Illston-on-the-Hill WI
After a non-starter meeting in January due to snow, February brought Richard Warren to Illston-on-the-Hill WI to talk to us about ‘Walks and Talks in Leicester’.
Richard is a former police officer who served in the Highfields area of Leicester. He developed a deep appreciation for architecture during his time there. Surrounded by the stunning Georgian and Victorian houses of the neighbourhood, he found himself fascinated by the city’s architectural history and character.
Leicester, one of the oldest cities in England, has a rich and varied past. During Richard’s talk, we learned about the striking contrasts between the lives of the wealthy and the poor. This was particularly during the Industrial Revolution. England was the centre of the woollen industry. As industry thrived, households doubled in number and the population trebled. To accommodate this rapid growth, new homes were built – often three storeys high and sometimes even four – with different families occupying each floor.
Richard also shared intriguing details from the world of construction. The term ‘footings’ originated from the fact that many house foundations were literally one foot deep.
He explained how Leicester’s landscape shaped many of its place names. Once a small town surrounded by open fields, areas such as Southfields and Highfields took their names from their geography – ‘Southfields’ referring to the fields to the south and ‘Highfields’ to the elevated land overlooking them. Similarly, the former workhouse, built on the crest of a hill was fittingly named ‘Hillcrest’.
Richard’s talk was both fascinating and enlightening, making familiar street names and landmarks suddenly take on a new meaning. Full of historical insights and local stories, his presentation brought Leicester’s past vividly to life. In addition to giving talks, Richard also leads guided walks around the city, offering a wonderful way to explore Leicester’s unique heritage up close.
We ended our meeting in the normal way, with delicious cakes and coffee.
Jane Shute
Planning – Application Summary
