NOSTALGIA

SIXTY years ago, in 1958, work started on clearing what had been labelled by some as the “sunless sordid slums” of the Wharf Street area of Leicester.

Within seven short years, this part of Leicester had been transformed. By 1965, the slum housing had been demolished and a new estate called St Matthew’s was taking shape.

According to the Leicester Chronicle of April that year, an optimistic future awaited all the lucky new tenants of the area which it rather optimistically named the “silver-lining estate”.

Photos showed traffic-free streets lined with pristine, four-storey flats. Housewives were pictured hanging out washing and shaking out rugs, while children played in the concrete courtyard communal areas.

To complete the transformation, a new set of names was also added to the city street directory: Ottawa Road, Manitoba Road, Vancouver Road and several others, all with a Canadian origin.

According to the report, hundreds of people were rehomed in the new flats and this was just the start.

Besides the 526 dwellings, work was also due to start on new factories – six storeys high and situated on the east and north of the estate.

In the second phase of the St Matthew’s development, a shopping centre and other amenities, including a two-storey underground car park, were planned.

A community centre was also proposed, along with and old people’s home and two 24-storey tower blocks.