Saturday 27 July 2024
LAHS at John Lewis - Today. Walking Event and Quiz with Answers
Take a walk round 17 of our nearest listed buildings and uncover some of Leicester’s heritage (with optional quiz!)
17 Leicester Listed Buildings Circular Walk. Contains OS Open Data © Crown Copyright (database right) 2024, licensed under Open Government Licence 3.0. Created by M Beamish 26/07/24
Start the walk by going over the walkway to the car park, down the stairs and turn left and left again. Walk through the graveyard garden to look at the first listed building...
1. LB1074012 All Saints church is one of Leicester oldest churches, probably one of 6 mentioned in the Domesday book. It has a 12th century west doorway and 15th century doors. Look at the colourful 1620 ‘parish clock’ , one of the oldest in the country, above the south door.
Which famous Artist’s work has been ‘displayed’ there?.......Van Gogh..............................................
Did you know it is the home to orphaned War memorials? See our website for more info.
https://lahs.org.uk/blog/at-the-going-down-of-the-sun
https://lahs.org.uk/news/lost-war-memorial-comes-home
2. LB1361427 107–09 High Cross Street, next door to All Saints church are two early 19th century buildings with intact Victorian shop windows. These are linked by an archway. What do you think this was used for?..................Carriages.....................................................
Walk down to Cumberland Street/Long Lane then turn into Burgess street and view the next building on Junior street to your left.
3. LB1391114 The former Richard Roberts building, a good example of a decorative factory, is now housing. What famous Leicester product do you think was made there?. Socks.....................................
Cross Vaughan way and head up East Bond Street to look at the next group of buildings. Walk down Darker street on your left.
4. LB1250052 3 Darker street. This is the Master Hosiers house and workshop dating to the 1850s, a rare survivor of one of the city’s major industries.
Re-join East Bond Street then turn left onto Butt Close and look at
5. LB1361401 18th century wall. This red brick wall is built on top of a rubble wall, which is said to be part of the old town wall. This would have originally completely surrounded the medieval city.
From here you can get the best view of another listed building...
6. LB 1250261 Warehouse. This is a hidden gem! A unique timber framed five storey warehouse, originally used for drying timber, built to the rear of highly decorative 66 Churchgate.
Rejoin East Bond Street and head towards the Highcross centre
7. LB 1183504 Unitarian Chapel. Built in 1707 it is listed as one of the earliest important brick buildings in Leicester. Originally the great meeting house, one of a few non-conformist chapels, it became a Unitarian chapel in the 19th century, and is still used for its original purpose.
8. LB 1074038 Former Great Meeting school. Built in 1859 the school was associated with the chapel and is built on the site of a building dated 1708.
Go through the Highcross shopping centre to the Shires Lane (Post office) exit for the next group of buildings on High Street.
9. LB 1270257 Coronation buildings. These were designed by a prominent local architect Arthur Wakely and was the midland headquarters and showroom for Singer sewing machines until c.1965. Built in c1903, It’s a rare well-preserved example of Edwardian commercial property with Art Nouveau details. Above the seven original shopfronts are faience panels with 6 cartouches representing (L–R) Australia, Egypt, Canada, India, Burma and Africa. The central arched roof window originally housed a statue of Britannia.
Can you see the six animals that represent each Country? AUSTRALIA – Kangaroo, EGYPT a camel, CANADA –mountain lion, INDIA a tiger, BURMAH an elephant and AFRICA an ostrich...............................
Turn toward the Clock Tower and then on to Carts Lane.
10. LB1389406 58 High street is on the corner. Built in 1903 By AE Sawday for TE Butler, Son and Co., chemists. It’s a good example of the Free classical style with Art Nouveau details, including the chemist related decorative panels on 1st and 2nd floor façade.
What equipment is depicted on the mural? ......Mortar and pestle.......................................................
Continue along Carts Lane, and then turn right along Guildhall Lane.
You will pass the St Martin’s Cathedral on your right which is LB1183725 and Grade II* listed. There is so much to see we haven’t included it on this list.
11. Just beyond St Martin’s West is Leicester’s celebrated Grade I listed Guildhall LB1361405, a medieval Guildhall, built for the Corpus Christi Guild around 1390, enlarged in the 15th Century with a domestic wing added around 1836; the Guildhall now functions as a museum, gallery and entertainment venue.
Which organisation was central to a campaign to save the building in the 1920s? ………………………………..Leicestershire Archaeological & Historical Society.
See https://www.leicestermuseums.o...
Continue along Guildhall Lane to Applegate
12. Here is the wonderful Wyggeston’s house LB1074008 which was built in 1490 and extended in the Georgian period. Wyggeston’s house was originally a timber-framed merchant’s house of around 1490: it has been extensively remodelled and seen many changes in its 530-year life. It is now a bar and restaurant.
See https://www.storyofleicester.info/a-place-to-live/wygston-s-house/
Walk north up Applegate and along St Nicholas Place, with Jubilee Square on your left.
13. You will come to the LB 1184956 The High Cross on your left. This was originally one of eight columns supporting a domed building at the junction of High Street and Highcross Street, in the medieval heart of the city. The building, also known as High Cross, was constructed in 1577 to provide shelter for market traders. After is demolition in 1773 one column was saved and after several moves, was positioned close to the market’s location on Jubilee square in 2014.
Walk down Highcross street for our final buildings
14. On your right is LB 1250176 former High Cross Coffee house. Built in 1895 by Edward Burgess with attractive pargeted panels. Leicester Coffee and cocoa co. ltd. was part of the Temperance movement, designed to stop people drinking alcohol. The company had three houses (the others were on East Gates and Granby street) and Thomas Cook was one of its founding members. I’m not sure they would be pleased that its now a pub!
Do you know where a) the Thomas Cook building is & b) his statue?...Gallowtree gate, Train Station.......................................................
15. LB 1074010 21 &23 High cross Street. Early 18th century shop, handily dated with decorative brickwork! The rear of the building contains part of the wall of the Borough Gaol.
Which other prominent Leicester building was used as a gaol?...Guildhall......................................................
16. LB1361426 Old Grammar School. One of Leicester’s building gems, the school was built in 1573 as the Queen Elzabeth Grammar school. It remained a school until 1841 when it was closed due to falling pupil numbers. Now fully restored and housing a restaurant, it was once Bartons bus offices and then used as a car park office!
See https://www.storyofleicester.info/civic-affairs/free-grammar-school/
17. LB 1074011 59 High Cross Street. To finish, a fine example of a five bay, 2 storey Georgian townhouse. It retains its exterior façade, as well as many original interior features, such as marble fireplaces and cornices intact.
John Lewis is to your left. We hope you enjoyed the walk! These are just some of Leicester’s historic buildings.
To find out more about Leicester and Leicestershire past visit our website at https://lahs.org.uk