Leicester

A joke told at Richard III’s lying-in-state at Leicester Cathedral in 2015 — It is estimated that 20,000 people queued up to file past the coffin of King Richard III during the three days prior to his reburial in Leicester Cathedral in 2015. …

It’s a spooky part of town, apparently! The city of Leicester, in the East Midlands of England, has a very long history, going back to Roman times. Many buildings in the city centre were built hundreds of years ago and were mercifully spared from wartime bombing. …

Believe the stories if you like! — Leicester’s Welford Road Cemetery was created in 1855. A William Biggs purchased 17 acres of land on Knighton Hill. Later, the borough took over and created a cemetery that was half-consecrated for Anglicans and half-unconsecrated for the rest. By 1870 more land was needed. Compulsory purchase of a brickworks nearby…

A ghostly apparition following a murder in Leicester — The Blue Boar lnn stood on Leicester’s old High Street, which today is part of Highcross Street, opposite Freeschool Lane. In medieval times it was called Dead Lane. The inn was originally called the White Boar. King Richard lll stayed there on the eve of the Battle of Bosworth, which…

Do you want a try your hand at ghost watching? — The Leicester Guildhall was built around 1390 by the Gild of Corpus Christi, a lay religious body. In 1563, the building was bought by the Leicestershire Corporation, and it has been used for many purposes down the centuries. Much of Shakespeare’s work was acted out in the Great Hall during…

A look at the city of Leicester and the surrounding area during Roman times — This is a summary of the history of Leicester and the surrounding countryside during the period of Roman occupation (up to 410 AD). Roman Leicester The city of Leicester was an important place in Roman Britain, and the countryside around it was settled by people who became Romanized and contributed…

This empty lot used to be Pat’s Newsagents, this picture was taken by me two years ago on my last visit to Leicester whilst having a walk around my childhood home. …

Personal Memories Meet me at the Clock Tower!

An important event for Leicester and district — The pictures that accompany this article were taken by me on Tuesday 24th March 2015, during the week of King Richard III’s reburial in Leicester Cathedral. This was an important event that took place almost on my doorstep. An added feature of the event, that affected me directly, was that…