Special achievement to get building listed
HAVING known the building since Richard Gill’s The Book of Leicester, 1985, it is wonderful to report the listing at grade-II by Heritage England of the Home for Penitent Females, 58, Stoneygate Road, Leicester.
Crucial to this was detailed historical research by Shirley Aucott.
History tells us of the many struggles people undertake to improve their lives and historical significance is an important criterion, alongside aesthetics, adopted by the Department for Culture, Media and Sport in listing decisions.
In the 19th century, political, legal, and economic inequality meant desperately few jobs were considered suitable for females and they were subject to extremely low wages, insecurity and often unemployment.
As such, it was almost impossible for girls and women left on their own to fully support themselves.
They were then open to prostitution and all kinds of abuse.
Earlier than Angela BurdettCoutts and Charles Dickens, Leicester was ahead of a progressive movement among philanthropists and religious leaders to provide a home rather than a penitentiary for socalled fallen women, where they could begin to raise their heads, learn skills and aspire to an improved life.
Unhappy with the earlier town centre refuges, a more spacious, purpose-built home was commissioned in 1881 from royal infirmary architect, William Beaumont Smith, near green fields on the edge of the developing middle-class suburb of Stoneygate.
The design is in a competent Domestic Revival style, harmonious with nearby residences.
Alongside a laundry, there was a large workroom where Edith Gittins provided Morris & Company furnishings and a mural of the Light of the World.
The grounds included a large playground and covered gymnasium.
We understand that in the 1890s forms of enjoyment and relaxation were also provided in the form of excursions, holidays and evenings of entertainment.
Generally, there are few built testaments to women’s history and, according to Heritage England, it seems only one other refuge in England
has been listed. So, this marks a very special achievement for Leicester and the Victorian Society. Rowan Roenisch, vice-chairman, Leicester Group of the Victorian Society