Lynne About Loughborough: Morris

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Sunday, 11 January 2026

Changes Around Loughborough in 2025

During 2025 there seem to have been lots of building works going on, from demolitions to new builds, from conversions to reparations. It’s hard to keep up with what’s been happening, so here I can only present a few of the changes I’ve been trying to keep an eye on, but I know there are many more changes happening out there!

Firstly, demolitions! in random order, I'm afraid!

Gone is the Shepshed Lace Manufactury: first pic is before, others are after, which gives a great view of the former Ladybird Books factory, now home to Anstey Wallpapers

Gone is most of what remained of the Herbert Morris Empress Road works. Again, the first pic is before, the rest are after

On-going works

Work on building a block of flats on the old Ellwoods garage site is still ongoing. The second photo is taken from Pinfiold Jetty

Renovation of the former Odeon Cinema, most recently Beacon Bingo, is continuing. Most of this work is either inside, or in areas that are less visible from the street, however, most recently, the old signage has been removed

Renovation work is still continuing at Art Deco house, White Ladies/Ronaldsway. Both pictures are taken from the roadside, the first from Pytchley Drive, the second from Beacon Road

A combination of new build and restoration is ongoing at the former Park Farms. First pic is from a while ago, the remainder are from January 2026

The church of All Saints with Holy Trinity has been fundraising for some time now, and are now in a position to be able to address the leaking roof

The Box, which was in the former Greyhound pub, looks to be moving to the old Putts wallpaper and decorating shop. Sadly, the ghost sign on the side of Putts has been painted over in black paint (in this pic it's to the rigth of the skip)

Work has recently started to create a multi-sport five-a-side style pitch in Southfields Park in the corner closest to Leicester Road which many years ago used to be a children’s playground. Apparently, according to the Borough Council website, the new space is a Cruyff Court, named after the Johan Cruyff Foundation. The first view is from the Victoria Street end of the park, the second from the gates on Leicester Road nearest King Street.

The garden attached to Radmoor House is now being filled with apartment blocks. Pics from different viewing points - and lots of them because I rather like this property (which featured in 'Loughborough in 50 Buildings'!)

The mammoth Generator refurbishment project is still progressing but I haven't taken any photos recently. For more about this building, have a look at this guest blogpost. As is the work to the fire-damaged HSBC in Market Place.

Work to the block of flats which replaced the Royal George pub on the corner of The Coneries and Cradock Street are still on-going. First pic is the building as it was when the first bit of scaffolding appeared a short while after the building was put up. Others are of the building in 2026 (from Nottingham Road, and from Cradock Street)

And just because I happened to take a walk with a view of Beaumanor Hall, here it is with its scaffolding cladding!

As I said, it’s all too much for me to keep up with, so let’s look at some

Building projects that were completed in 2025

The bandstand in Southfields Park was removed and replaced with a somewhat larger structure

Work on the John Taylor bellfoundry is now complete, and a more attractive entrance area has been created

Many of our letterboxes have been changed to allow for parcels to be posted into them. Here's one example, but there are many others around Loughborough

Numerous changes have been completed in Queen’s Park, including the re-imagining of the Carillon ground floor museum, with installation of a new museum sign (dreadful pic - it's the little red upright post that looks like a letter box in this pic!!)

Some new railings and gates have been installed

The Ladybird book benches have been retired and replaced with metal benches showcasing Loughborough-related features in silhouette (sorry, not too obvious from the back!)

The Hope Bell, a memorial to those who died, or suffered, or helped us during the COVID pandemic is now in place and a dedication ceremony was held in June. The surrounding area has been re-vitalised, with a new maze for the sculpted swan

I can't quite remember when the old Grudgings needleworks, more recently GTG Engineering, was completed, but here's a pic anyway!

Phew! Pop back next week for 'Ones to watch'!

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Posted by lynneaboutloughborough

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Dyer, Lynne (2026). Changes Around Loughborough in 2025. Available from: https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2026/01/changes-around-loughborough-in-2025.html [Accessed 11 January 2026]

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Sunday, 19 October 2025

Ever-Changing Loughborough

I’m pleased to say that my latest book has now been published. Having an article published in a journal or magazine, particularly if they are online, tends to be a fairly quick turnaround time. I’ve sent articles about Loughborough to various journals, and they have appeared in the publication within a month! Book publishing, however, has always been quite a long, protracted process, although I admit I was very pleasantly surprised when my publisher was able to publish my earlier Loughborough titles only a few months after I’d provided the text. That all changed during and following the pandemic, which rather brings me to the point of this post … since I wrote ‘Loughborough At Work’ rather a lot has changed in our lovely town!

Although I wrote about lacemaking and hosiery in Loughborough, I didn’t write specifically about the Shepshed Lace Manufactury, on Great Central Road. The building had last been used as Merlin Archery, I think, but planning permission has recently been approved to demolish the building and create housing on the site. The recent fire that happened towards the rear of the properties probably hastened the demolition, which has now begun in earnest, and is moving quickly. On Monday this week, when I walked past the buildings I could see the work going on at the rear, but the ghost sign on the side of the building facing the track of the GCR was still standing … by Friday evening even this had gone.

Monday pics

Friday pics

A couple of other things that might have changed since I wrote the book, are the idea that working from home is happening a lot since the pandemic. New reports now say that many firms are stipulating that workers must go back on site. Also, when I was writing the book I used to walk along Trinity Street, past the former school hall, and noted that it was home to Affixxius Films, and it was just possible to see people through the windows, working inside. Now when I walk past, it seems deserted in there: is the company still based in Loughborough, or have they moved away? Perhaps I should get in touch with them and find out once and for all?!

Trinity Church in the foreground, redbrick church hall to the right

The final change is that the splendiferous cover shot for the book will never again be subject of a photoshoot. Gone! That glorious ghost sign, canal-side, is no more that a pile of bricks in a reclamation yard somewhere. The rest of the site has changed dramatically as well, although it appears the middle portion is staying.