Thursday 16 October 2025 at 7.30pm

Edwardian Leicester

Social Historian and Author, LAHS Newsletter and Reviews Editor, Cynthia Brown.

Suffragette Meeting c.1910 Market Place, Leicester. Image Courtesy of the East Midlands Oral History Archive

The Edwardian period in Leicester, loosely defined here as 1901 – 1914, was both eventful and formative for the future – not least as a centre of campaigns for votes for women. Although outwardly a ‘growing and thriving’ town, the prosperity enjoyed by many existed alongside the poverty, poor health, substandard housing and long-term unemployment experienced by others. This talk will consider how these issues were addressed, and with what success. It will also explore the lighter side of Edwardian life in the town, from its theatres, music halls and cinemas, to the novelty of the ‘Homecoming to Leicester’ event in 1910, when around 300 ‘exiles’ returned to the ‘grand old town’ from all over the world for a week of festivities.

Location: to be confirmed