If you were asked to join a Culture in Loughborough walk,
you’d probably say “That’ll be a short walk then!”. So, I’m sure you’d be
surprised to learn that 90 minutes to walk and talk about culture in Loughborough quite simply
isn’t enough: In fact, there’s more than enough culture in Loughborough to fill
at least two such walks! Had you come along to the recent culture walk, led by
Ernie Miller, you’d have discovered that, actually, Loughborough had, and still
has, it’s fair share of cultural activities!
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| Theatre |
So, for example, did you know that:
Loughborough has had four theatres, one of which is still standing – and that’s not including the Town Hall, nor any of the theatres on the university campus?
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| The Odeon as The Curzon in 2004 |
And, did you know that at one time Loughborough had three cinemas all operating at the same time?
And that the Odeon (formerly the Empire, The Essoldo, The New Empire, The Curzon, The Reel) which currently has six screens has applied for planning permission to add another four screens
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| A new cinema? |
And that Cineworld has put in a planning application to build a cinema complex on the site of the old Baxtergate Hospital?
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| Charnwood Museum from Granby Street |
And that there are currently four museums?
And, did you know that Loughborough’s modern coffee culture
has been going on for years, partly encouraged by the Temperance Society who
tried to persuade people not to drink alcohol, and who opened a coffee house on
the corner of Devonshire Square and Granby Street, now a locally listed
building?
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| The Organ Grinder, aka The Old Pack Horse |
And talking of alcohol, pubs have been the meeting places of numerous groups and societies, and places of musical entertainment, for many years. The Three Nuns still has live bands playing, the Organ Grinder still has folk music evenings, and the Swan in the Rushes also has bands and performances by Mikron the canal theatre group.
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| Carnegie Library |
A library is not only about education, it is also about culture. The first library in Loughborough was a subscription library on Baxtergate, available only to those who could afford to pay for the service, and the first free public library was on Greenclose Lane, more or less where Sainsbury is now.
Today’s library provides much more than books, as befits a 21st century service: DVDs are available for loan, computers are available to use, and the library is home to a variety of other activities, including being hosts to public health checks, writing and craft classes.
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| An example of a Ladybird book |
And so to books! Loughborough, the home of Ladybird books! Originally based in Angel Yard, the publisher Wills, who produced trade and street directories, was joined, in 1915 by Mr Hepworth, and together they published the first Ladybird book. The rest, as they say, is history!
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| Signaller in the sunshine |
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| Re-dedication of the Fearon Fountain Apr 2013 |
Loughborough is also rich in public sculpture, ranging from the Fearon Fountain in the Market Place, and elaborately carved reliefs on buildings in the town centre, to the Signaller in The Rushes.
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| St Paul bell casing in Queen’s Park |
The latest collection of sculptures which were erected in Queen’s Park as part of the In Bloom entry are on a music-related theme and includes the bell casing used to cast the Great Paul bell in St Paul's Cathedral.
Over the years the town has also been home to various music
shops: George Adcock’s on Baxtergate, George Hames on Baxtergate then Market
Place, Paltridge’s on Churchgate, Groops on The Rushes, and Just Music on
Leicester Road, to name but a few.
So, that’s the first culture walk done! Look out
for the next one soon!!
