About me

The Loughborough tour guides award presentations
Having been a librarian for 32 years, and a mother for 21 years, in 2011-12 I trained to be a tour guide, and in April 2013 I became an Accredited Leicestershire Tour Guide, along with four other people from Loughborough. 

Together we are still walking the streets of Loughborough, showing interested folks all those things about Loughborough that might have escaped their notice, ranging from the sites of Zeppelin bombings during WW1, through the former home of the Lord of the Manor, the former rectory and the guildhall, to society meeting places, pubs, theatres, cinemas, and sculptures, as well as university sites, former industrial buildings, and Loughborough's Art Deco heritage. 

If you would like me to lead a walk for your group, or for a private event, I am happy to do so. Standard walks on offer include Loughborough Pubs, Loughborough's Art Deco buildings, and a general historical walk, but walks can also be tailored for your group. For more details and information contact me at the address listed below - thank you!

I've been blogging on a variety of topics (librarianship, music, and a general blog) since 2007, but this Loughborough blog that you're reading now is the one that has interested me the most, and the one that I am keen to post to on weekly basis, although, sadly, I don't always manage this.

The blog came about because the wonderful town of Loughborough was in danger of being included in a book about UK towns that were rubbish: we were in the top 100 of these, but luckily didn't make it into the book, which only listed the top 50. I'm not deluded enough to think that my blog did anything to prevent us being in the top 50, and I do know that the intended book wasn't entirely serious, but I do hope that over the course of the last 9 years and 5 months since the blog started, I've promoted Loughborough, highlighted what's great about it, and encouraged people to visit, in order to make up their own mind about how great our little market town is, and what a lot it has to offer.

The posts vary in length and content, really depending on how much time I've got!! Some are simply a photographic record of an event, some are snippets of info, some are accounts of events and meetings I've attended and some are in-depth articles on specific topics. I particularly enjoy researching Loughborough people, features of the town, and specific streets. In some cases, other people have already done a lot of research into things that I'm interested in so I will not re-invent wheels, but rather point you in the direction of other people's offerings - and I certainly won't pass off anyone else's work as my own. All photos used in the blogs will have been taken by me, unless stated otherwise: I will not be uploading old photographs as I simply don't have many of my own, and I certainly don't have time to track down the copyright holders.

I love to hear your comments on the blog, or to help you with your questions or research. The only slight difficulty with the blog is leaving comments. To do this you have to log onto Blogger, or register or something like that! Probably a better way would be to leave me a comment via my dedicated-to-Loughborough email address, which is:


lynneaboutloughboroughatgmaildotcom

Of course, you will need to replace the words above with the appropriate punctuation - which is included to stop internet robots, not to deter you! Also, please be aware that any communication posted this way will appear on the blog, as will my replies: the system will not enable me to talk to you directly unless you provide contact details.






In 2016-17 I completed an Advanced Diploma in Local History with Oxford University Department of Continuing Education, and achieved a 2i. From July to October 2017, I wrote 100 words every day about Loughborough for 100 days, as part of an online initiative. Most of these 100-word pieces were whatever came out of my mind on the day I was writing, so may be slim on historical fact, and sometimes obliquely related to Loughborough! You can view the completed project here.







Also during 2017 I have started a blog and a Twitter feed - follow us @OldRectoryMuseum - for the Old Rectory Museum in Loughborough, a building with an interesting history, but often overlooked by visitors. I have since handed over the responsibility for this to newer members of the Loughborough Archaeological and Historical Society.

In July 2018 I was lucky enough to have my very first book published, called 'Loughborough in 50 Buildings' and this was followed in June 2019 by a second, 'Secret Loughborough'! My third book was due for publication in August 2020, but due to the coronavirus pandemic the publisher postponed the publication date of most of the books on their schedule for 2020 so  'A-Z of Loughborough' was finally released in August 2021.




During 2022 I took early retirement from my librarianship work, and am now involved in a variety of volunteering opportunities - all related to local history in some way! My latest book for Amberley, 'Loughborough pubs', is now (November 2023) published. 'Loughborough At Work' is still in the research stage!

In May 2022, I took a short break from blogging about Loughborough, as I had a few other projects on the go, but weekly blogging has resumed in June 2022, so do please keep popping back, and see what I'm blogging about now! You can find a page on the blog which lists all the blogposts I've written.

In August 2023 the blog reached its 10th birthday, and by way of celebration I hosted a series of posts from guest bloggers, with subjects ranging from football to publishing; from nature to buildings; from streets to transport - and much more! A list of all these posts appears on the complete list page, mentioned above. Thank you so much to everyone who has contributed to this celebration! Here's to the next 10 years!

Thanks for reading! Enjoy!

Lynne

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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Thank you for reading this blog.

Copyright:

The copyright © of all content on this blog rests with me, however, you are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follows:

Dyer, Lynne (2023). [Post title]. Available from: [ URL e.g. https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2023/03/loughborough-and-isaac-newton.html] [Accessed DATE]

Take down policy:

I post no pictures that are not my own, unless I have express permission so to do. All text is my own, and not copied from any other information sources, printed or electronic, unless identified and credited as such. If you find I have posted something in contravention of these statements, or if there are photographs of you which you would prefer not to be here, please contact me at the address listed on the About Me page, and I will remove these.

Blog archive and tags:

If you are viewing this blog in mobile format, you will not be able to easily access the blog archive, or the clickable links to various topics. These can be accessed if you scroll to the bottom of the page, and click 'View Web Version'. Alternatively, there is also a complete list of posts, which when clicked will take you to the page you are interested in.

Searching the blog:

You can search the blog using the dedicated search box that appears near the top of the blog when viewed in the web version. Alternatively, you can search using your usual search engine (e.g. Bing, Google, DuckDuckGo etc.) by following this example:

site: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/ “Radmoor House”

NOTE – the words you’re actually looking for must be in “” and the first of these must be preceded by a space

Thank you for reading this blog.

Lynne

15 comments:

  1. Such a detailed and wonderful blog spot! I was wondering if you could tell me if there was ever a creek called Burton's Walk Creek? I found a news article related to my great grandmother who tragically ended her life in it. Would you have a photo of where abouts this creek was? I tried to google map this but find a Woods Creek but no Burton's Walk Creek. Could this have changed since the 30s?

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  2. Hi Dawn! Thank you for visiting the blog, and for your kind comments. I do believe I know the creek you mention and definitely have some photos lurking somewhere! If you contact me via lynneaboutloughboroughatgmaildotcom (with appropriate substitutions!) I'll send you what I can find. Regards, Lynne

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  3. Thank kindly. Have sent an email :)

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  4. Hi Lynne,
    I moved away from Leicestershire in 1972 and over the years visited increasingly less frequently, so all the changes when I saw them have seemed very sudden! It has always seemed a great shame to me that unusual facade of The Blackamoor's Head in Loughborough's market place was replaced with an unremarkable building that doesn't have an ounce of character. The Market Place is poorer for it. When did this happen and was any part of the old pub preserved?
    J.O.

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    1. Hi J.O. Thanks for reading the blog and getting in touch. As you probably know, The Blackamoor's Head was built in 1933, in what would now be called typical Art Deco style. This was the second pub bearing that name. It closed as a pub in 1974, but wasn't demolished until later. I don't know the exact date but 1980s or 1990s. Apparently the item atop the pediment is alleged to be lurking somewhere, but I'm not sure where. Thanks for taking the trouble to comment. Lynne

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    2. Hi again, My thanks almost two and a half years later! I'd just like to add that I was much more upset when I heard the Crown and Cushion was demolished. I'd have paid a fortune for that etched glass window in the front door! And then the last time I was in Loughborough (a long time ago now) I found the Golden Fleece had transmogrified into a burger restaurant. I suppose you must be getting he idea that all these memories are part of a mis-spent youth but I'm just as sad about Clemerson's toy department, Franco's Cafe and Woolworth's record counter where I bought my very first LP. As a teenager I was glad to spread my wings and fly away but we never forget our roots do we? When we look again our roots have left us! One question though - does the Polish Club still exist? I've forgotten exactly it's location but was it on a scrappy little back alley called, I think, Lovers Lane?

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    3. Hi Again Anonymous! Actually, the building that housed the Crown and Cushion is still there, but has more recently been used as a pizza restaurant, and is now a burger restaurant. And yes, the Polish Club on True Lovers Lane does still exist, and is very well-used! I enjoyed reading about your mis-spent youth!!! Lynne

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  5. LIfe After Football24 December 2019 at 15:39

    Hi Lynne,

    Thanks for your comments re the blog and some interesting facts re Mikron Theatre Company and background behind Paget Arms and Swan In The Rushes...
    I've been to Loughborough quite a few times and think it's great.
    I've attached links to the respective blogs - please spread the word!!

    https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/11/20/wheel-keeps-on-turning-in-loughborough/
    https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/10/05/classic-pub-frontages-in-loughborough/
    https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/09/24/gertcha-the-generous-briton-in-loughborough/
    https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2017/12/27/motorhead-micros-in-loughborough/
    https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/10/30/300-up-graham-gooch-territory-at-the-organ-grinder/
    https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/09/07/happy-tappy-clappers/
    https://lifeafterfootball839.wordpress.com/2018/08/31/this-is-a-public-service-announcementrock-the-cask-bah/

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  6. Hi Life After Football! Thanks for replying regarding my comments on your interesting blog! I can't remember what I said about Mikron, PAget Arms and Swan in the Rushes now, but I'm pleased to hear you like our lovely little town! It should be obvious that I do too - I hope it is! And thnaks for the specific links too. HAve you come across 'Billy's Book of Loughborough Boozers'? It's written by a good friend of mine, and includes a short piece about each pub in Loughborough, and cross references to previous names etc.- worth perusing if you get a chance. Anyway, Happy New Year! And thanks again, Lynne

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  7. Hi Lynne, i am Dave of I.P.A investigating Paranormal Anomalies i would like to contact you can you send me your email address please to dave.dyson39@yahoo.com thanks

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    1. Dave, Thanks for commenting. My email details are in paragraph 5 above. Regards, Lynne

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  8. Hello Lynn,

    Recently came across your fabulous website.

    My name is Richard Taylor and I currently live in Lancashire. My father was born in Loughborough - no relation to the bell people as my ancestors worked for the Packes and came from near Sleaford when Hussey Packe inherited Prestwold Hall.

    My father’s maternal side featured Kirks. My 3xGreat Grandfather was John Kirk who was a framework knitter and also fought at the Battle of Waterloo. After a spell as a Chelsea In-Pensioner he returned to Loughborough and died there in 1874 aged 81.

    He is buried in All Saints Churchyard without (I believe) a headstone. As one of the last Waterloo veterans I would have thought that there might have been some commemoration but I have been unable to find anything.

    I was wondering if you could point me in the right direction to see if there is any other information.

    Best Regards
    Richard Taylor

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    1. Hello Richard! Thank you for your lovely comments about the blog - and thank you for contacting me. If you conatct me via my email address which is noted around the middle of this page, making the required substitutions, I can give you a little bit more information. Thank you, again, Lynne

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  9. Hi Lynne My mother was born in Chapman Street in 1929 my grandmother lived there until unfortunately the houses were knocked down in the seventies and the road and houses that replaced them took on a completely different look do you know if there are any photos of the street before the demolition and redevelopment of Chapman Street thanking you in anticipation .

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    1. Hi Nicholas! Thank you for reading the blog and commenting. It's always great to hear from people who can shed some light on the Loughborough of the past. As yet, I haven't managed to track down a photo of the houses on Chapman Street before they were demolished, but I will keep looking. Thanks, Lynne

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If you have found this post interesting or have any questions about any of the information in it do please leave a comment below. In order to answer your question, I must publish your query here, and then respond to it here. If your information is private or sensitive, and you don't wish to have it on public display, it might be a better idea to email me using the address which is on the About Me page, using the usual substitutions. Thanks for reading the blog.