Colin Crosby Heritage Tours

The Great Hole of Leicester (Leicester)

“The Great Hole of Leicester” is the unofficial name given to the circle surrounded by brick which stands beside West Bridge in Leicester.

Looking closely, it should become apparent that the top half has had a lower part added, to form a circle. The top was the design over the entrance to the old wholesale fruit and vegetable market in Rutland Street, opposite the late lamented Odeon Cinema, which has recently been spectacularly refurbished and reopened as Athena.

When this market was demolished in 1972, the decorations were, quite rightly, regarded as much too good to be destroyed, so were kept in store for a while before being re-erected in 1981 as a feature and talking point.

The terracotta panels, which feature mermaids, were hand moulded by William Neatby at the Lambeth premises of Doulton and Co.