My Lockdown Project: Paget Street, Loughborough

Paget Cottages - some of the earliest to be built on Paget Street

The lockdown periods of 2020-21-22 (depending on where you lived!) were probably the most shocking thing to have happened to us all, for a very long time, and so are still in our memory. During that time, while some people were getting to grips with working from home, and all the trials and tribulations that brought with it, others found themselves with more free time, stuck at home, unable to do the things they usually did, so might have embarked on some kind of project.

Sharon is one such person who took up a project. This involved researching a very interesting part of Loughborough and its history, and provided so much information that she wrote up her research in a book [1]! In the article below, Sharon tells us how she went about doing her research, and shares some of her discoveries with us …

My Lockdown Project

Paget Street, Loughborough 1891. A Glimpse into History

Sharon Gray

Lockdown came as a bit of a shock to me. As a Volunteer, I had been on duty in Loughborough Library Local Studies two days a week. I had also been working on projects for exhibitions and spending many hours researching family history for customers both in the library and at home. With Lockdown, these activities all came to an abrupt halt. I needed something to keep my mind active.

About two years previously I had begun investigating the Loughborough street where I grew up – Paget Street in the “Golden Triangle”. Paget Street is in the centre of a set of streets including Station Street and Storer Road. They were built in the late 1800s to house workers in the local factories, mainly Messengers, hence it was known as “Messenger’s Village”. [2]

View along part of Paget Street to Derby Road

View along part of Paget Street to Storer Road and St Peter's Church

Knowing that construction for all the houses on Paget Street would have been completed by 1891, I began by looking in the Census for that year. The Census would provide me with a complete record of the terraced houses and their occupants. The land had been donated by local landowners such as Mr. Paget and Mr. Storer. The site was then divided into plots, allowing spaces for three or four houses, all to be built as a terrace. These plots were then sold off to private landlords and builders.

Row of cottages called Albany Terrace, likely built by one builder, the roof levels being different only because of the slope of the street

As the houses were completed in blocks of three and four, all of them followed a similar but not exact design to the houses on adjacent plots. For example, some would have had different windowsills or roof heights, some were given builder’s plaques with house names such as “Nelson Houses 1890”. As the landlords and builders began to offer the houses for rent, it emerged that in most instances they were too expensive for low-paid factory workers. Consequently, skilled workers such as plasterers and bricklayers, bakers, clerks and teachers moved in. It turned out that Messenger’s workers were not among the first occupants of these houses in the numbers that had been predicted.

Nelson Houses on Paget Street

Nelson House plaque, showing construction date of 1890

My mind was kept active and occupied by working through the 1891 Census house by house, numbers 1 to 150. Finding out what happened to these families in the years after they moved into Paget Street appealed to my family historian curiosity. Most of the tenants were transient, staying for only a few years until they moved on to another house or another town.

My research then expanded into the occupations of the people who lived there in 1891, and how this contributed to Loughborough’s industrial scene. They worked for Morris’s, Cotton’s, Cartwright and Warner to name but a few. There was a plethora of small businesses such as grocers and tailors. I also looked at how the war impacted the families and found stories about soldiers and their exploits.

A shop on the corner of Oxford Street and Paget Street now converted to housing

The estate pub, the Paget Arms

In 1956 my father, who had been a German POW, was offered work at William Hammond’s needle factory. The chance to buy no. 119 Paget Street with a council mortgage, was too good an opportunity to miss. My parents, my brother and I, packed up our goods and moved from rural Lincolnshire to Loughborough. My parents were both very proud when 25 years later they owned their house on Paget Street. My mother described it to me as a palace, compared with the prefab they lived in before they moved to Loughborough. Today an outside toilet and coalhouse would not be regarded as ideal. I have memories of an idyllic childhood, playing football in streets with no traffic, bike rides in the countryside and going to the “rec” with friends. I wonder what the children in 1891 thought of Paget Street?

The house I lived in for 23 years has now been refurbished and modernised and is home to new people. They will no doubt have completely different memories to mine of living in Paget Street – hopefully happy ones.

No. 119 Paget Street, left

Sharon Gray

Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteer Group

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Biography

Sharon is a volunteer with the Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteer Group, where her skills and experience in genealogy are put to good use, helping visitors to unlock some of their family history. Along with other volunteers, Sharon also gets involved in – and indeed organises – other research activity into various aspects of Loughborough’s history, is involved with preparation and hosting of the varied displays in the local history part of the library, looks after the books for the group (financial books, that is!), and is often seen promoting the work of the group at various heritage events. Before becoming a volunteer, Sharon, along with her husband, ran a hosiery company in the town.

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Notes

[1] The book is available to purchase from the Loughborough and Family History Centre, which can be found towards the rear of the older part of the Loughborough Public Library on Granby Street.

A selection of publications by the Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteers

[2] A complementary article about this area appears in my post about Fearon Street and there is a similar, shorter study of Middleton Place

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

_______________________________________________

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Loughborough building demolished

The 1930s across the country was a period of depression, but Loughborough, with its many and varied industries, perhaps fared a little better than some other places, where the focus might have been on just one industry. In 1930, ‘The Brush’ successfully completed contracts in both the UK and abroad, and provided bus bodies and tramcars across the UK; Herbert Morris extended their factory, produced a new crane, and provided cranes to both the UK government and overseas customers; Taylors bellfounders continued to recast and rehang bells across the country;  the Morley hosiery factory made over one million pairs of hose and half-hose during 1930, and a great many Zenobia perfumes and toiletries were exported.

Nevertheless, unemployment in Loughborough increased, and sometime between 1929 and 1936, Loughborough's labour exchange moved from Baxter Gate (having moved there from Market Street), where it occupied premises that used to be an auction mart, and is now a pizza restaurant, to a purpose-built building on Cradock Street. The Job Centre, as it became, moved from Cradock Street to a variety of other locations in town, including the tall building on Fennel Street, now converted to flats, and one of the newer buildings on Wood Gate.

I'm not sure who occupied the Cradock Street building once the Job Centre relocated, except that at some point - probably the early 1990s - Brooks Data Products moved from their offices on Fearon Street, into Cradock Street. 

Brookes Data Products base on Fearon Street

Again, I'm not sure if CPS Interiors was a new company, or a new name for Brookes. Anyway, the building became vacant around 2021, and put up for sale.

The ghost sign peeks out either side of the modern sign (better views in photos below)

Part of the ghost sign visible

Part of the ghost sign visible

When I last visited, the ghost sign of the old labour exchange was visible on the front - Ministry of Labour, Labour Exchange

On my last visit to the building, it was sad to see the building had all but been demolished

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

Dyer, Lynne (2022). Loughborough building demolished. Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2022/04/loughborough-building-demolished.html [Accessed 3 April 2022]

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.

Thank you for reading this blog. 

Lynne           

So who was Henry Fearon?

The Rev. Henry Fearon



On 29^th December 2013 I wrote the following at the end of my blog post about the burst water pipe in Loughborough:

“Hmmm, clean water supply? That reminds me, I was going to blog about my partial research into Archdeacon Henry Fearon: Better save that one for another time.”

Well, it’s been a long time coming, and it certainly isn’t a traditional potted biography, but here are a few bits about Archdeacon Henry Fearon.

Born in 1802, in Cuckfield, Sussex, Henry Fearon was the son of Rev. J.F. Fearon, and was a graduate of Emmanuel College, Cambridge. Here’s the entry from the Ipswich Journal, Saturday 14 June, 1834, issue 5021

“At a congregation on Wednesday last [11 June 1834], the following degrees were conferred …

Bachelor in Divinity. Rev. Henry Fearon, Fellow of Emman[uel] …”

In 1853, Henry Fearon attended the following meeting, as reported in the Morning Chronicle, Friday 10 June, 1853, issue 26977:

“Society of Arts: Yesterday the annual conference between the representatives of the institutions in union and the council of the Society of Arts was held at the Society of Arts, John-street, Adelphi; Mr H. Cole, chairman of the council in the chair. A large number of representatives were present, amongst them many gentlemen who have distinguished themselves by the interest they have taken in the general subject of education.”

In 1863, Henry Fearon became Archdeacon of Leicester, as described in this report in the Leicester Chroncile, or Commercial and Agricultural Advertiser, Saturday April 18, 1863, p. 5:

“THE NEW ARCHDEACON OF LEICESTER. – The Bishop of Peterborough has appointed the Rev. Henry Fearon, B.D., one of the Honorary Canons of Peterborough Cathedral, and rector of All Saints’, Loughborough, to the Archdeaconry of Leicester, vacant by the death of the Rev. Thos. Kaye Bonney, M.A. Mr Fearon was educated at Winchester College, was Gold Medallist in 1820, and on leaving obtained an Exhibition to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, where, after taking the Degree of Senior Optime and Third Class in the Classical Tripos, he was elected to a fellowship. He served in active duties as a curate and private tutor for 16 years, and was in 1848 presented by the college to the highly important living of Loughborough, where, in addition to the zealous discharge of the ordinary and anxious duties of a parish priest connected with so large a population, he was by his writings and exertions mainly instrumental in bringing about great sanitary improvements to the town. Mr Fearon is also well known as the author of several sermons, as well as of lectures delivered at the Literary and Philosophical Societies and Young Men’s Christian Institutes in Leicester and Loughborough. We need scarcely add that Mr Fearon is highly respected by both clergy and laity throughout the county, and that the appointment appears to give the highest satisfaction.”    

One of Henry Fearon’s sermons followed the opening of All Saints’ Parish school, as described in the Leicester Chronicle, or Commercial and Agricultural Advertiser, Saturday August 13, 1864, p.5

“ OPENING OF ALL SAINTS’ PARISH SCHOOLS.

On Thursday evening last [11 August, 1864], a sermon was preached in All Saints’ Church, by the Venerable Henry Fearon, Archdeacon of Leicester, and rector of Loughborough, on the occasion of opening the new school-rooms belonging to this parish. These school-rooms, which were greatly needed in this locality, are very commodious and ornamental, and reflect much credit on the tradesmen who have had the carrying out of the works, which they undertook in a considerate and liberal spirit. The builder is Mr E. Thurlby, High-cross Street. There was a collection after the sermon. The sum collected was £20 18s. 2d..”

The Rev. Henry Fearon married many couples, and there are some familiar Loughborough names mentioned.

Here’s one taken from the Nottinghamshire Guardian, Thursday June 28, 1855, p.8, issue 484. The Henry Toone referred to was Henry Toone, solicitor of Leicester Road.

“At Emmanuel Church, Loughborough, on the 26^th inst. [“instante mense” meaning a date in the current month, in this case, June], by the Rev. Henry Fearon, B.D., rector of All Saints and canon of Peterborough, the Rev. Thomas White, M.A., eldest son of Wm. White, Esq., of Collegiate Crescent, Sheffield, to Mary Anne, second daughter of Henry Toone, Esq., Loughborough. After the ceremony, the Holy Communion was administered by the Rev. Robert J. Bunch, B.D., rector of Emmanuel and canon of Peterborough.”

Here’s another marriage, the John Henry Eddowes referred to being a local doctor, taken from The Leicestershire Chronicle, or Commercial and Agricultural Advertiser, Saturday December 1, 1855:

“On the 27^th ult. [“ultimo mense”, meaning in the preceding month, i.e. November 1855, not today’s meaning of something being more than unbelievable], at All Saints’ church, Loughborough, by the rector, the Rev. Henry Fearon, B.D., Joseph Phillips, jun., Esq., of Stamford, to Mary Anne, second daughter of John Henry Eddowes, Esq., of Loughborough.”

What about this one, featuring glasshouses and bells! From the Nottinghamshire Guardian, Thursday July 17, 1856, p.8, issue 539:

“At Emmanuel Church, Loughborough, on the 10^th inst., by the Rev. Henry Fearon, B.D., Mr T.G. Messenger, of Loughborough, to Jemima Emily, second daughter of Mr J. Taylor, bellfounder, Loughborough.”

And what about this one? From the Nottinghamshire Guardian, Thursday August 13, 1857, p.8, issue 595:

“At the Parish Church, Loughborough, on the 11^th inst., by the Rev. Henry Fearon, rector, Beauvoir Brock, Esq., of Shelthorpe Cottage, to Harriet, youngest daughter of the late John Hall, Esq., of Loughborough.”

The Rev. Henry Fearon also performed marriages in the place of his birth, Cuckfield, as can be seen from this report in the Leicestershire Chronicle, or Commercial and Agricultural Advertiser, Saturday September 11, 1858:

“On the 7^th inst., at Cuckfield, Sussex, by the Rev. Henry Fearon, rector of Loughborough, Henry, third son of William Pott, of Wallington House, Carshalton, Esq., to Constance Mary, second daughter, and at the same time, the Rev. Thos. Ayscough, eldest son of Ayscough Smith, of Leethorpe Hall, in the county of Leicester, Esq., to Ethel Ann, third daughter of John Peter Fearon, Esq., of Cuckfield.”

A more detailed description of this event comes from the Morning Chronicle, Friday September 10, 1858, issue 28598:

“Fashion at Brighton: fashionable marriages: Married on Tuesday 7^th September, at Cuckfield Church, by the Rev. H. Fearon, uncle of the bride, the Rev. Thos. A. Smith to Etha [sic] Anne Fearon; also Henry Potts Esq., to Constance Fearon, both the brides being the daughters of J.P. Fearon, Esq., of Cuckfield. Upwards of 140 partook if a dejeuner a la fourchette in a marquee in front of Mr Fearon’s house, the marquee being tastefully adorned with flags, banners etc.. The two brides were led to the altar by their father, J.P.Fearon, Esq., and there were no less than twenty-two bridesmaids accompanying them. The Rev. Henry Fearon performed the marriage ceremony, assisted by the Rev. T.A. Maberley, Vicar of Cuckfield, and the Revs. H. Hawkins and Cooper, curate. The church was crowded to excess…”  

The Venerable Henry Fearon died on 12 June, 1885, and his will was proved on 7 September that year. He was described as the Venerable Henry Fearon late of Loughborough in the County of Leicester, Archdeacon of Leicester. He never married and so the executors of his will were Jessy Tyndale Fearon, his niece, and the Reverend Thomas Ayscough Smith (probably related to the Thomas Ayscough who he had married on 7^th September 1858), of Tenbury in the County of Worcester, who was Clerk Vicar of Tenbury.

The memory of Henry Fearon lives on in Loughborough, in the portrait that is upstairs in the Parish Church (and possibly in the Old Rectory Museum too, but my memory might be playing tricks on me), in the drinking fountain in Market Place, in the Fearon Hall, and in the street named after him.