LEICESTER CITIZEN
THE JOURNAL OF
LEICESTER CIVIC SOCIETY
www.leicestercivicsociety.org.uk
Buildings at risk? Townscape at risk? What would this view be worth without Sir George
Gilbert Scott’s monumental Church of St. Saviour towering over the surrounding streets?
Photo: Ben Ravilious
No.16 August 2008
BOWSTRING BRIDGE & THE PUMP AND TAP. FUTURE OF THE MARKET PLACE.
THE MILE STRAIGHT. ST. PETER’S CHURCH. CASTLE CONSERVATION AREA.
BELGRAVE FLYOVER. CITY OF NO SUBWAYS. CRICH TRAMWAY MUSEUM.
THE SECULAR HALL. ROMAN LEICESTER. HERITAGE OPEN DAYS. LIBERTY.
TEMPERANCE HOTEL. PLUS REGULAR FEATURES AND MUCH MORE.
LEICESTER CIVIC SOCIETY
Founded 1971
President J.B. JOSEPHS MA (Oxon.)
Vice-President The Very Reverend Alan Warren MA
Provost Emeritus of Leicester
REGISTERED WITH THE CIVIC TRUST
REGISTERED CHARITY No. 502932
MEMBER OF THE EAST MIDLANDS ASSOCIATION OF CIVIC SOCIETIES
CHAIRMAN: STUART BAILEY: 48 Meadow Avenue, Loughborough LE11 1JT. 01509520904. chairman@leicestercivicsociety.org.uk
VICE-CHAIRMAN & CONSERVATION OFFICER
(LEICESTER CENTRAL, NORTH & WEST)
DEREK HOLLINGWORTH: Arbroath Cottage, 21 The Newarke, Castle Park, Leicester
LE2 7BY. 0116-254-7820. vicechairman@leicestercivicsociety.org.uk
HON. SECRETARY & CONSERVATION OFFICER (LEICESTER SOUTH & EAST Aylestone Village, Knighton Village, Stoneygate, New Walk, South Highfields, Evington
Footpath, Evington Village, Spinney Hill Park & Old Humberstone Conservation Areas)
JENNY WESTMORELAND: 358 Victoria Park Road, Leicester LE2 1XF. 0116-270- 5828.
secretary@leicestercivicsociety.org.uk
CAMPAIGNS MANAGER & WEBMASTER: BEN RAVILIOUS.
webmaster@leicestercivicsociety.org.uk
HON. TREASURER & MEMBERSHIP SECRETARY: GORDON GOODE:
53 Cort Crescent Leicester, LE3 1QJ. 0116-285-6620
treasurer@leicestercivicsociety.org.uk
SOCIETY ARCHIVIST: JENNIFER MACGREGOR. archivist@leicestercivicsociety.org.uk
And Committee Member: LIZ MURPHY.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
ANGERED BY THREATS TO YOUR HERITAGE? FEEL THAT MANY
MODERN DEVELOPMENTS TRASH OUR HISTORIC BUILT
ENVIRONMENT? THEN TELL YOUR FRIENDS - GET THEM TO JOIN.
THERE’S A LOT HAPPENING IN LEICESTER CIVIC SOCIETY
- IT PAYS TO BE A MEMBER.
CREDITS: Ben Ravilious, Nick Knight, Crown Copyright - All Rights Reserved, Parish of The Resurrection, Ellis Island Foundation,
Leicester Secular Society, Rodger Hutchinson, Crich Tramway Village.
LEICESTER CITIZEN: Editorial Team: Stuart Bailey, Simon Harris, Gordon Goode.
The opinions expressed in LEICESTER CITIZEN are not necessarily those of the editor or Leicester Civic Society
EVENTS DIARY
Tuesday 2nd September 7.15pm: General Meeting. Secular Hall. Members welcome.
Saturday 6th September: COACH TOUR: CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE & DERWENT MILLS
WORLD HERITAGE SITE. Discounts for members. See the back
cover advertisement and the bookings page for full details.
Sunday 14th September: CIVIC SOCIETY EXHIBITION at the Secular Hall 10am – 6pm.
Celebrating Heritage Open Days 2008.
Sunday 14th September: GEMS OF STONEYGATE Part 2: Guided Walk by Stoneygate
Conservation Area Society. Celebrating Heritage Open Days 2008.
See the advertisement on the Stoneygate Page.
Saturday 27th September. Guided Walk: ROMAN LEICESTER. 10.30am. See the
advertisement and the bookings page for full details.
Saturday 18th October: EAST MIDLANDS ASSOCIATION OF CIVIC SOCIETIES Meeting at
Hinckley. Members welcome. Contact Stuart Bailey if you want to
come along and join us.
Tuesday 4th November 7.15pm: General Meeting. Secular Hall. Members welcome.
Tuesday 2nd December 7.15pm: General Meeting. Secular Hall. Members welcome.
THE CHAIRMAN’S PAGE
On the evening of Monday 2nd June I was happy to take a private party for our “Victorian
Leicester” guided walk. This was the first time I had done this walk for a while and the major
change that struck me was the sheer number of historic buildings dating from the 19th and early
20th centuries in the City Centre that were empty. Quite obviously this is the much talked about
“credit crunch” in action. Developers buying properties, getting planning permission, (The easy
bit!) but then choosing to do nothing. We always knew that new-build developments were being
hit in this way – in fact it seemed a good way to let some of the more awful ones just not happen.
But what this brings home to us is the fact that the same market forces are now having a
deleterious affect on the historic built environment of the City, and no one is doing anything about
it. However difficult it may be, it does not have to be like this. The European Association of
Historic Towns and Regions has just sent us details of their “Inherit Project” on heritage lead
regeneration that seeks new ways to regenerate old towns and cities. We are distributing this
information as widely as possible in an effort to turn the tide of disinterest, otherwise historic
buildings at the moment sound but empty (Central Post Office, Former Midland Bank) will slowly
but surely become derelict. (62-64 New Walk, Braunstone Hall)
On the subject of buildings at risk, English Heritage has just published their 2008 Register of
grade 1 and grade 2-Star buildings under threat, largely from neglect, and in this edition we print
this in English Heritage’s own words. As with 2007 there are seven entries for the City of
Leicester, one Edwardian Bank, two Victorian Churches, one Georgian House and three
medieval buildings. These three are all in the ownership of Leicester City Council and their
continuing neglect is nothing short of a civic disgrace. As a bare minimum this Society calls on
the Council to undertake urgent repairs to John O’Gaunt’s Cellar at Leicester Castle and the
remains of Leicester Abbey and Cavendish House in Abbey Park, as an absolute priority.
The overall situation is even worse. In this issue we list no less than thirty-one historic buildings
and monuments at risk in Leicester. (Campaigns first but otherwise no significance in the order)
In some cases the owners are making valiant efforts on their behalf but all too often these
treasures are the victims of deliberate neglect. Part of this issue of Leicester Citizen is devoted to
just some of them. English Heritage have also recently published “Heritage at Risk 2008”, which
contains some very interesting facts and figures. Did you know that 57% of local councils produce
their own lists of all listed buildings at risk but that 31% do not publish these lists? It will come as
no surprise to you to know that Leicester City Council produces its own list but that it is one of the
secretive authorities. We ask why? If there is a problem with the heritage of this City, then surely
the people of Leicester have a right to know what it is - and to ask why.
On a brighter note I have just received the newsletter of the Stoneygate Conservation Area
Society, who are celebrating their Thirtieth Anniversary this year. The Society describes itself as
small and working discreetly in the background. I don’t know about this, (No one could accuse the
Civic Society of working discreetly in the background!) but I do know that they have achieved
much for Stoneygate over the last three decades, of which they can be rightly proud. Given this, it
remains a major cause of concern that Leicester City Council continues to block the Society from
membership of its Conservation Advisory Panel, when they clearly have much to contribute on
the subject of the City’s largest conservation area.
Talking of support for and co-operation with other heritage bodies (Always a favourite topic of
mine) brings me neatly to the Bowstring Bridge & The Pump and Tap, about which you can read
the story so far later in this Journal. This has already turned into a disaster for the City Council,
who were hoping for a quick fix in the magistrates court but now face nine principal objecting
bodies and at least forty members of the public, all determined to defeat the Council’s application
for a stopping-up order at a three day hearing set for October. We are of course delighted to work
with the other organisations and members of the public to achieve this end; proof yet again that
the people of Leicester must all work together if they are to save the historic built environment of
this City from further needless destruction.
I thank you for your continuing support.
Stuart Bailey
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
EVENTS PAST & FUTURE
2007 AWARDS CEREMONY
4th April: High point of the year, our 2007
Awards once again culminated in a prestigious
ceremony and dinner at the Belmont Hotel,
where our special guest, HM Lord Lieutenant of
Leicestershire, Jennifer, Lady Gretton,
presented awards to Naresh and Sharron
Parmar for the restoration of the City Rooms to
their former splendour, and Stephen Wells of
Status Planning & Architecture for the EcoHouses in Knighton Village. The 2007 Awards
were the most successful yet, with eight entries
and 50% sponsorship by the East Midlands
Association of Civic Societies, for which we are
extremely grateful. The 2008 Awards will be
launched in December. Following this year’s
success we shall again be looking at providing
facilities for those members who wish to attend
the April 2009 ceremony but not the dinner.
NEW WALK & THE GEORGIAN NEW TOWN
3rd May: A successful walk with a large turn out
- none of who had been on it before! This is
one our regular walks now available for private
parties. Contact Stuart Bailey for details.
LLANGOLLEN TOUR
17th May: Hugely successful day coach tour
that even made a small profit. There was
plenty to see and do in Llangollen, and
Telford’s great aqueduct, recently awarded the
status of UNESCO World Heritage Site,
provided the wow factor for the day. Even
those who had seen it on the television were
not prepared for anything quite so spectacular.
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
20th May: Certainly a low point of the year.
Advertised as an evening event for members
rather then simply an AGM, the turnout can
only be described as a disgrace. A few
members went to a great deal of trouble
organising bottles of wine, cheese nibbles,
plates, glasses, slide show and operation of the
data projector - as well as carting the screen
half way across Leicester - for themselves and
even fewer members to enjoy. This was a
mistake that your committee will think about
twice before risking any repeat.
A VICTORIAN EVENING IN A VICTORIAN
HOUSE.
19th June: Olwen Hughes and her husband
Geoffrey welcomed us to their beautiful 1891
house with its collections of Victoriana
celebrating the life and work of wood carvers
Thomas Birch and his son Alan. It was
especially wonderful to hear Olwen talk about
the Birch family and Geoffrey talk so lovingly
about the house. Those who couldn’t come will
never know what a joy they missed.
“Ratae Romans”, the newly formed reenactment arm of the Friends of Jewry Wall
Museum, who appeared in various Roman
costumes. Even your doughty old Chairman
was spotted slipping into a toga!
CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE, CROMFORD
CANAL & ARKWRIGHT MILLS TOUR
6th September: A feast of industrial heritage in
the glorious Derbyshire Dales. Admission to
The Tramway Village and National Tramway
Museum – unlimited vintage tram journeys for
free! Then on to Arkwright’s 1771 Mill at
Cromford, with shop, café and optional
admission to the mill buildings. Optional guided
walk of the Cromford Canal with views of the
High Peak Railway and Leawood Pumping
Station. Finally we will visit the museum at the
1783 Matlock Bath Mill. The Derwent Valley
Mills are another UNESCO World Heritage
Site. This is a bumper bargain day out with a
full itinerary provided – so you will know what it
is you are looking at. See the advertisement
and use the bookings page now to avoid
disappointment.
THE NOTTINGHAM AWAYDAY
2008 CIVIC TRUST HERITAGE OPEN DAYS
28th June: Many thanks to Nottingham Civic
Society for a great day out. The Civic pomp of
Nottingham Council House was very
impressive and an afternoon spent in the
Elizabethan splendour of Wollaton Hall, with a
highly informative tour of both the 16th Century
kitchens and the famous Prospect Room - was
a marvellous experience.
14th September: This year Leicester’s Secular
Hall will be open from 10.00am to 6.00pm as
part of this annual Civic Trust and English
Heritage Event and you will be able to visit the
Civic Society Exhibition in the Hall.
CIVIL WAR
5th July: A large and courageous band followed
the fighting of May 1645 from the Newarke to
the Guildhall and St. Martin’s Church Yard.
This obviously popular walk will be repeated in
the future and joins the corpus of our walks
now available for private parties. Contact Stuart
Bailey for details.
ROMANS REVEALED
12th July: Hundreds came to the Jewry Wall
Museum to witness many things to do with
Roman Leicester. The archaeologists were
there with some splendid displays on the latest
excavations. It was also the first outing for
14th September: Stoneygate Conservation Area
Society – Gems of Stoneygate ‘Part 2’ Guided
Walk of the gems in the southern half of the
conservation area. Starting at 2.00pm. See the
advertisement on the Stoneygate Page.
IN THE SPIRIT OF HOD’S THESE EVENTS
ARE FREE AND YOU WILL HAVE PLENTY
OF TIME TO VISIT BOTH.
ROMAN LEICESTER
27th September: A welcome return after three
years for our most popular walk. A circular walk
from Jewry Wall Museum, and including a tour
of the Roman Baths. We shall then stroll down
to the Café Bruxelles for those who want to
relax and socialise. Once again see the
advertisement and use the bookings page
LEICESTER CIVIC SOCIETY
HISTORIC BUILDINGS & MONUMENTS AT RISK: CITY OF LEICESTER: AUGUST 2008
Listed Status
No
C/Area
No
Yes
3. Market Place Roman Pavement.
Grade 1 &
SAM
No
4. The Silver Arcade.
Grade 2
Yes
5. Thomas Cook’s Temperance Hotel,
Granby Street.
No
Yes
6. Braunstone Hall, Braunstone Park.
Grade 2
No
Notes
Civic Society
Campaign
Civic Society
Campaign
Civic Society
Campaign
Civic Society
Campaign
Has PP for
demolition Victorian Society
Campaign
Derelict
7. The Statue of Liberty, Eastern Boulevard.
No
No
Enforcement Notice
8. All Saint’s Brewery, Highcross Street.
No
Yes
9. Remains of Leicester Abbey & Ruins of Cavendish
House, Abbey Park.
10. Magazine Gateway, The Newarke
No.
11. Jemsox Factory, Welford Road.
Grades 1& 2
and SAM
Grade 1 &
SAM
Local Interest
Building Preservation
Notice lifted.
Still no work being
undertaken.
Empty
12. Central Post Office, Bishop Street.
No
No
Has PP for
demolition
Empty
13. Former Midland Bank, Granby Street.
Grade 2 Star
Yes
Empty
14. Former Guild of the Disabled, Colton Street.
Grade 2
Yes
Empty
15. Premier House, No. 29 Rutland Street.
Grade 2
Yes
Empty
16. Former Nat. West Bank, St. Martins.
Grade 2 Star
Yes
Empty
17. Former Savings Bank, St. Martins.
Grade 2
Yes
Empty
18. Former Water Board Offices,
Bowling Green Street.
19. Former Constitution Club, Pocklington’s Walk.
Grade 2
Yes
Empty
Grade 2
Yes
Empty
20. Former Registry Office, Pocklington’s Walk
and Rupert Street building.
21. No.9 Pocklington’s Walk.
Grade 2
Yes
Empty
No
Yes
22. No’s 62 –64 New Walk.
Grade 2
Yes
Empty
No’s 19 -21 are an
entire City block
Derelict
23. East Gates Coffee House.
No
Yes
Façade rotting
24. Former Challis & Hall Shop,
Humberstone Gate.
25. Secular Hall, Humberstone Gate.
Local Interest
Yes
Needs restoration.
Grade 2
Yes
Needs restoration.
26. Church of St. Peter, Belgrave
Grade 2 Star
Yes
27. Church of St. Saviour, St. Saviour’s Road.
Grade 2 Star
No
PCC threaten
redundancy.
Redundant
28. Church of St. Paul, Glenfield Road.
No
No
Redundant
29. Latimer House, Knighton.
No
Yes
Empty
30. Holbrook Hall, Holbrook Road/ South Knighton
Road.
31. Pork Pie Library, Saffron Lane.
No
No
Grade 2
No
PCC wishes to
dispose.
Council wishes to
dispose.
1. Bowstring Bridge and The Pump & Tap PH,
Duns Lane.
2. Leicester Castle.
Yes
Yes
No
LEICESTER CIVIC SOCIETY
SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 2008
ROMAN LEICESTER
A Guided Walk by Stuart Bailey
From The Jewry Wall Museum at 10.30am
Approximately 75 minutes, plus Museum visit and -
GRAND TOUR OF THE ROMAN BATHS
Cost: £2.50
Followed by lunch at the Café Bruxelles
SEE THE BOOKINGS PAGE
Other guided walks in the series include, “Ancient Leicester Part 1”, Ancient Leicester Part 2” “Medieval Streets”,
“Victorian Leicester”, “Civil War”, “Old London Road”, “Leafy Leicester”, “Around the Walls of Leicester” and
“New Walk & The Georgian New Town”. All walks can be booked for private parties of from six to twenty-four.
Telephone 01509-520904. Email chairman@leicestercivicsociety.org.uk
ENGLISH HERITAGE: BUILDINGS AT RISK REGISTER 2008: LEICESTER.
1. CHURCH OF ST. MARK, Belgrave Gate: Listed Grade 2-star: Ownership private: Church 1869-1872
by Euan Christian. Proposals for conversion to leisure use have been implemented. Urgent works were
completed in 1999. Grant given towards repairs to north aisle and stained glass windows. Works still to
be completed.
2. COUNTY COURT including remains of LEICESTER CASTLE & JOHN O’GAUNT’S CELLAR, Castle
Yard: Scheduled Ancient Monument & Listed Grade 1: Ownership Local Authority: Building on site of
Castle built by Robert Le Bossu C1168. Slighted in the Civil War. The present brick façade dates to
C1695. Converted to Courts in 1856. Now redundant. John O’Gaunt’s Cellar is in urgent need of repair,
ingress of water placing the fabric at risk. A conservation plan for the Court is being prepared.
3. BELGRAVE HOUSE, Church Road, Belgrave: Listed Grade 2-star: Ownership Local Authority: Three
storey red brick house built 1776. Later additions. Overlooking a public park to the rear. Sale agreed.
4. FORMER BANK, 2 St. Martins: Listed Grade 2-star: Ownership private: 1900-1902. Later additions in
monumental ashlar and fine internal fittings to commercial banking hall design. Currently empty though
in good condition. New uses agreed and consents in place.
5. CHURCH OF ST. SAVIOUR, St. Saviour’s Road: Listed Grade 2-star: Ownership Church of England:
Church 1875-1877 by Sir George Gilbert Scott. Brick in Early English style with broach spire that
dominates the locality. No longer in ecclesiastical use and vacant.
6. MAGAZINE GATEWAY, The Newarke: Scheduled Ancient Monument & Listed Grade 1: Ownership
Local Authority: The East Gate of The Newarke, a fortified religious college built C1410. Last used as a
regimental museum but vacant since 1999. The City Council has drafted a conservation statement and
options appraisal to guide for its re-use.
7. ABBEY RUINS, Abbey Park: Scheduled Ancient Monument & Listed Grade 1: Ownership Local
Authority: Foundations of former Augustine Monastery founded in 1143. Ruins located in Abbey
Grounds, added to northern end of the C19th public park in 1930’s. Precinct walls partly in poor
condition and overgrown. Includes Grade 2 remains of Cavendish House – at risk. Work continues.
STONEYGATE CONSERVATION AREA SOCIETY
www.stoneygateconservation.org.uk
The last few months have seen a welcome development in the Stoneygate Conservation Area Society’s photo database
campaign. Not only has the City Council now agreed to create a comprehensive collection of dated digital photographs
showing the publicly-visible aspects of all conservation area properties, it will also manage and implement the entire
project and cover the cost in full. In helping the Conservation Team to effectively oppose unauthorised developments in
the Stoneygate conservation area, the scheme adds an extra level of protection which could be extended in future to
historical buildings in all of the City’s residential conservation areas. Thanks are due to the Culture & Regeneration Dept
for their vision in recognising that historical buildings in the City’s residential suburbs also play a major part in defining
Leicester’s unique quality.
Apartment conversion looks set to be the topic that will make the
headlines in the coming months and three outstanding examples of
historical properties that have been sensitively converted have either
recently been completed or are nearing completion. At the corner of
Knighton Drive and Elms Road three large Victorian houses formerly
used as student accommodation have been transformed into an
impressive development of 20 new apartments and renamed
Stoneygate Elms (www.stoneygateelms.com). Nearby at 27 Knighton
Road in the imposing Victorian building that once housed the Anglican
chaplaincy, a similarly smart leasehold apartment development known
as Knighton Croft (www.knightoncroft.com) is nearly finished. The
Rowans at 290 London Road (designed by Goddard and Paget and
previously a hotel see left) completes the trio.
Developments of large properties on generous plots such as these which provide high-quality accommodation and both
respect and celebrate the character of the original buildings are sustainable and a valuable addition to the area. Others
are less so. The nationwide slowdown in the property market is now expected to continue for some time and in Leicester
there is currently an oversupply of one- and two-bed apartments combined with a dearth of large family houses. Against
this background, the wisdom of allowing the conversion of smaller Victorian and Edwardian family homes into one-bed
flats or bedsits appears increasingly questionable.
Clarendon Park residents and the Stoneygate Conservation Area Society have suggested that the City Council should
seek to manage house-to-apartment conversion in the area more proactively and take a stricter approach to the
acquisition of properties by non-resident landlords whose default position is to convert them into as many one-bed flats
as the existing buildings and surrounding land will accommodate. The aim of the Council’s new 25-Year strategy is to
make Leicester `Britain’s Sustainable City’ by 2023. It is difficult to reconcile this with the approach to development that
we have seen in Stoneygate over the last few years. The relentless pressure being put on both the physical and social
infrastructure threatens to cause lasting damage that will fundamentally and irreversibly transform the area. Problems
relating to motor traffic in Clarendon Park are endemic and getting worse and, while the residents’ parking scheme
currently under consideration will make a difference, it will not make conditions significantly safer for car-drivers, cyclists
or pedestrians. The elderly or young attending places of worship or schools in the area are particularly at risk.
Recent decisions suggest that the message is gradually getting through to
the planners. By far the most encouraging has been the refusal to allow a
change of use from a family home to 5x 1-bed apartments at 18 Victoria
Park Road (right); largely on the grounds that the loss of a four- or five-bed
roomed family home to provide yet more one-bed flats cannot be justified.
The planned house-to-apartments conversion at 75 Clarendon Park Road
was also refused by the Planning & Development Control Committee who
stated that twelve dwellings would be an overdevelopment of the site and
would have an adverse impact on the character of the area (the developer
has appealed). Proposals by Knighton Grange Ltd to change the use of the
former Birnam House student halls of residence at 20 Elms Road to 14
self-contained flats (1x 2-bed, 11x 1-bed, 2x 1-be studio) with a singlestorey side extension and two side dormer extensions were also refused.
The conversion to flats of very large family houses already re-established as care homes poses a slightly different
challenge but the outcome of the most recent application is encouraging. It has seen the ex-care home at 3-5 Knighton
Park Road granted a change of use to 4 houses (3x 4-bed, 1x 6-bed) with a single-storey rear extension. A change of
use to 13 apartments had previously been approved but the latest proposals –which are already underway- seem more
likely to preserve the external appearance of these two lovely properties with their elegant facades, delightful stonework,
`barley twist' mullions and tiling under the eaves. The conservatory has been lost and a new front door will be inserted at
No3 but there will be no additional rear car parking space or access via Cone Lane and the frontage of each property will
be separated by shrubs rather than close-boarded fencing. If all goes to plan, this
development could be a new model for the rehabilitation of ex-care homes
housed in Victorian or Edwardian buildings.
The outcome of the resubmitted application for 4 Clarendon Park Road (left) was
an improvement but still disappointing. Permission was given for 8 flats (instead
of the 9 originally sought) with the space saved being used to provide further offstreet parking. The two-storey rear extension will remain but windows will be
resited. While some of the conditions attached to the permissions appear to have
been included to address the concerns of residents and users of the nearby
church and school, in this particular location well away from the hurly-burly of
Queens Road and among family homes, limiting the development to a smaller
number of larger higher-quality apartments would have been a much better result.
Finally and elsewhere David Wilson Homes’ resubmitted plans for a residential development of 24 dwellings (18
townhouses x 3-bed, 6 flats x 2-bed) with a new vehicular access, associated parking and landscaping on land adjacent
to 7 Stanley Road was finally approved while the application by Eastern Range Ltd to build two 3- and 4-storey blocks of
ten apartments and four townhouses (2x 1-bed, 8x 2-bed, 4x 3-bed) with associated parking and landscaping at 22
Knighton Park Road was refused. In May approval was given for the demolition of the printworks at 7 Portland Road and
its replacement by a two-storey side extension to the Geeta Bhavan at 70 Clarendon Park Road. Many objectors cited
increased traffic and parking problems and concerns remain that the proposed new elevations on Portland Road will not
enhance and preserve the character of the conservation area as they are required to. While the application asserts that
`any development in keeping with the appearance of Portland Road would be a vast improvement on the existing site’ it
fails to explain how the additions will harmonise with neighbouring Victorian family homes and do justice to their
conservation area location.
CIVIC TRUST HERITAGE OPEN
OPEN DAYS 2008
SUNDAY 14th SEPTEMBER
GEMS OF STONEYGATE 2
Guided Tour of the Architectural Gems in the Southern Half of
Stoneygate Conservation Area by June Gray and Judith Carstairs of the
City Council Conservation & Nature Team.
Meet at Corner of Avenue Gardens and Avenue Road at 2.00PM.
Event Free but Advance Booking is Essential.
Telephone 0116-2527296 or 2527281.
THE BOWSTRING BRIDGE AND THE PUMP & TAP
In March of this year Leicester City Council renewed its temporary stopping up order of the northern 400
yards of the Great Central Way from Bede Park to Duns Lane, including the surviving railway viaducts,
bridge over the River Soar and the Bowstring Bridge over the river and Western Boulevard. This was on
the stated grounds of the Bowstring Bridge being structurally unsafe.
On 30th April the City Council applied for a permanent stopping up order using Section 116 of the
Highways Act. The Civic Society immediately took professional advice from a neighbouring Local
Authority. This advice was:
“SECTION 116 of The Highways Act 1980 is used by a Local Highways Authority to stop up a highway
using the order of a Magistrates Court to abolish the Right of Way on the grounds that "a nearer or more
commodious route now exists". It is solely up to the LHA to demonstrate this successfully to a
Magistrates Court and for the majority decision of that Court to apply. The Court is ultimate authority.
(Though potentially expensive right of appeal to the Crown Court exists) Right of Objection to the LHA
proposal exists by appearance at the Court - but need not be advertised as such. However LHA 's
receiving written or electronic objections must report these to the Court.
Objections should be primarily based on the loss of public amenity to be caused by any stopping up but
it is perfectly proper for other relevant considerations - such as heritage - to be raised at the same time.
It is considered rather naughty for a LHA to use Section 116, as objection primarily depends on
appearing at the Court oneself - which many are reluctant to do. . (However this backfired on Leicester
City Council, as no less than ninety objectors were anything but reluctant about Court appearance)
In a case in Stockport decided in December 2007 - the LHA used Section 116 and contended that
stopping up was necessary, as the Right of Way - an historic flight of steps - had become structurally
unsound due to disuse. However the Magistrates refused the admissibility of this, as the disuse was a
direct result of the LHA's own temporary stopping up orders and the structural condition the direct result
of lack of maintenance of their own property. (The Magistrates accused Stockport Metropolitan Borough
Council of “Ineptitude and indifference” and subsequently awarded the Ramblers Association £30,000
in damages)
If the Magistrates refuse to grant an order then the LHA can then only do what they should have done
all along - apply for a stopping up order using SECTION 118 of The Highways Act. This would be on the
grounds that "The right of way is not needed for public use". They can grant this to themselves and
there is no need to go to a Magistrates Court. Why then you ask did they not do this is the first place?
The answer is that should there be objections they must submit a Section 118 application to the
Secretary of State, who then becomes the deciding authority. If objections come from bodies such as
The Ramblers Association or the local Civic Society this inevitably precipitates a Public Local Enquiry.
(Which is the last thing the Council want.)
The Ramblers Association are campaigning against the rarely used Section 116, as they claim its puts
too great an onus on individuals to appear in a Court. It therefore discourages objection and hinders the
process of objectors getting a fair hearing”
On receipt of this advice the Society has published the following as its principal grounds of objection to
the stopping-up order.
1. ACCESS: Retention of the Right of Way over the Bowstring Bridge is the only factor that can retain
access from the Great Central Way to Castle Gardens and the whole of the historic riverside through
the Centre of the City, without pedestrians having to cross Western Boulevard. If the premise of this
application is that the footpath is no longer needed, then one can only wonder why the very recent
renewal of the Temporary Stopping-Up Order was made on the grounds of the bridge being unsafe. The
City Council has gone on public record on several occasions saying that the bridge is unsafe, yet
vehicular and pedestrian traffic continue to pass safely beneath.
2. HERITAGE: Retention of the Right of Way over the Bowstring Bridge is the only factor that serves to
protect the surviving townscape of the historic West End of the City, bridge, viaduct and pub, together
with the views of this townscape that the bridge uniquely provides, from loss. We believe that this
destruction is the hidden agenda of Leicester City Council in applying for this order, and as such has
nothing to do with their responsibility as Local Highways Authority. The application has been made on
the basis that the Great Central Way footpath is merely a means of getting from A to B, It is our
contention that access to the bridge and the views of the City that it provides is an end in itself and that
warrants retention of the footpath. Our petition regarding the preservation of the bridge demonstrates
the degree of popular support for the retention as a part of the City’s Heritage and as a valued public
amenity.
3. PRECEDENCE: We refer to a case decided before Stockport Magistrates in December 2007,
whereby it was ruled that the Local Highways Authority could not claim lack of use, as this was the
direct result of their own temporary stopping-up orders. Nor could they claim the structure concerned
was unsafe, as this was the direct result of their own deliberate failure to maintain their property.
Aerial View of the Bridge and viaduct circa 1930. The gigantic chimney of the CWS Shoe Factory that stood
opposite neatly bisects the pub, then known as the West End. A City bound tram is passing by. Local historian
Derek Hollingworth notes: “Kirby and West's dairy was built in 1934. The building on the photograph would have
been the dye works that stood there prior to that. The Great Central offices were built in 1898. The John Sandford
Sports Hall was built in 1909 as a roller skating rink. Between this and the railway was the Boulevard Electric and
Variety Theatre that was a cinema from 1910 to 1918. The building survived until the 1990s. Sturgess's car
showroom on Braunstone Gate was built in 1912”. Apologies to whoever sent us this photo. We are truly grateful.
The case was due to be heard before Leicester Magistrates Court on 4th June. However ninety
protesters turned up, which was four times the capacity of the largest available Court Room. The
Council’s representatives were clearly at a loss, as were the Magistrates. The Chairman of the Bench
said, “I’ve never seen so many people turn up at a Magistrates Court before” In the end the hearing was
postponed to be heard by a District Judge on 17th June.
This turned out to be first blood to the objectors, as the Council’s barrister argued that the Council
should not have to produce its case until it had seen what the objectors had to say. Judge Richard
Holland pointed out that the objectors had just as much right to see what the opposition was going to
say in advance as the Council had. The barrister then chose to argue this point, but the judge ruled that
the Council could have the right to comment further having seen the objectors case but the Council
must to put its primary case first.
At the hearing nine principal objecting bodies and a further forty private citizens registered their wish to
object. Judge Holland therefore directed as follows:
1. Any objectors wishing their objections to be considered at the final hearing must lodge at the Court
and with the applicant Council by 4.00pm on 22nd August 2008 a notice:
a. Specifying whether they wish their representatives to be heard in person at the final hearing
or whether they agree that those representations should be considered in writing.
b. Specifying what the grounds of their objection are, including any points of law (Including
case law) relied upon, and
c. Attaching any statement or statements of evidence as to facts to be relied upon.
2. Any group or groups of objectors may agree to ask the Court to consider their objections jointly. They
must comply with direction 1 as a group but must also provide a list of the names and addresses of all
of the individuals comprising the group and must nominate no more than two of their number to be
authorised to present the objections on behalf of the whole group.
3. The applicant Council must lodge at Court by 4.00pm on 1st August 2008 a bundle of all statements
of evidence relied upon together with a statement of the grounds of the application and of compliance
with statutory provisions, clearly setting out any legal provisions relied upon, including case law.
4. The documents lodged by the Council will be available for inspection by any party reasonably
requiring to do so at the Court office within normal working hours up to the final hearing.
5. The Council must provide a copy of the documents lodged under direction 4 to any party or potential
party reasonably requiring it.
6. Any legal representative appointed to act on behalf of any objector or group of objectors must notify
the Court and the Council not later than 4.00pm on 5th September 2008 that they are acting in this case
and that they are aware of these directions.
7. The Council may, if they choose, lodge further statements and arguments, in response to the
objections, with the Court by no later than 4.00pm on 5th September 2008.
8. The Council will provide a paginated and indexed final hearing bundle containing the following:
a. Case Summary.
b. Documents and witness statements relied upon by the Council.
c. Statements of evidence received from objectors.
d. Statements of objection received from objectors.
This bundle must be filed at Court and served on all objectors or group representatives who have
indicated their wish to be heard in person at the final hearing by 4.00pm on 23rd September 2008.
9. No documents or statements may be lodged without leave of the Court after the dates specified in
these directions.
10. Any party failing to comply with these directions may, within the discretion of the court, be prevented
from adducing evidence or presenting arguments or grounds of objection not lodged in compliance with
these directions.
11. The matter to be listed for final hearing on Tuesday 7th October at 10.00am at Leicester Magistrates
Court with a time estimate of 3 days.
Richard Holland
District Judge (Magistrates Court)
17th June 2008
The principal objecting bodies are:
1. Leicester Campaign for Better Transport.
2. Leicester Civic Society.
3. The Leicester Facebook Campaign.
4.Leicester & Leics. Footpaths Association.
5. Leicestershire Industrial History Society.
6. The Pump & Tap Landlord, on behalf of himself, his
staff and his customers.
7. The Pump & Tap Musicians.
8. The Ramblers Association.
9. The Victorian Society. (Leicester Group)
A FUTURE FOR THE MARKET PLACE?
NO FUTURE FOR BELGRAVE FLYOVER
Leicester Civic Society has warmly welcomed the
City Council decision to keep the market in the
Market Place and has written in support of the
concept to Councillor Connolly. We believe that
Leicester Market needs a few simple and
relatively easy things that would yield
great improvements. Moveable stalls and an
ever changing, flexible layout dependant on
traders needs would be the first and most
obvious change for the better. Stalls half
occupied and a dreary expanse of empty and
grubby stalls when the market is not in progress
are the last things that the centre of Leicester
needs. The market was open-plan for 650 years
before fixed stalls and canopies were first
introduced in 1932. These were eventually
replaced by the ‘egg-box’ market with its
infamous leaky roof, and then the current market,
clear winner of an architectural competition but
now looking tired.
It was built in 1973. It is probably the largest and
ugliest thing ever built in Leicester and only half
of it has ever been used. What is it? That’s right
it’s the Belgrave Flyover. At the time it had to be
built as a dual-carriageway to enable the
Highways Authority to gain the necessary Central
Government grant. But only a single-carriageway
was needed and only a single-carriageway has
ever been used. Building the thing meant
bulldozing a whole neighbourhood and this was
roundly condemned by the Civic Society at the
time. It now looks as if we might have been right
all along, as the City Council is considering
proposals for its removal. We have of course
written in support to the Lord Mayor, Councillor
Sood as a councillor for Latimer Ward.
Another big improvement would be to remove the
circuit of noisy, dirty roadway - often packed with
noisy, dirty and smelly rubbish lorries - that
encircles the market and cuts it off from its
surrounding buildings. Even Belvior Street has
gained from open-air bars and restaurants. But
the Market Place - the one area that could be
really transformed by these - seems
forever isolated by this dreadful roadway.
One thing the market does not need is a 'big
build' response with new buildings and structures
inside the Market Place. This would inevitably be
expensive - and universally hated within at least
a generation.
There are of course problems - such as what to
do about the indoor market - but it would be
worth while the Council seeing how others have
done it. The National Association of British
Market Authorities 2007 Awards went to market
design improvements in Dewsbury (1st) and
Newark (2nd) so they wouldn't have too far to go.
Of course the Council will need to resurface the
Market Place, (Chance for a really innovative
design) which will involve them having to take an
awful lot of stick! But - as with their other
pedestrianisation achievements in the City
Centre - not from the Civic Society.
The big advantage of removing the flyover is that
Leicester’s increasingly famous “Golden Mile”,
now isolated to the north of Belgrave Gate, could
be extended southwards to the very heart of our
City. Councillors have even been overheard
talking about a tree-lined boulevard as
replacement.
Real regeneration at last!
CITY OF NO SUBWAYS
Leicester City Council proposes to abolish the
Granby Street Subway that currently offers the
intrepid visitor to Leicester a malodorous link
between the Midland Station and the City Centre.
It has finally been realised that this was not a
good idea, despite the fact that twenty years ago
we were all assured that this subway would be
somehow different. It would have gates – which
were apparently never used. It would have CCTV
– which apparently never worked. The simple fact
is that this subway isn’t any different from the rest
and the drunks, beggars and drug addicts are
regularly out in force to prove the point.
With the St. Margaret’s and Magazine Gateway
Subways things of the past, the quicker this one
goes the better. Then Leicester will happily have
no subways and perhaps the most dreadful urban
design error of the 1960’s and 70’s will have
been safely consigned to the dustbin of history.
And we do mean dustbin!
Lost northern half of the Castle Conservation Area as published by Leicester City Council. The
Listed Buildings at West Bridge, Talbot Lane, The Vaughan College, Jewry Wall and Church of St.
Nicholas are clearly shown but the Scheduled Ancient Monument Site, of higher status than the
listings and that embraces the Church, Churchyard and Roman Baths Site, has been omitted.
Crown Copyright. All rights reserved.
CITY COUNCIL TRASH CONSERVATION AREA
Leicester City Council has carried out its threat to substantially reduce the size of what was the Castle
Gardens Conservation Area, effectively creating a newly defined “Castle Conservation Area”. This has
been extended southwards to include most of the De Montfort University redevelopment site whilst
removing the conservation area status of arguably the most historically important part of the ancient
town, Talbot Lane, The Roman Baths Site, the Saxon Church of St. Nicholas and its ancient church
yard, which is aligned on the underlying Roman Street Plan.
The site is a Scheduled Ancient Monument, a designation that outranks the listing of individual
buildings. Although the SAM site at the Castle and Castle Gardens is clearly shown on the published
map, the SAM site that includes the Roman Baths and the Saxon Churchyard was omitted. The Council
may vary CA boundaries as it wishes but thankfully has no say over Scheduled Ancient Monuments.
Leicester City Council argues that the protection afforded by most of the buildings being listed and most
of the site being a SAM means that CA status is unnecessary. However the site has been inside a
conservation area for the last thirty-nine years and CA status confers a totally different kind of protection
whereby the Local Authority is responsible for the retention and improvement of the area’s character.
This has already been damaged by totally inappropriate new street lights in Talbot Lane. The Council
also said that it would protect the unlisted houses in Talbot Lane by creating a direction under Article 4
of the 1990 Town & Country Planning Act but has apparently failed to do so. This now leaves most of
the west side of Talbot Lane totally unprotected from inappropriate development.
Leicester Civic Society suspects a hidden agenda whereby the ‘neck’ of former CA between Bath Lane
and St. Nicholas Circle is now safely available should someone want to submit a planning application
for another sky-scraper.
Naturally we call for a “Jewry Wall Conservation Area” to restore the CA status of the site.
STATUE OF LIBERTY
Photo: Parish of The Resurrection
ST. PETER’S BELGRAVE
Leicester boasts no less than six ancient
villages absorbed into the modern city. All six
are conservation areas, all have the local hall
or manor house, all have the local pub, all have
the parish church and one even has the village
green. They are a remarkable survival and we
tend to take them for granted. That is until this
heritage is put under threat. Readers will be
well aware of our anxiety over the future of
Braunstone Hall but now the future of one of
our village parish churches is threatened.
“Give us our Liberty back”, proclaimed the
Leicester Mercury. Proposals are now afoot to
rescue Leicester’s very own Statue of Liberty
from the ignominy of a skip on Eastern
Boulevard. The statue was removed from the
original building when Leicester City Council
had it de-listed (Well done!) prior to demolition
and replacement by a block of student flats.
(There is of course a serious shortage!) The
developers, having agreed to re-erect it on the
rooftop corner of the new building, then said
they couldn’t, as despite assurances to the
contrary, they hadn’t built it strong enough to
take the weight.
The statue was a symbol of the lost Liberty
Shoe works for over sixty years and therefore
the surviving symbol of our history as a boot
and shoe manufacturing City.
The Council now propose to either erect a
lightweight replica on the new building, which
the Civic Society has condemned as a rather
silly idea, (Do we just throw away the 1929
original?) or re-erect the statue on a plinth in a
new traffic island by Eastern Boulevard, which
we have warmly and publicly welcomed.
St. Peter’s Belgrave is said to have been there
since 1087, though a church may have existed
for at least three hundred years before this.
The present building dates largely from the
13th, 14th and 19th centuries. It is therefore quite
extraordinary, given such a history that the
future of the church building is under threat
from a wholly contemporary reorganisation that
may prove to be of a temporary nature. The
current C of E Parish of the Resurrection has
three churches, which is apparently one church
too many and the Parochial Church Council
appears to be under some pressure to rid itself
of the mother church of the parish and all that
this implies for loss of the continuity of faith and
worship in the parish from it’s ancient past to
the present day.
Leicester Civic Society is not prepared to stand
idly by whilst this historic building is under
threat and will be doing all that it can to help
local parishioners fight to retain St. Peters in
the face of decisions that may have more to do
with the current politics of the parish than any
genuine concern for its heritage.
The slightly better known original!
LEICESTER SECULAR HALL
- A UNIQUE ASSET
Allan Hayes, President,
Leicester Secular Society
refreshment room: Second floor and above:
domestic accommodation for the family of the
resident housekeeper: Ventilation was given
particular attention, as was called for in a time of
gas lighting. It surprises some that amongst the
busts of Freethinkers on the façade we find
Jesus along with Robert Owen, Thomas Paine,
Voltaire and Socrates.
Continuity of use, existence of archives
documenting the funding of the building and
involvement of local and national figures
throughout its history enhance the building’s
significance. Today the basement is used by a
karate club; the first floor by a dance school and
the original bookshop is a management school.
These activities and room hire provide the main
part of the Society’s income. The Society mainly
uses the ground floor library.
Leicester Secular Society was formed in 1851
and Leicester Secular Hall opened in 1881.
Together they form a unique link with the City’s
tradition of radicalism and idealism.
George Jacob Holyoake, a founding member of
the Society, was prosecuted in the last trial for
atheism and gaoled for six months in 1842.
Charles Bradlaugh, a principal speaker at the
opening of the Hall, would go on to secure the
right to affirm instead of swear allegiance to the
Crown. (But only after having been elected MP
for Northampton four times before being allowed
to take his seat). In 1877 he and Annie Besant
were prosecuted for advocating birth control.
In 1873, to secure premises for the Society’s
activities, the Leicester Secular Hall Company
was formed. Josiah Gimson, a mechanical
engineer with his own business in Leicester was
the leading investor. The architect W. Larner
Sugden was engaged and the Hall was
completed in 1881.
The main spaces and their uses were: Basement:
bowling alley, beer and meat store, boiler room
and coal store: Ground level: club room (library),
committee room, and bookshop: First floor:
lecture/concert hall (large balcony and stainedglass window to the north, rostrum and choir
gallery to the south, dado of decorative tiles
donated by William Morris), retiring room and
The Society is flourishing, with some fifty
meetings a year and an increasing membership,
rooms are in demand, and we are reaching out to
other organisations in the City. The big task
ahead is to conserve and update the building and
guarantee sufficient income for its maintenance.
We are looking to the Heritage Lottery Fund to
provide the major part of the money but more will
be needed. Meanwhile we continue day-to-day
maintenance and recently added £11k to grants
from English Heritage and the City Council to pay
over £30k for roof repairs.
There will be an opportunity to tour the Hall as
part of Civic Trust Heritage Open Days on
September 14th, from 10am to 6.pm when we will
be putting on exhibitions, conducted tours, live
music, refreshments and other activities.
(Including the Civic Society Exhibition - Ed)
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
THOMAS COOK’S TEMPERANCE HOTEL
The Leicester Group of the Victorian Society
continue to advertise the plight of the World’s first
tourist hotel, over a year after planning
permission was granted for demolition. Far from
relenting in their campaign, they have now
attracted over two thousand signatures on a
petition and intend to present this to the current
owners with as much publicity as possible.
Regulated by The Law Society
**************************************
LEICESTER: 3 De Montfort Street, Leicester LE1 7GE. Phone: 0116-255-7566
WIGSTON: 158 Leicester Road, Wigston. Telephone: 0116-288-8988
OADBY: 22 The Parade, Oadby LE18 1DS. Telephone: 0116-271-4129
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
VAUGHAN ARCHAEOLOGICAL & HISTORICAL SOCIETY
DIAMOND JUBILEE 1948-2008
PROGRAMME OF AUTUMN OUTINGS
Thursday 14th August: St. John the Baptist, Kings Norton.
Described as a “fiesta of pinnacles and pointed arches”, W. G. Hoskins said,
“this church is almost cathedral like as one first sees it across the fields.”
Meet at the church at 6.00pm.
Thursday 11th September: Leicester’s Forgotten Museum.
The Leicester Royal Infirmary, Museum & Victorian Chapel.
Meet at the LRI Museum at 2.00pm.
Cost £2.00 per person.
Bookings to: Gerry Stacey, 1 Grove Park, Burbage,
Leicestershire LE10 2BJ.
Ph: 01455 636686
THE BOOKINGS PAGE
Please photocopy this page if you do not want to cut your Journal.
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CROMFORD CANAL & ARKWRIGHT MILLS ON SATURDAY 6th SEPTEMBER 2008.
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NAME_________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS_____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________POSTCODE____________________
PLEASE RESERVE _______PLACES ON THE GUIDED WALK “ROMAN LEICESTER” ON
SATURDAY 27th SEPTEMBER 2008.
I ENCLOSE _____________IN FULL PAYMENT.
NAME_________________________________________________________________________
ADDRESS_____________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________POSTCODE____________________
ADVANCE BOOKING IS ESSENTIAL FOR THE ABOVE EVENTS AND SHOULD BE MADE TO:
STUART BAILEY, 48 MEADOW AVENUE, LOUGHBOROUGH, LEICESTERSHIRE LE11 1JT.
CHEQUES SHOULD BE MADE PAYABLE TO “LEICESTER CIVIC SOCIETY”.
CIVIC SOCIETY SOCIAL FUND
Members are reminded of the Civic Society Social Fund. This enables you to deposit money
in advance and at any time with our Treasurer. This money will be held under your name
and can then be drawn upon to pay for events. As an extreme example £7.45 per month
deposited with the Social Fund would pay for every event for a year including the annual
dinner and awards dinner. You can however pay as much or as little as you like into the
fund whenever you wish. Simply write to our Hon. Treasurer, Gordon Goode, 53 Cort
Crescent Leicester LE3 1QJ. Cheques should be made payable to “Leicester Civic Society”.
MEMBERSHIP BY GIFT VOUCHER
Make a gift of Civic Society membership to a friend or relative. Send us the voucher below with
your payment and we will write to them with the good news and the latest issue of LEICESTER
CITIZEN. You can choose whether or not to make your gift anonymous.
Name ………………………………………………………………………….
Address ……………………………………………………………………….
……………………………………….Post code………………….
To: Gordon Goode, 53 Cort Crescent, Leicester LE3 1QJ. Please give one year of
full membership at £7.00, household at £11.00 or concession membership at £6.00
(Students, Senior Citizens or Unwaged) to:
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I enclose cheque for the appropriate amount, payable to ‘Leicester Civic Society’.
Please DO/DO NOT (Delete as applicable) give my name to the recipient of this gift.
The Mile Straight
THE FATE OF THE SOAR IN THE CENTRE OF LEICESTER
Old West Bridge looking upstream in 1825. The well known drawing by John Flower was done from the
parapet on the corner with Bath Lane to the left hand side of the bridge in this picture.
Researched, Written, Illustrated and designed by Roger N. Hutchinson, this book has been created to bring the
geography and history of Leicester’s waterways to life for the people of the city. Roger, an artist and local
historian has spent years travelling along the navigation and the ‘old Soar’ and the book features many of his
own photos and those of many other contributors plus rare Victorian photos - some never published, restored by
Roger. Special features are his own pen and ink sketches that are composed from careful research and bring to
life scenes of long lost riverside Leicester. A series of 4 maps show the last 300 years of man’s struggle to
tame this river so he could utilise its power, use it as navigation, and as a drain! Once corseted into the Mile
Straight, the expanding industrial city flocked to its’ edge and it started again as these industries faded away to
be replaced with new developments. Ducking stools, murder weapons and royal bones are all investigated with
some surprising conclusions that challenge the orthodox views. Roger N. Hutchinson, 0116 2914821 email
rogerhutchinson@ntlworld.com 39 Hazel Street, Leicester, LE2 7JN.
Our reviewer adds: This 40 page A4 book is an absolute gold mine of historical information, facts, figures, maps,
photos and Roger’s exceptional drawings that cover two thousand years of Leicester’s Historic Riverside. True to
form Roger pulls no punches when he reaches the 21st Century:
“Time has clearly proved that Leicester’s river frontage is adaptable and capable of being transformed for the
better. Bold and imaginative regeneration schemes that serve everyone and enhance the local economy and
environment are not the proposed self-contained sky-scrapers that will cast a deep shadow over the built
heritage and funnel their profits overseas”
Wonderful stuff!
LEICESTER CIVIC SOCIETY
SATURDAY 6TH SEPTEMBER 2008
CRICH TRAMWAY VILLAGE
& NATIONAL TRAMWAY MUSEUM
THE ARKWRIGHT MILLS CROMFORD & MATLOCK BATH
INCLUDES ADMISSION TO CRICH, UNLIMITED FREE RIDES ON VINTAGE TRAMS, ADMISSION
TO MUSEUM AT ARKWRIGHT 1783 MILL, MATLOCK BATH. OPTIONAL GUIDED WALK OF
THE CROMFORD CANAL & ARKWRIGHT 1771 MILL, CROMFORD.
A FULL ITINERARY WILL BE ISSUED
COACH DEPARTS: HUMBERSTONE GATE (Secular Hall)
BIRSTALL (Station Road)
RETURNING AT 5.50 and 6.00PM
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9.30AM
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CONCESSION: £24.50 (CIVIC SOCIETY MEMBERS £22.50) Senior Citizens, Students, Unwaged.
SEE THE BOOKINGS PAGE