South Wigston, Leicestershire

Basset Street School

I remember this school so well, my first born went to this school in 1983 and so did my daughter, it's a shame they pulled part of it down. I remember walking the children over to what is now the infant school to use their swimming pool, later when they pulled some of the old school down the children were moved... [more]

Starting School and Pastimes post war

I remember starting infants school at Bassett Street School. Here there were 3 separate schools, one for infants, one for junior girls and one for junior boys all up to the age of 11 years. We had to drink milk from small bottles. In the winter the milk would freeze and push the bottle top off and in summer it would... [more]

Happy childhood days

When I was about 6-7 years old we lived in Lansdowne Grove ( 1 mile approx) and Crow Mills was a favorite place to come and fish for minnows and frog spawn. The summers seemed endless and jam jars were a precious item to us as they were needed to bring home the results of the days exploits. I think the... [more]

South Wigston, Gloucester Crescent

I moved to South Wigston in 1978 as a newly wed, I lived on Marstown Avenue which then was a two way road, and very busy, and I remember using these shops all the time. I used to do my shopping in what is now called Jacksons and is a Sainsburys shop. I notice looking at the picture of the 1960s... [more]

above shop flats

1963: We were so desperate for somewhere to live when we got married that we almost signed up for one of the upstairs flats above the shops. The flats were brand new and looked very attractive back then. The the reality set in that we couldn't afford it and we ended up renting a flat off the Narborough Road in the... [more]

Blaby Road west end

This view is not much different from the forties. This photo has been taken from outside Rawlinsons butchers shop to the right and St Thomas's church to the left ( both out of shot). The first shop to the right is Eric Holmes Cycle shop. Eric Holmes Jnr was a school friend of mine and we both attended Basset Street Juniors(just... [more]

Leicester Photographic Memories

No-one could pretend that this scene is one of romantic beauty, but this long row of late 19th-century terraced houses with its excellent corner shop has a well mannered charm. Bootscrapers, timber-sashed windows and moulded brick arched heads to the ground floor windows and doors provide a quality so often lacking in modern housing. Sadly, every brick and tile has gone, to make space in true Wigston style for an... [more]

Leicestershire & Rutland Living Memories

These red brick terraces were built to house the employees of hosiery and shoe manufacturers at the turn of the century.

Leicester Photographic Memories

The three-storey framed building on the left must have been very new when this photograph was taken. As Alpha House, it remains little changed, along with its close neighbour, St Mary's Roman Catholic Church. The major change is confined to the introduction of industrial units on the semi-open ground to the right. As in almost every other photograph, the lack of cars is striking. ... [more]