Site of city’s first occupation?
THERE is evidence at Western Park of possibly Leicester’s earliest occupation. What is believed to be an early Bronze Age henge site and burial mounds have been discovered there along with evidence of Roman occupation.
It is thought the Roman road linking Leicester (Ratae Coritanorum) and Manchester (Manduessedum) runs through the park, although the exact location remains unknown.
Areas of the park have also seen phases of sandstone quarrying possibly dating as far back as the Roman period.
This “Dane Hills Sandstone” (now known as Arden Sandstone) is thought to be the material from which many of Leicester’s earliest churches were built, as well as The Magazine.
By the time of the 1089 Domesday Book record, Western Park was a forest called “Herewoode” and belonged to one of William the Conqueror’s most trusted barons: Hugh de Grandmaisnil. The park was part of the wider Leicester Forest and by the 12th century had passed into the hands of the Earls of Leicester.
“Assarting” or the removal of trees for fuel and grazing saw the forest dwindle in size until the Frith (the approximate area of today’s park) was fenced off – the tree known as “Old Major” is thought to be a surviving remnant of this forest and possibly the oldest tree in any of Leicester’s parks.
In 1897, the Leicester Corporation bought the park for £30,000, primarily for the enjoyment by residents of
Leicester’s expanding West End. It was officially opened by the Mayor of Leicester in 1899 and an oak tree and Californian fir were planted to mark the occasion. Initial complaints by the Parks Committee stated the park was not frequently used by the public due to its location outside the town and, as a result, a tram line was constructed in 1904 to bring in visitors to the city.
For many decades Western Park was well known for its 1930s Open Air School, now grade II-listed. This was constructed for children who were recovering from debilitating illnesses, particularly of a respiratory nature, and was characterised by programs of hydrotherapy, exercise and nutrition aimed at improving the health of the most impoverished children.
In the Committee Minutes, it was explained the aim of the school was to “so train the children that they would eventually become hardy men and women”. The school was open from 1930 to 2005.
During the First World War, the Wartime Ambulance Station trained on Western Park and it was the training ground for the Leicester Regiment’s Volunteers. Even the grass of the golf course was used for the war effort when it was harvested to feed horses and cattle when Great Britain’s agriculture was stretched under rationing.
During the Second World War, air raid drills were carried out at the park with military inspections and processions taking place in the grounds. There was a public air raid shelter in the corner of the park next to Hinckley Road and children recalled seeing guns and search lights illuminating the sky above it, with concrete sewer pipes being laid across the grassy areas to prevent enemy aircraft from attempting to land.
Leicester City Corporation took pride in providing their citizens with a public park with a majestic entrance and lined avenue of trees.
The “fair pool” became the muchloved paddling pool, and that, along with tennis courts, the bandstand and a play area secured the success of the park with all social classes.
The park today is still a popular visitor spot for families and boasts frequent concerts in the bandstand as well as a variety of sporting and recreational facilities.