So Who Was Anthony David Jacobs?

   

An A-Z of Architects of Loughborough

For a complete list of the A-Z posts please head over to the bloglist.

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Short biography of Anthony David Jacobs

The birth of Anthony David Jacobs was registered in the first quarter of 1927 at Brentford, in Essex. He was the son of David Albert (1892-1969) and his wife, Emma Elizabeth née Kite, who had married on 10 April 1918 at St Mary, in Acton. They already had a son, Richard born in 1919, and a daughter, Betty Diana who was born in 1922. David Albert’s occupation was a commercial traveller.

Shortly after the birth of Anthony David, the family moved to Argentina, and remained there until his retirement, returning to Acton in 1938. By 1939, the family had moved to Holt Drive in Loughborough, and 11-year-old Anthony was attending the Loughborough Grammar School, having been previously educated at St George’s College in Buenos Aires. In 1952, at the age of 25, Anthony married Doris Hewitt, and the couple went on to have three children.

Initially, Anthony had pursued a career in poultry farming, but by 1950 had qualified as an architect, and worked for Francis Haynes, who had continued the architectural practice, A.E. King, after the latter’s death. Around 1954, Anthony opened his own architectural practice, firstly, on Forest Road, and later at No.1 on The Coneries.

Sadly, Anthony died on 15 October 1966, just a few months after the opening of John Storer House, a building which he had designed. He was aged only 39, and was living at Barrow Road, Burton-on-the-Wolds at the time of his death. He was outlived not only by his wife and three children, but also by his father, who died in 1969, and his mother, who died in 1975.

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What follows is a selection of buildings designed by Anthony David Jacobs

Note: this is a selective, not a comprehensive listing.

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Sole Designs

*House on Chaveney Road, Quorn (1954)

*House on Moscow Lane, Shepshed

*Observatory for the Limehurst Natural History Society (1961)

*John Storer House (1966)

*Shops on Biggin Street (opposite The Rushes)

*Mormon Church, Alan Moss Road

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John Storer House

The opening of John Storer House by Princess Margaret on 29 April 1966 was widely reported in the local press. The Nottingham Evening Post had the following to say:

“Bright sunshine greeted Princess Margaret when she visited Loughborough to open John Storer House, a multi-purpose centre for social services, today. Thousands of people lined the route, including schoolchildren in organised parties, and they cheered when her car slowed down to walking pace while passing them.”

She had arrived at East Midlands Airport, and travelled through Castle Donington, and Kegworth, and into Loughborough along Ashby Road, Snells Nook Road, and Forest Road. Once she had arrived at JSH:

“The National Anthem was played on the town’s famous War Memorial carillon in nearby Queen’s Park. A civic welcome was given by the Mayor (George Sharpe), who said Loughborough had looked forward to the Princess’s first visit to the town.”

Princess Margaret toured the building, and she:

“visited every room and spoke to dozens of people, including those who will be using the building and others who will give voluntary service, from schoolchildren to members of many local organisations."

The ground-floor windows of JSH pictured in 2013

Bird Observatory

A description of the new observatory for Limehurst Natural History Society, which was to replace the earlier one that had burned down on the island on the River Soar, appeared in the Leicester Mercury and suggested that the striking building wouldn’t be out of place at an airport.

“The ground floor incorporates two double bunks and a galley. The glazed “promenade” deck and railed-in roof some 32 feet long give the observatory the air of an airport building …”

Whether or not this structure was ever actually built, I’m not sure.

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I’m taking part in the April A-Z Blogging Challenge!

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

With apologies for typos which are all mine!

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Bloomin' Loughborough! Loughborough enters the In Bloom competition!

Oh, hello there! Nice to see you again!!

Today’s post is all about Bloomin’ Loughborough!

So, my mission to ensure that Loughborough doesn’t make it to the list of 50 rubbish towns, today sees me focus on the towns in bloom competition!

Each year our town is decorated with hanging baskets, window boxes, towers of flowers and all manner of other interesting displays of flowers. And, each year, we seem to do better in the competition, so last year, like 2011, we managed to gain a Gold in the East Midlands in Bloom competition.

Now, it’s not my intention to explain what the competition is about, as this information is perfectly well explained elsewhere and I’ll give you some links at the end of this blog. Rather, what I’d like to do is share some pictures with you, so you get some idea of what’s around town at the moment. There are, however, a couple of things to say first: there are some stunning displays missing from my photos, because whenever I’ve been out and about with my camera it’s been too busy with cars to take even adequate photos. And, secondly, I am no David Bailey – I’ve come to the conclusion that I see beautiful things and take photos of them, whereas as a good photographer sees things and takes beautiful photos. So, my photos don’t do the actual blooms justice, but I hope they give you a sense of what’s going on. Finally, I have made a conscious decision not to include Queen's Park today: This park is looking so spectacular at the moment, that it truly deserves its own blogpost! Watch this space!!

So, let's start on the outskirts of town.

The small triangular planting area at the junction of Edelin Road, Park Road and Shelthorpe Road has been repaired and planted up with beautiful wild flowers, thanks to the hard work of some Loughborough residents.

A very similar area has also been planted up, but with a different selection of flowers. This is on the junction of Beacon Road and Beacon Drive, and has a matching area on the opposite side of the road. The Beacon pub, just up the road from here also has hanging baskets a-plenty!

Following Epinal way down in the direction of the university and Derby takes us to the roundabout on Forest Road. Here, there is a stunning display from Harry at his property tucked in on the left-hand side. This character made an appearance during last year's competition as an Olympic competitor, and also at Christmas-time. Here he is as a farmer, with his dog and Dolly the Sheep!

This is Harry's house, and, by George, he's made a real impression with his fantastic, thoughtful displays! I wasn't the only person taking photographs!

And this is the stunning display that Harry's house looks onto, just beside the Woodbrook. Hides a less lovely aluminium fence!

This fabulous display of beautiful pink flowers is on Forest Road near the pedestrian crossing, opposite the Woodbrook. It's one of the many displays by the university. If I can get to one of the others when the roads are less busy I'll show you that one too (I think I need to get up earlier to beat the rush!)

Leaving the outskirts and heading into town now, down Forest Road, and we enter past John Storer House. Just look at these displays, hiding the slightly less pretty 1960s building! Last year, JSH won an award for their displays!

To the right of this flowering display is a bench where you can sit and look at what used to be the Blacksmith's Arms!!

On New Street, the one that looks down onto the Carillon in Queen's Park, JSH have another little display.

Bedford Square itself is home to numerous flower towers and flower tubs, pictured here:

The entrance to Granby Street car park isn't short of a flower tower or two, either!!

And, looking down Granby Street towards the cinema (Empire, Essoldo, New Empire, Curzon, Reel, Odeon - you chose!!) you can see that Cattle Market is adorned as well.

Market Place has numerous flower towers, strategically placed so as not to interfere with the setting up of the regular markets.

The Town Hall looks festive with lots of hanging baskets of flowers, though they do look better than this photo shows!

Many of the banks have also joined in the fun with hanging baskets. Here's a picture of the HSBC - again this photo doesn't do it justice. 

And one of the NatWest (a building designed by Watson Fothergill).

And finally, if you need a drink after all that walking, you'll be pleased to know that the pubs are looking pretty jolly too!! Here's The Griffin.

I do hope you've enjoyed this little trip into Bloomin' Loughborough and that this little contribution nudges our town one step further down the list of the 100.

Here are those websites with information about the bloomin’ competition that I mentioned earlier: the Charnwood Borough Council website, the East Midlands in Bloom website and the Loughborough in Bloom community blog.

Bye for now!