Leicester Square over the years as major regeneration plan ‘paused’

VaselineMay 26, 2024

0 4 minutes read

Leicester Square over the years as major regeneration plan ‘paused’

It’s hard to imagine Leicester city center without its bustling square. It is an iconic part of life in Leicester, with the lively sights and sounds of the market emanating from its site for over 700 years.

However, the future is now uncertain after Leicester City Council said regeneration plans for the site had been “stalled”. This follows the demolition of the historic market earlier this year and what had been a planned temporary move to the Green Dragon Market ahead of a long-awaited return.

READ MORE: Leicester market traders feel betrayed by ‘broken promises’ after news they may never return to historic home

Now that return is up in the air after the council said it had “considered other options” for the area, including a potential market area linked to Cank Street. It is a controversial move that has sparked backlash from market traders and mixed views from the general public in Leicester. Many were far from impressed and saddened by the news, while others saw it as a way to breathe new life into the city.

With the future unclear for Leicester Market, now is the time to look at how far it has come over the centuries. Courtesy of photos from the Leicester Mercury archives, here are some of the best shots from the market’s past to its current demolished form.

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circa 1950

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Leicester Market Place to celebrate the coronation of King George V on 22 June 1911

(Image: unknown)

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Cheapside, Leicester Square in 1858

(Image: Northcliffe Media Ltd.)

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Joseph Byron Adcock (right) serves a customer in Leicester Square, circa 1900

(Image: LM)

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This Leicester Market photo of the old fish market and what is now Molly O’Grady’s was submitted by Gary Rogers and is believed to be from the early 1950s.

(Image: Gary Rogers)

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Among this sea of bowler hats, sailors and caps is Ramsay Macdonald, addressing a crowd in Leicester’s Market Place in 1916. In 1924, he was to become Britain’s first Labor Prime Minister. The imposing statue is of the Duke of Rutland

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Customers at Paddy’s Swag Stall in 1951 look unimpressed by his merchandise. If he could get just one purchase, the rest would follow. Leicester Square

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King and Queen Pearly of Leicester, Ernie and Betty White, with market traders at the start of the Leicester Market Centenary celebrations in 1984.

(Image: Northcliffe Media Ltd.)

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Leicester Square taken from the Corn Exchange, photographed in 1877

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Leicester Square, 1916

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The first Strawberry Special of 1911 arrives at London Road station ready for a mad dash to Leicester Square.

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Shoppers in Leicester Square, 1965

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Leicester Market Place taken before one of its many redevelopments in May 1968

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1951 photograph of Leicester Square taken from the Town Hall tower

(Image: Leicester Mercury)

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This photo is believed to be dated to the late 1800s. It is recorded that it was a May morning. The cheese fairs were always held on the second Thursday in May and the second Thursday in October. The cheeses piled on the ground on a bed of straw are Leicestershire tomatoes. Stilton was also present. The Ullesthorpe area was particularly known for red Leicestershire and Stilton of course was and still is from the Melton area. Apparently, in the heyday of the cheese fair, St. Michael’s was the larger of the two, when the cheese fair stretched right across the front of the Corn Exchange. They were brought in by the farmers.

(Image: unknown)

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The Lord Mayor of Leicester, Mr John Phipps, receives a check for £2,210 from Leicester Market traders Mr Laurence Catchside (left) and Mr Eric Shenstone. The money presented was from last year’s medieval festival proceeds. 1987

(Image: Northcliffe Media Ltd.)

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Bruce Forsyth leads a marching band at Leicester Market in 1992

(Image: Leicester Mercury)

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Ramsay MacDonald hawking in Leicester’s Market Place in 1906

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A pony and a trap go through the time of the first world war

(Image: Leicester Mercury)

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Aerial view from the 1970s showing the new roof of the upper square

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New £1.7m roof in 1992

(Image: Leicester Mercury)

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Christmas tastes turn to pheasants, duck and partridge – a fact felt at one of Leicester’s oldest market stalls, John Collins, in December 1985. The licensed game dealer was established in 1864 by John Collins on a wooden stall and passed down through his family. In 1985, it was run by great-grandson George Collins

(Image: Leicester Mercury)

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Konrad Smigielski, Leicester City Council’s director of planning (left), discusses the Leicester Market Place redevelopment scheme in 1963 with consultant surveyor JD Trustram Eve

(Image: Leicester Mercury)

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Bands on parade in Leicester’s Market Place circa 1875

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This view of Leicester Market Place was taken in 1961 and shows one of the different styles of permanent roof that covered the area.

(Image: Leicester Mercury)

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Leicester Square circa 1900

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In 1905, unemployed marchers were welcomed into Leicester Square

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Market trader Mark Goodrich serves Bonte Desiree potatoes in October 1979

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1882. Visit of the Prince and Princess of Wales (later Edward VII and Queen Alexandra). I’m in Leicester to officially open Abbey Park. The royal party is right under the statue of the Duke of Rutland. Check out the huge crowds, including some brave rooftop watchers at least 50 feet high

(Image: unknown)

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Dolly Moreton at her fruit and vegetable stall in the early 1960s

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Red Leicester and Stilton cheeses sold at the bi-annual cheese fair at Leicester Market in 1903

(Image: unknown)

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Inside Leicester Square in 2023

(Image: LeicestershireLive)

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The market relocated in 2023 before the planned major transformation

(Image: Ben Carr / Leicester Mercury)