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

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

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When only wine will do!

It's funny how things seem to point in a particular direction! There are so many things and people I want to blog about, I sometimes sit and think "where shall I start", but other times the subject of the post is obvious!

After last week's visit to the re-opening of the Old Bleach Yard path through to the Granby Street car park, I was thinking about the new businesses that have relatively recently opened in Ward's End, like Madeline's Gifts and Flowers (where I recently got my own wedding bouquet and buttonholes), the new cafe in what was until recently the shoe shop, and the Deli at 58, to name but a few. Here's hoping that their businesses boom now that there is easier access from the car park.

That also led me to thinking about the businesses that have only recently closed, like Denise's Florists, the shoe shop I've just mentioned above, the guitar shop, the Age Concern bookshops (ok, so it's still in town) and some time ago now, Wakerleys the bakers, again, to name but a few.

Of course, there are a number of shops which have been on Ward's End for a long time, including Kent Stevenson shoes, the vacuum cleaner shop, and George Hill, Wine Merchants. Again, here's hoping trade for them is also brisk!

Talking of George Hills, my eldest was home from university for a couple of days last week, and he popped into the shop looking for some Eiswein (ice wine), as a gift for a friend, who had spent some years working in Canada so was particularly fond of the Canadian variety. Anyway, none was to be had so he came home with some late Riesling instead. Whilst we were talking, I suddenly remembered I had a bottle of Eiswein squirrelled away somewhere at the back of a cupboard, so went to see if I could find it. Imagine our surprise when it turned out to be one of those elusive Canadian varieties!!

Also whilst we were chatting I remembered that I'd read somewhere that George Hill's were having s display in the local studies area of the public library, so I hotfooted it off to the library to have a look at said exhibition, and take a few photos. Do go and see it if you can because my photos are absolute rubbish quality, for which I apologise profusely.

Hmmm, and this gives me an idea for next week's post! Hope to see you then!