Sunday 28 November 2021

Devonshire Square plaques

You probably know that there is a lot of work going on around Ward's End and Devonshire Square to pedestrianise the area and make it more attractive to visitors and shoppers? When I was walking the area a couple of weeks ago, I noticed plaques inset into the paving slabs, which celebrate things from Loughborough's history.

Two of these plaques commemorate the market and the fair, both of which are celebrating 800 years since the granting of the charters.




One of the other plaques marks the spot near which Clarke's Dyeworks and the bleach works were situated, conveniently close to the Wood Brook.





Devonshire Square was where the Devonshire Militia used to drill. Known as the 1st or East Devon Militia, and later the 3rd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, was a part-time unit based in Devon. In the early 1800s, when the 'Luddites' began to smash machinery, the Militia were sent to various parts of the country to restore order. They travelled first to Warwick, thence to Derby and Burton-on-Trent, before coming to Loughborough, and then onto Lichfield and Tamworth, before returning to Plymouth.      


In Loughborough, the Luddites destroyed the lace-making factory of John Heathcoat, which was situated approximately where Iceland is now, and which bears a Leicestershire Heritage Green Plaque.     




The idea of temperance really took hold in the nineteenth and early twentieth century. This was a social movement with the purpose of persuading people to give up drinking alcohol. In Loughborough, a dedicated Temperance cafe was constructed on the corner of Devonshire Square and Granby Street, opened in  





View of the pedestrianised Devonshire Square, showing floor plaques and the 'mural' above


I wonder if there are any more plaques likely to spring up in our lovely town centre?

Posted by lynneaboutloughborough 28 November 2021

You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:

Dyer, Lynne (2021). Devonshire Square plaques. Available fromhttps://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2021/11/devonshire-square-plaques.html  [Accessed 28 November 2021]

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.

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Thank you for reading this blog. 

Lynne                                              

Sunday 21 November 2021

Before there was [Christmas] light

While I was not able to go to the Christmas lights switch-on in the Market Place today (but I did in 2019), I did at least manage to get down into town during the daytime, for one of the most exciting events in this, the last 5 weeks of the market and fair taking place in 2021, 800 years after the granting of the charters.

I had a quick look at the market stalls, watched the fairground rides thrilling the customers, and listened to some brilliant acts on the stage, projected onto the big screen. I didn't quite make it into the Town Hall to the craft fair, but have done this in previous years.

Here are some snaps of that daytime visit: 





Anyone for sprouts - or scarves?!

One of these is bound to win you the best Christmas jumper competition!




Loughborough-themed table coverings! The Sockman sitteth!

A view of the Town Hall on a table!









Who wouldn't want this shiny green bauble under their Christmas tree?!









Posted by lynneaboutloughborough 21 November 2021

You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:

Dyer, Lynne (2021). Before there was [Christmas light. Available fromhttps://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2021/11/before-there-was-christmas-light.html       [Accessed 21 November 2021]

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.

You can leave comments below, but do check back as my reply will appear here, below your comment.

Thank you for reading this blog. 

Lynne     

Sunday 14 November 2021

The return of the Remembrance service in Queen's Park


Last year's service of Remembrance
in Queen's Park was a very different event, from that which we in Loughborough have come to expect and love over the past 100 years, so it was lovely to be able to attend this year's service in the park. There were changes to the usual programme, and changes to the parade route, so instead of finishing in the Market Place, the parade stayed in the park. The Loughborough Concert Band played as usual, but sat outside the bandstand, and the Hathern Concert Brass also played, but in their usual spot near the Carillon. And, the Carillon played during the laying of the wreaths. What was also different for me was that I couldn't find a good view from anywhere and I didn't manage to get a programme until after the service was over!!! And, the weather was really rather warm for the time of year. It was lovely to bump into friends old and new, too. Here are just a few photographs I managed to take at the event.











The remains of the fair in the 800th year since the granting of the Charter




An impression of Songster - sorry for cutting off his tail!

Posted by lynneaboutloughborough 14 November 2021

You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:

Dyer, Lynne (2021). The return of the Remembrance service in Queen's Park. Available fromhttps://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2021/11/the-return-of-remembrance-service-in.html     [Accessed 14 November 2021]

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.

You can leave comments below, but do check back as my reply will appear here, below your comment.

Thank you for reading this blog. 

Lynne

All the fun of the 800th fair! Part 3

In Part 1 of this series, we had a peek at the exhibition that was on in the Town Hall to accompany the Loughborough Fair, 2021, which is 800 years since the granting of the fair (and market) charter. The focus of Part 2 was a wander around the town centre as the fairground rides and stalls were being built. In this, Part 3, we have a few photographs of the fair in action, and in all its glory and splendour - well, as best I can manage with my photography skills!
























Posted by lynneaboutloughborough 14 November 2021

You are welcome to quote passages from any of my posts, with appropriate credit. The correct citation for this looks as follow:

Dyer, Lynne (2021). All the fun of the 800th fair! Part 3. Available fromhttps://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2021/11/all-fun-of-800th-fair-part-3.html [Accessed 14 November 2021]

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.

You can leave comments below, but do check back as my reply will appear here, below your comment.

Thank you for reading this blog. 

Lynne