Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

Gone, But Not Forgotten (A Guided Walk in Leicester)

"Gone But Not Forgotten" is a fascinating Guided Walk devised and led by Colin Crosby, of Colin Crosby Heritage Tours, the well-known Leicester-based Blue Badge Guide.

These walks are an enjoyable way to soak up some Local History.

This walk starts outside Leicester's Town Hall, and the route takes in the City Centre and Old Town, as well as the New Walk area.

It is well known that Leicester lost many of its historic buildings in the 1960s. At that time planners felt that an inner ring road with its attendant flyovers, underpasses and car parks, not to mention the subways where pedestrians could be safely out of view, was much more important than the heritage of one of England's oldest towns.

This walk ignores all that, and starts from the time in the early 1990s when Colin became a Blue Badge Guide.

It is an unfortunate fact that there are plenty of things which were in existence at that time which have, for whatever reason, vanished.

Colin will discuss the delightful little school building in the Albion Hill area which was simply demolished with no outcry, and the former St. Mary de Castro Church rectory (later used as an auctioneers) which more recently was knocked down with very little comment. Both these now have huge modern blocks on the site.

Also in evidence a few years ago were the set of cobbles showing the Whipping Toms' stamping ground in The Newarke; a street pump in New Street, moved for safety and never again seen, at least by the public; and the plaque recording the first store opened by a company which became a nationwide electrical chain. Yes, it was Currys.

Add to these Silver Arcade, the Edwardian arcade which had tiny shops on three upper floors; and Ainleys, the country's leading independent record shop, and you have a thought-provoking walk to bring back many memories of not too long ago.

Dates, costs and where to meet

A place on 'Gone, But Not Forgotten' costs £3.50 per person, or £2.50 if paying in advance. The guided walk begins at Town Hall, and is running on:

I'm sorry, but there are no plans to run this event at present.

If you would like to book a place on one of these dates, please telephone Colin on (0116) 2611576 or email him at colin@crosbyheritage.co.uk.

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