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Belgrave

Belgrave maps

Historic maps of Belgrave and the local area, hand-drawn by Ordnance Survey and Samuel Lewis.   View all Belgrave maps

Belgrave area books

Displaying 1 of 9 books about Belgrave and the local area.   View all books for this area

Memories of Belgrave

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Leicestershire memories

School Dance Display

De Montfort Hall, Regent Road c1955
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The Wyggeston Girls Grammar School put on a Dance display for Parents. I remember my mum & younger sister coming to watch and my friend and I took them to a local espresso bar afterwards.
I also recall a visit with my dad to see Swan Lake c1949.
And I've seen Ray Charles a couple of times in the 60s, also Oscar Peterson, Jacques Loussier, and Elton John at the start of his career.
I haven't lived in Leicester for many years. All ths events took place in the 50s/60s.
Though I did see the Russian Ballet c1990.

Lunch at The Pavilion

The Pavilion, Victoria Park, London Road c1965
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I was at Wyggy Boys School from 1961 to 68. Usually I went home for dinner (which we always had mid-day) as my father worked nearby and took me. But if he wasn't going home I used to meet my mother or grandmother and have lunch in the pavilion, Usually it was egg and chips for 1s.6d. and a Lyons fruit pie for 6d. No drink because it was too extravagent to buy drinks in a cafe! Sometimes I went round the Vicky Park greenhouses with my grandma before going back to school.
I also used to pass the pavilion on cross-country practice runs round Vicky Park.

New Years Eve

Clock Tower And Belgrave Gate c1955
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I think it was possibly 1957 when I was at the Clock Tower seeing the New Year in! Lots of fun and no trouble as I remember.

Memories of Life

Clock Tower And Belgrave Gate c1955
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I was born in 1942 and spent my childhood years living in the way road area of the city.  My brother and I were lucky enough to have a family living directly behind us in Homefield Avenue (I think that is what it was called) there were three children. We used to spend many happy hours playing in the brook at the bottom of the garden getting very wet and kindly neighbours used to dry us out so we did not get into trouble. I think I can honestly say that we all had a happy childhood, most of the time was spent outside making our own fun. Our friends' family had a little wooden cabin out at Woodhouse Eves and we used to have weekends there visiting Bradgate Park, which I still do from time to time. When I visit now, we also go to Gibsons Grey Lady. Something else that I remember well was going into town with my mother and Aunt and visiting the shop that is... Read more

Thomas PritchardChief Constable Circa 1780s

Police Station, Charles Street c1955
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My wife Merlyn's great, great, grand uncle, Thomas Pritchard, held the position of Chief Constable in Leicester during the 1770s to 1790s. He had seven sons, and the youngest, Thomas, migrated to Australia in the Horizon and settled in Bendigo, Victoria in 1857, as a result of the gold rush. He married a Mary Stevenson in Bendigo in 1862, who was born in Leicester. Thomas and Mary had seven children, the first one, died. Thomas was a carpenter and bought and built a home in Stewart Street In 1890 Thomas joined with a colleague Chamberlain to form Pritchard and Chamberlain, Bendigo United Brewery. He relocated to Lucan Street in 1880's. His son Thomas Pritchard joined the firm. He was a well known opera singer in Bendigo. He named his house Leicester after his wife's birthplace. The Pritchard family were highly respected as was demonstrated at the funeral cortege of Thomas when he died at the age of 71 and whose passing was widely reported in both local papers.... Read more

De Montfort Rocked

De Montfort Hall, Regent Road c1955
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Good to see DeMontfort Hall as it used to be. It was a great venue to see bands there. Once the small blues clubs had ran their course bands needed larger venues to ply their trade, De Montfort was one of the first, I saw Rory Gallagher, John Hiseman's Collesseum,Yes, Sutherland Brothers/Quiver and never to be forgotten Free (when they reformed briefly) the last band I ever saw before the modernisation of the hall was Uriah Heep with a rather drunk David Byron fronting the band. Other major bands to visit DeMontfort were Genesis, Supertramp and the most under rated bunch of musicians to ever grace these shores The Sensational Alex Harvey Band (God rest his soul)
Today Demontfort is an all seater venue, no more standing on the dance floor! I liked the venue but on my last visit it had become a bit sterile with anyone wishing to show any emotion for the music rocking awkwardly in their seats. I'm afraid DeMontfort has obviously needed a make over... Read more

Fond Memories of Wyggy Girls'

Wyggeston Girls School c1950
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I well remember starting at Wyggeston Girls' Grammar School in Sept 1968 with my new shiny leather satchel. I was so proud of my black velour hat, black gloves, and 'sensible lace-up shoes'.  It had been my ambition to go to Wyggy Girls' from the age of five, when a girl visited class 1, St Joseph's Primary School, Armadale Drive. I fell in love with the uniform. I was so thrilled when I found out I had won a place there! Miss Pedley, our headmistress, certainly knew how to keep control of us. Even the teachers used to tremble! What a great education I got, the very best. It gave me a love of literature, and the French language. What a shame when I visited it in 2003, from New Zealand, where I now live. Miss Pedley would have been outraged at the litter around the grounds! Still, I have very fond memories of old Wyggy Girls'.

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