Towering city landmark was first traffic island in kingdom

GENERATIONS of local people have met at Leicester’s Clock Tower, one of the city’s bestknown and most iconic landmarks. The Clock Tower was built originally as a solution to traffic congestion on the site of the town’s former hay and straw market in 1868.

Horse-drawn vehicles all converged on the area known as the Haymarket from six streets, causing chaos.

It was decided that “The Haymarket Memorial Clock Tower” would be constructed as the first traffic island in the kingdom.

An organisation was formed in 1867 to raise funds for the project, led by John Burton, who ran a photography business nearby.

A total of 472 members of the public contributed a total of £872, 2 shillings, and 9 pence, with the rest of the £1,200 needed to construct the tower provided by the Corporation of Leicester. The competition to design it was won by local architect Joseph Goddard.

A bottle containing coins, newspapers and the names of the town’s

Corporation was placed beneath the topmost stone when construction finished in 1868.

In 1903, tramlines were laid round the Clock Tower and the system of junctions was the most complicated in Britain.

The Clock Tower was intended as a memorial to four of Leicester’s benefactors, carved by the stonemason Samuel Barfield. Simon De Montfort was Earl of Leicester in 1239 and is remembered locally for giving townsfolk grazing rights on common land and for lifting certain taxes.

William Wigston was a wealthy wool merchant. In 1513, he founded Wigston’s Hospital for the poor.

Money from his estate was used to found a Free Grammar School (still standing on Highcross Street).

Sir Thomas White established a trust fund in 1542 known as the “Town Hundred” which helped many local young men start up in business.

Alderman Gabriel Newton set up a trust for the education, clothing and apprenticing of boys. The former Alderman Newton School is now the King Richard III Visitor Centre.

Words and pictures courtesy of Leicester City Council’s The Story of Leicester