor shows and concerts for pop groups including The Who, the Rolling Stones and Oasis. It was also the base for Leicester Riders basketball team until it was closed at the end of the 20th century.

Image from the Leicester & Leicestershire Record Office.

#StoryofLeicester #Leicester 

See less

 

Didn't the roller disco evenings attract paedophiles?

 

In particular one DJ (not Jimmy Saville), who got convicted of sexual offences against underage girls?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[davieG]

Born and Raised in Leicester

  · A real pea souper: A double-decker bus slowly emerges through the fog past Boots on Gallowtree Gate, Leicester, in the 1960s.

[SeCrEt FoX]

17 hours ago, davieG said:

Story of Leicester

tendopsroS39i4fh15ga6u8a1mfgcici304u5am874iu2i658l150mh55c3f  · 

 

How many of our readers remember going to Granby Halls, back in the day?

The site between Welford Road and Aylestone Road started in 1915 as a Junior Training Hall, to prepare young men for future war service. Described as 'immense', it included a large drill hall, a swimming bath, and two underground rifle ranges. It was later extended by the acquisition of the adjacent Empress Skating Rink, together forming what was to become Granby Halls.

Between the two world wars Granby Halls hosted a great variety of events with popular boxing matches, exhibitions, political meetings and even a Yo-Yo championships staged by the Leicester Mercury in 1932.

Ran by the Leicester Corporation since 1940, many will fondly remember it as a Roller Skating hall but it was used for many other wide ranging activities such as the annual Home Life exhibition, Christmas 'spectaculars', motor shows and concerts for pop groups including The Who, the Rolling Stones and Oasis. It was also the base for Leicester Riders basketball team until it was closed at the end of the 20th century.

Image from the Leicester & Leicestershire Record Office.

#StoryofLeicester #Leicester 

See less

Still can't believe they never replaced it. 

[davieG]

Born and Raised in Leicester

osdnoperStgg4luu u0t6:3t0cAch4i0h42sfla a41ch ii001t86ff1ut2  · 

 

Humberstone Gate.

[Claridge]

On 15/08/2023 at 18:56, Parafox said:

 

Didn't the roller disco evenings attract paedophiles?

 

In particular one DJ (not Jimmy Saville), who got convicted of sexual offences against underage girls?

 

 

Remember all the crazy skinheads that went there

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[davieG]

Leicestershire Police 

ntodroesSp01t41at:g1fum9h 2aa4s8ut3li81u0gu47A156 051fi 4g95  · 

#DidYouKnow all houses belonging to police officers would be marked with a sign showing that a PC lived there, in case of emergencies. This house belonged to PC227 Ridley.

[davieG]

Just now, davieG said:

Leicestershire Police 

ntodroesSp01t41at:g1fum9h 2aa4s8ut3li81u0gu47A156 051fi 4g95  · 

#DidYouKnow all houses belonging to police officers would be marked with a sign showing that a PC lived there, in case of emergencies. This house belonged to PC227 Ridley.

Bet they dare not do it these days

[davieG]

 

Leicester Old and New  · 

Join

 

Dave Cunnington  ·   · 

 

Photos I’ve taken from Swain St bridge in 1967 and 2023. What a difference 56 years have made !! Gone are The Hillcrest Hospital,(old Workhouse), the coal towers, and the terraced houses at the bottom of Beal St where I was born and lived until 1968. ‘Birdcage Walk’ now covered in graffiti and overgrown.

[davieG]

[los dedos]

13 hours ago, davieG said:

That's definitely not the Leicester C&A.

[davieG]

12 minutes ago, los dedos said:

That's definitely not the Leicester C&A.

I think you're correct, I didn't really look at it properly

 

 

Granby street

 

Humberstone Gate

 

The Humberstone Gate Haymarket one replaced this magnificent building 

 

[davieG]

Castle Gardens 1949

[davieG]

 

Story of Leicester

eptonSrsdog1040t4fug6lhl5acacait2211c4cmca3m7m1i1t2m8tu6h1m2  · 

 

It was on this day at 10.10am 83 years ago that the Second World War first came to Leicester.

Before the air raid sirens could sound, a lone “German Dornier Do 17Z” bomber suddenly swooped out of the low grey cloud and dropped a string of high-explosive bombs along the length of Cavendish Road, Aylestone. The image shows the effects of a 50kg bomb that fell in front of shops at 134 Cavendish Road, credit: Austin J. Ruddy.

Around seven 50kg bombs fell all along Cavendish Road with eight local residents, including children, losing their lives and injuring a further 25 people. Several shops were damaged and eight staff had a narrow escape at Storer’s Bakery when a bomb exploded outside.

Research reveals that the German air force’s intended target was the Aylestone Gas Works. If this could be damaged then the war production of Leicester’s many
factories would be disrupted. However, the bomber missed its target, and neighbouring Cavendish Road paid the price. Differences in the designs of terraced houses, where homes were later rebuilt or repaired, is today stark evidence of where the bombs once fell. Despite the attack lasting seconds, the randomness and heartbreak caused by the attack led to it becoming one of the most widely and longest remembered episodes of Leicester’s war.

#StoryofLeicester #Leicester 

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[davieG]

Leicester City Council

otSpsderon9:6mfpbca4t0l3S t13759tar011e0 egcg4ut 7ll20a7e2c8  · 

 

 

A tour of the Glenfield Railway Tunnel - the longest railway tunnel in the world when it opened in 1832 - is one of the hidden gems on view during our #HeritageOpenDays, which start tomorrow (Thursday).

There's more on the events running between 7-17 September here: https://ow.ly/TNo050PIilo

[davieG]

[Wymsey]

12 minutes ago, davieG said:

It looked slightly better in the first one..

[Bordersfox]

On 15/08/2023 at 15:23, davieG said:

Story of Leicester

tendopsroS39i4fh15ga6u8a1mfgcici304u5am874iu2i658l150mh55c3f  · 

 

How many of our readers remember going to Granby Halls, back in the day?

The site between Welford Road and Aylestone Road started in 1915 as a Junior Training Hall, to prepare young men for future war service. Described as 'immense', it included a large drill hall, a swimming bath, and two underground rifle ranges. It was later extended by the acquisition of the adjacent Empress Skating Rink, together forming what was to become Granby Halls.

Between the two world wars Granby Halls hosted a great variety of events with popular boxing matches, exhibitions, political meetings and even a Yo-Yo championships staged by the Leicester Mercury in 1932.

Ran by the Leicester Corporation since 1940, many will fondly remember it as a Roller Skating hall but it was used for many other wide ranging activities such as the annual Home Life exhibition, Christmas 'spectaculars', motor shows and concerts for pop groups including The Who, the Rolling Stones and Oasis. It was also the base for Leicester Riders basketball team until it was closed at the end of the 20th century.

Image from the Leicester & Leicestershire Record Office.

#StoryofLeicester #Leicester 

See less

I remember going to see Oasis at Granby Halls. Halcyon days.  

[davieG]

 

History of Leicestershire in Images

Neil Bell  · epntoSsrod033f051u391c34ai01itc2mgamht64chh12a9097tg7gtf0gm2  · 

 

 

A rarely seen photo of the identity parade showing the accused murderer of Bella Wright, Ronald Light (No 9) in what was to become known as the Green Bicycle Mystery.

The photo seems to be taken in the yard of Leicestershire County HQ in Market Place South, and was taken by Fred Lumbers of 29 Melbourne Road, Leicester.

As was common with many county and borough forces at the time, there was no official photographer in the force. Private photographers were hired.

John Frederick Lumbers, known as Fred, was the son of Watch maker John Lumbers, and worked as an Assistant at his fathers Jewellery store. The very same company which exists today in Leicester’s High Street.

Fred was the managing director of Lumbers Ltd, and was living at 29 Melbourne Road by the time he took this photo. It seems he mixed the MD and photographic roles.

However, there’s a twist to our story. In 1911 Fred and family were living at 41 Highfield Street, Leicester. Just five doors down from Ronald Light’s lodgings in 1919, at 51 Highfield Street.

[Eurofox]

It was definitely number 2 😄

[Parafox]

10 hours ago, davieG said:

 

History of Leicestershire in Images

Neil Bell  · epntoSsrod033f051u391c34ai01itc2mgamht64chh12a9097tg7gtf0gm2  · 

 

 

A rarely seen photo of the identity parade showing the accused murderer of Bella Wright, Ronald Light (No 9) in what was to become known as the Green Bicycle Mystery.

The photo seems to be taken in the yard of Leicestershire County HQ in Market Place South, and was taken by Fred Lumbers of 29 Melbourne Road, Leicester.

As was common with many county and borough forces at the time, there was no official photographer in the force. Private photographers were hired.

John Frederick Lumbers, known as Fred, was the son of Watch maker John Lumbers, and worked as an Assistant at his fathers Jewellery store. The very same company which exists today in Leicester’s High Street.

Fred was the managing director of Lumbers Ltd, and was living at 29 Melbourne Road by the time he took this photo. It seems he mixed the MD and photographic roles.

However, there’s a twist to our story. In 1911 Fred and family were living at 41 Highfield Street, Leicester. Just five doors down from Ronald Light’s lodgings in 1919, at 51 Highfield Street.

 

1 hour ago, Eurofox said:

It was definitely number 2 😄

 

Number 3 looks like he's disguised himself as Robert de Niro.

[WarehamFox]

12 hours ago, davieG said:

 

History of Leicestershire in Images

Neil Bell  · epntoSsrod033f051u391c34ai01itc2mgamht64chh12a9097tg7gtf0gm2  · 

 

 

A rarely seen photo of the identity parade showing the accused murderer of Bella Wright, Ronald Light (No 9) in what was to become known as the Green Bicycle Mystery.

The photo seems to be taken in the yard of Leicestershire County HQ in Market Place South, and was taken by Fred Lumbers of 29 Melbourne Road, Leicester.

As was common with many county and borough forces at the time, there was no official photographer in the force. Private photographers were hired.

John Frederick Lumbers, known as Fred, was the son of Watch maker John Lumbers, and worked as an Assistant at his fathers Jewellery store. The very same company which exists today in Leicester’s High Street.

Fred was the managing director of Lumbers Ltd, and was living at 29 Melbourne Road by the time he took this photo. It seems he mixed the MD and photographic roles.

However, there’s a twist to our story. In 1911 Fred and family were living at 41 Highfield Street, Leicester. Just five doors down from Ronald Light’s lodgings in 1919, at 51 Highfield Street.

Having read books about this case, I would be 80% plus he did it. Going to the trouble to hide his bike and gun. Plus being the last person to see her alive, what a mystery.

[Cadno'r Cymoedd]

Does anyone recall a club in Leicester in the early 80s where you paid an entrance fee and they gave you a choice of a Scotch Egg or Sausage Roll as part of entry?

 

A friend of mine who lived in Leicester then swears he went there and that happened. Says it may have been called Wilson's or similar? I can't remember it. 

[davieG]

1 hour ago, Cadno'r Cymoedd said:

Does anyone recall a club in Leicester in the early 80s where you paid an entrance fee and they gave you a choice of a Scotch Egg or Sausage Roll as part of entry?

 

A friend of mine who lived in Leicester then swears he went there and that happened. Says it may have been called Wilson's or similar? I can't remember it. 

There was a pub called the Churchill on Silver St, where I met MrsG that change  it's name to Winstons could it have been that, I think it's now called Spencers.  All names related to Winston Churchill

[Footballwipe]

I don't know if anyone has come across this before, apologies if it's within the 78 pages of this thread, but I was nerding out to try and find more about LFE the other day and came across this page: http://www.andrewwilshere.com/jeow/ and specifically for what I wanted a document about LFE/LFW to about 1974. It also has loads of other documents about Leicester/Leicestershire history.

 

http://www.andrewwilshere.com/jeow/JEOW_LFE.pdf

 

There's a great map in there, and info about the main roads around that area. Also this shot of the Red Cow: