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No 49 (2013) Published by the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society LEICESTERSHIRE ARCHAEOLOGICAL AND HISTORICAL SOCIETY Founded in 1855 Join the County's Premier Archaeological and Historical Society..... .....if you have an interest in archaeology, local history, churches, historic buildings, heraldry, history or any other topic concerned with Leicestershire's past. Individual Membership costs only £20 a year and this entitles you to: • Your own copy of ‘Transactions’, the Society’s major annual reference work for Leicestershire • Your own copy of the ‘Leicestershire Historian’ with the best essays and articles from local researchers, and a major review of recent local publications • Two Newsletters every year to keep you informed about all that’s happening locally • Free access to a fine collection of resources in the Society’s Library in the Guildhall • Attend a season of fascinating talks and lectures for free • Access to visits, history fairs, guided walks and special events Family Membership for two or more family members at one address costs £25, Student Membership costs £6 Full members receive all Society publications, students members receive the two Newletters If you would like to join the Society, or require further details, please contact The Honorary Membership Secretary, Matthew Beamish, LAHS c/o ULAS, School of Archaeology & Ancient History, University of Leicester, University Road, Leicester. LE1 7RH Tel. 0116 2525234 Email [email protected] www.le.ac.uk/lahs ‘Connecting history, heritage and archaeology groups across Leicestershire and Rutland’ Editor: Joyce Lee. All contributions should be sent to the Editor, 72 Shanklin Drive, Leicester. LE2 3QA Email [email protected] Reviews Editor: Cynthia Brown, Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, The Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, Leicester. LE1 5FQ Email [email protected] Published by the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, The Guildhall, Guildhall Lane, Leicester. LE1 5FQ Copyright © The Society and the individual authors 2013 ISSN 0024-0664 Printed by Central Print, Leicestershire County Council No 49 (2013) Contents Editorial 2 The ‘Battle of the Beams’ and Coalville Outstation of RAF 80 Wing (Signals) Maureen Havers 3 Terry Sheppard A Leicester Born Artist and Engraver: Mary Annie Sloane A.R.E. Shirley Aucott 9 The Pioneering Markfield to Bardon Wire Tramway Andrew Moore 16 William Gardiner’s ‘Recollections of Old Leicester’ J. D. Bennett 22 Enclosure of Thrussington Celia Cotton 26 ‘Hope Against Hopelessness’ Leicester’s Homesteads for the Unemployed Cynthia Brown 33 Mary Ann Herrick (1795-1871): Artist and Benefactor – the ‘Dorcas’ of Woodhouse Caroline Wessel 41 ‘No Better Preparation for Life’ The Leicestershire Adult School Union Enid Harrison 46 From Italy to Belgrave and Enderby: The Statues of Belgrave Hall Erica Statham 51 Everard Aloysius Lisle Phillipps VC–ALeicestershireSoldier in India David C. J. Howell 55 Recent Publications Ed Cynthia Brown 62 Cover picture: Two enigmatic life-sized ‘Terms’ which stand just inside the gates to Church Road Gardens, opposite Belgrave Hall. See page 51. Editor: Joyce Lee Published by the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society, The Guildhall, Leicester. LE1 5FQ 2013 Leicestershire Historian 2013 Editorial For six months, from the late summer in 2012 and over the winter, many people in Leicester and elsewhere held their breath as the results from the archaeological excavations at the Grey Friars friary in Leicester were keenly awaited. Then on the 4th February 2013, the news was broken to the world that the battle-scarred remains of King Richard III had indeed been found. Amongst the first detailed accounts of this outstanding historic discovery are those in Antiquity 2013 (vol. 87, no. 336), and in the Transactions of the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society 2013. A fascinating picture of the topographical features and people of the central area of Leicester some 300 years later was delivered by William Gardiner to the Leicester Literary and Philosophical Society in 1844, highlights from which appear in print for the first time here, enhanced by a commentary from J. D. Bennett. Three miles north of the centre of Leicester is Belgrave Hall. Today, whilst many will be familiar with the house, gardens, and park opposite, few will probably have paid much attention to the four life-sized outdoor statues there. These were once part of a larger collection of sixteen ‘Terms’, the missing twelve of which Erica Statham sets out to trace, following the trail to Enderby and beyond. The laundry room at Belgrave Hall was one of the more unusual places where an adult school group was set up in Leicestershire in the nineteenth century, as Enid Harrison describes in her informative article on the origins and development of the Leicestershire Adult School Union. In the late 1860’s, Markfield became the location for a new form of transport known as a ‘wire tramway’, the first of its kind in the world. Andrew Moore examines why Markfield was chosen for this unexpected pioneering experiment, what it involved, and what became of it. Also little-known about until very recently, is the intriguing story behind an unprepossessing brick structure in a field close to Mount St Bernard Abbey. Maureen Havers and Terry Sheppard describe the work done by Charley Heritage Group to reveal this former blast shelter, and its associated RAF Outstation which played a key role in the ‘Battle of the Beams’ during World War Two. Leicestershire soldier Everard Aloysius Lisle Phillipps posthumously received the VC for his action in the Indian Mutiny. David Howell presents the conflict from a contemporary nineteenth century British perspective through the letters of this young British officer. Documents in the Herrick and Nichols archives form an important part of the material used by Caroline Wessel to uncover the hitherto little-known artistic talents and extraordinary charitable work of Mary Ann Herrick. It was extremely difficult for a woman to become established as a serious career artist in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, but as Shirley Aucott admirably shows, Leicester born Mary Annie Sloane, who was to play a major role in the arts and crafts movement nationally, was one of the exceptions to this. Celia Cotton provides a well-researched case study of late eighteenth century enclosure in Thrussington, discussing its inevitability, and the impact on the parish and its inhabitants. To help counter unemployment in the 1930s, the Borough Council of Leicester adopted a scheme to provide ‘homesteads’ for unemployed men and their families. The poignant tale of this social experiment set up on land between Beaumont Leys and Birstall is brought to life by Cynthia Brown. Cynthia Brown and her team of reviewers again provide excellent coverage and reviews of recently published books, journals and other items which go together to form this invaluable part of the Leicestershire Historian. The Leicestershire Historian aims to promote the study of the county’s history by providing a platform for established and new authors, and through encouraging the pursuit of research and project work. It also aims to publicise the work of local groups and organisations, and seeks to raise the awareness of research sources. Contributions for future editions are welcome from individuals, local groups, museums and other organisations and should be sent to the Editor for consideration. Articles can be short items or longer in-depth pieces, and can be submitted at any time. If you would like to discuss an idea in advance, please contact the Editor. Joyce Lee, Editor Leicestershire Historian 2013 The ‘Battle of the Beams’ and Coalville Outstation of RAF 80 Wing (Signals) Maureen Havers and Terry Sheppard n Saturday 8th September 2012 a large number of To ‘parade your wares’ as it were, on a national Heritage people who had heard that a very special wartime Open Day is an ambitious and daunting prospect for any Ostory was being spelled out that day in a field close group. ‘Does our bit of unknown heritage warrant a wider to Mount St Bernard Abbey high up in the Charnwood audience? Will anyone come?’ were questions we asked Forest, made their way to the site. Turning off into Oaks ourselves. In Charley Heritage Group’s case, as the Road at the Charley Parish Millennium Stone, they would illustration shows, the attraction was no more than a brick come across the field entrance marked by a Royal Air Force ruin in the middle of a field, and with no explanation, Flag flying at the top of a pole. Car parking was available a seemingly little more enticing for a visitor than a cattle little further along the Oaks Road at Abbey Grange, as was shelter. But the Group had researched its history, and knew the inviting prospect of a Charnwood cream tea in the local the intriguing story it concealed – a story that had been Top tea room. Secret in World War Two and barely spoken of since. The curious looking brick structure in St Joseph’s Field, The trailer sheltering in the blast wall on Charley Heritage recently revealed to have been a World War Two blast wall. Group Open Day, 8th September 2012. At the field, known as St Joseph’s Field, visitors were After its foundation in 1999, the Charley Heritage Group warmly greeted by the cadets of 1188 Squadron of the Air had set about collecting all sorts of information about the Training Corps who brought an authentic touch of wartime area. This included recording many of its older residents’ RAF blue with their uniforms. A little way into the field memories about how World War Two had affected their visitors were greeted by the sight of an unusual solid brick lives. As part of this, a local Coalville man, Ken Nicholls, and concrete structure anchored firmly in position. Round had provided invaluable first-hand historical information the other side, the structure was open-ended, with a large about the brick structure in St Joseph’s field.