Beaumanor Hall and wartime Leicestershire

Last weekend I took myself off to Beaumanor Hall, to the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society wartime event, and what a fantastic event this was! Over 50 stalls showcasing their local history work, much of it centred around WW1, and lots of short talks on various topics, including Richard III, history of Beaumanor during WW2, the Enigma machine, the Beam Benders of Charley, and war memorials in Leicestershire and Rutland. There was also an air raid experience in the cellars, and an outdoor tour to a secret listening station.

It was absolutely fascinating to learn that there were so many local history societies around, doing such great work, often funded by Heritage Lottery grants. There was a real buzz about the place, with people dressed in 40s costume, some dressed as soldiers, and a wartime musical group playing.

I was really glad I’d taken several layers of clothing as it got extremely hot in the hall: There were so many people squished in there I’d be surprised if they hadn’t exceeded their room capacity for health and safety! In fact, there were so many people that I had to go round the whole thing about four times, each time looking at a different set of stalls because at times they were queuing four-deep so I didn’t get a look in!

Anyway, I managed to resist joining too many societies: In fact, I only joined one! And, I resisted buying too many books, only buying two: World War II in Charley, and Is There a Green Man of East Leake?








Of course, there were numerous interesting leaflets to pick up!

And even a packet of poppy seeds to take away and plant in memory of those who gave their lives.

I also came away with the idea that I might one day pop into Beaumanor Hall for a cream tea, or a pie lunch!!

The only disappointing thing was that there seemed to be few representatives from Loughborough itself there.  

 

 

 

 

It was absolutely fascinating to learn that there were so many local history societies around, doing such great work, often funded by Heritage Lottery grants. There was a real buzz about the place, with people dressed in 40s costume, some dressed as soldiers, and a wartime musical group playing.

 

I was really glad I’d taken several layers of clothing as it got extremely hot in the hall: There were so many people squished in there I’d be surprised if they hadn’t exceeded their room capacity for health and safety! In fact, there were so many people that I had to go round the whole thing about four times, each time looking at a different set of stalls because at times they were queuing four-deep so I didn’t get a look in!

 

Anyway, I managed to resist joining too many societies: In fact, I only joined one! And, I resisted buying too many books, only buying two: World War II in Charley, and Is There a Green Man of East Leake? Of course, there were numerous interesting leaflets to pick up and even a packet of poppy seeds to take away and plant in memory of those who gave their lives.

 

I also came away with the idea that I might one day pop into Beaumanor Hall for a cream tea, or a pie lunch!!

Ghost signs of Loughborough, part 2

Last week's post on ghost signs in Loughborough proved to be a bit popular, but I can't help but think that people might have been looking for ghost stories from the area! Anyway, I've been out and about a bit this week and captured some more ghost signs for you to see.

Ghost signs are painted signs, usually advertising signs, on the side of buildings, that are not maintained, or not representative of the business that now takes place in the building. As such, some of the pictures below are not actually classed as ghost signs, but are either carved into the buildings or are reliefs, that represent the building's previous - or in the case of the Town Hall and the library the current - use. The Putts sign is, of course, not a ghost sign, because it is maintained and the business operated from the premises is still Putts the Decorators, as is the sign on the side of the Three Nuns pub, and that on the Royal Oak. The first two ghost signs below are not from Loughborough, but are very good examples of the art of ghost signs that I have seen very recently.

Someone suggested that there might be some remnants of a sign for the pub in George Yard, but I could find no evidence of this.

Ghost sign on a building in Swadlincote

Ghost sign on a restaurant in Stratford-upon-Avon



Putts on Nottingham Road

The Three Nuns on the right of the picture

The Royal Oak on Leicester Road



Corner of George Street and Storer Road



Stag and Pheasant Nottingham Road from the other side!

Former shop on Wharncliffe Road



Houses on the end of Gregory Street with ghost sign top right



Close up of the Gregory Street painted street sign



Not really ghost signs, but evidence of Cottons!! 



More evidence of Cottons!



Above the first floor window is the ghost of the Leicester Mercury!



The Black Lion, lately the Hobgoblin



The Old Pack Horse, now the Organ Grinder

The Blacksmith's Arms

The former offices of the Loughborough Echo on Swan Street

The Town Hall, formerly the Corn Exchange

Great Central Station Hotel, now flats and a day nursery

Messrs Garton The Mart! Originally the Temperance Hall

Close up of Messrs Garton The Mart!



William Corah's on Aumbry Gap etched in the green stone, left of the hardboard!



The L and the I of William Corah's on Aumbry Gap

The Carnegie Library

Ghost signs of Loughborough

Someone recently posted a question on facebook about ghost signs in Loughborough, so here are a couple of pictures I've taken over the last couple of years. If you know of any more, do let me know, and I'll do a follow-up to today's post. If you don't want to register to leave comments below, you can email me by converting the following to text with punctuation: lynnedotdyeratgooglemaildotcom

There are also a couple of websites associated with ghost signs generally, that you might like to read, including this article from November 2013, the History of Advertising website, a flickr group, and one specifically on Leicestershire ghost signs.

Aumbry Gap

Cottons (I think) on Baxter gate

Butchers on Moor Lane

Collin Bros on Baxter Gate

Nottingham Road

Olde Packe Horse

Ratcliffe Road

Nottingham Road

Corner of Storer Road

Corner of Storer Road

Corner of Storer Road and George Street

Corner of Storer Road and George Street

Corner of Storer Road and Station Street

The Empire Cinema



Towles Nottingham Road

William Street

Nottingham Road
 

Local lambs and calves at Oakley Grange, Hathern!

Proud mum!

I read somewhere recently, that Calke Abbey was no longer rearing sheep in quite such large quantities and so they wouldn’t have the big marquee of lambs that they normally have during the early spring. So, I went in search of sheep elsewhere, and I was lucky enough to happen upon a ewe who had given birth to triplets, not three hours earlier!

Going a little way out of Loughborough, I regularly drive to the village of Hathern to take my son to play in the Hathern Senior Band, and I have had occasion to hunt around the cemetery looking for some specific graves, but I had not as yet found anywhere to have a cup of coffee and a cake, until someone mentioned a great place to me, and now was the time to check it out.

Driving up the Shepshed Road I found a sign to Oakley Grange OrganicFarm on the right, and swiftly pulled onto the narrow winding track. Narrow and winding it might have been, but there was a really good view to my left, over the village and across to the power station. I drove carefully along the little road, and imagine my delight when I encountered a beautifully restored barn with window to roof windows and a lovely little patio area in front. And sheep!!! In the fields, lots of sheep!

Coffee and cake!

I went into the barn for a little light refreshment: There was so much to choose from, including savouries, sandwiches, main meals, any manner of hot drink, soft drink, beer and wine. Oh, and cake! I plumped for a cafetiere of coffee, with soya milk, and a piece of coffee and walnut cake – an enormous piece of cake it was too! All this was nicely served, with a sugar basin of sugar cubes!

While parking my car, I’d noticed there was a large barn next to the café barn from where I could head various animal noises, so replete from my refreshments, I walked towards the barn for a bit of a nose around!

Inside was a real treat – lots of little calves, some of them as young as a day, and three little lambs who’d been born only three hours earlier! Glad that I’d brought my camera (but frustrated because the batteries were low so many of my close-up shots didn’t work!) I began to take a few pictures.


Inquisitive calf

Tired calf

Hungry calves

The big brown bull

As I was doing this, the farmer came along and we started chatting about the cows, and the calves. I was really thrilled to learn that the little tan coloured calves with the white stripe down their backs were Longhorns!

The big brown animal was actually a bull, although when he was lying in certain positions he looked a bit like a brown bear! Many of the cows were pregnant, and the farmer was saying they’d had about 10 calves born over the last 10 days.

It's cold out here - let’s cuddle up!

By far and away the most exciting thing was the ewe with her three little lambs. I think it’s quite early for lambs to be born and so she and her new family had been brought into the barn to keep them a little cosier.

So, coffee, cake, cows and sheep, as well as plenty of fresh produce, bread, groceries and gifts, this turned out to be a perfect afternoon. I also spotted an interesting little book of walks around the village of Hathern, but had to resist buying it as I spotted it being bought by my companion - probably for a forthcoming birthday!! 

Mother and baby

 

My aim of promoting Loughborough as a place to visit means that I often blog about current events, but I’m hoping to get back to some historical stuff soon! Thanks for stopping by.