Exindustria - the historic factories of Leicester

A words, sound, and image lament for Leicester's lost industrial greatness, sad reminders of the city's history as a mass manufacturing centre in engineering and hosiery

[@paulm1162]

I used to work at another smaller factory 100yds from corahs called Leesons, used to go to corah factory shop, heart breaking to see it like this

[@davidshelley6598]

I've been exploring some of these sites recently after being away for many years. Sad to see the industries in decline but good to see something has survived. Thanks

[@pun2k]

Just found this! Great images! Amazing how much the city has transformed!

[@wayneasher4031]

thanks for nice comments. I think this is all about heritage and peoples respect for their past. Why should building remain empty is odd to me - in London places like Corahs would have been turned into city centre apartments years ago (as actually happened with the Richard Roberts factory)

[@kleedhamhobby]

My Dad worked for Imperial Typewriters, on East Park Road, from the 1930s, until the firm was put into bankruptcy, some years after being taken over by the American Litton Industries group. It's also worth remembering that Ned Ludd, that famous opponent of the effects of the industrial revolution (for whom 'Luddites' were named), was a local boy. I fished in that canal as a boy (1960s) - it always smelt kind of funny, a bit like a gas leak.

[@MattDavis_BeechingsGhosts]

Love this. I walk the canal regularly and many of those are still there, but some I don't recognise which may be the lament for what is lost.

[@timriggott396]

Worked there in the 1970s, first job.

[@ianjackson349]

I had 9 years at Corah, 78-87, and my father for 20 years before me, 54-74. Following the "old school", the demise began in the mid-1970's. Market forces, and "corporate young executive" shite management structures that led to shite decision making were also to blame

[@clivebaxter6354]

worked there 6 month in 1971, sacked. Sister worked there from 1958 until the 90's. Horrible management and put all their eggs in one basket, M&S

[@Skin-ve2tt]

Nice work.

[@ditomito3356]

St Margaret's baths were also pulled down, rather than upgrade

[@redbird9658]

So sad. I remember them being built and opened.

[@cwsmarco]

Nice one Wayne. I do the walk from Slater street and along the GU canal each morning and see many of the scenes you have shown.

[@artschoolstuart]

Superb…I remember so many of these places. I'll have to think about my time in Leicester rather more…I remember the Dryad works…Frog island? Various hosiery dye houses my dad took me to when he collected garment pieces he was getting dyed…what else…Vestry Street Baths, messing about on the turntable at the abandoned Central Station…a little cafe near the Boulevard whose owner grew, exhibited and then cooked giant onions......

[@ruthroses1]

nice video i love old factories x

[@bobclark6703]

Have always tried to find information about a hosiery factory that belonged to my Grandad, it was called Vine knitwear and I think it was in the Woodgate area, he also had a shop there. This was a very long time ago, I have a victorian photograph that was taken in Abbey park of a works outing with himself and employees sitting on the grass.

[@wayneasher4031]

have you tried COmpanies House to see if any records exist there?

[@bobclark6703]

@@wayneasher4031 Thanks for replying to me, no i havn't done that I will give it a go. 👍

[@bonnieandclyde222]

I remember the Vine knitwear

[@bobclark6703]

@@bonnieandclyde222 Thanks for responding, do you know if it would have been the one in Woodgate Leicester?

[@redbird9658]

Anything on Midland Knitwear. My dad used to work there as a sales rep.

[@57bananaman]

The decline of industry in Leicester predates the '80s and '90s. I was living in the city throughout the second half of the '70s and a lot of the factories were laying off staff or closing down even then. The prime example would have to be Imperial Typewriters on East Park Road who closed around the end of '74.

[@wayneasher4031]

this is true - the first big closure was I think, Dunlop at St Marys Mills in 1971, where 1100 jobs went. (Dunlop had got Government funding for a new plant in the North East!). Then there was Stibbe engineering in 1974, you mentioned Imperial, then the Wildt Mellor Bromley plant in Aylestone, which went, taking another 1,000 with it in 1977...

[@clivebaxter6354]

Not all of Corahs is derelict, old sock building is now Leicester College, St Margarets, was Andromeda house.

[@bryn494]

Time moves on, unfortunately, but with luck enough will survive. Like it or not economics makes the world go round and it would cost way too much to save it all. Repurposing should be done when possible. I worked at the old Wolsely mill on Abbey Park Rd for three years in the late 70's, it was HJB plastics and owned by Courtalds then. On a visit back in '13 I was happy to see it was being converted and the lovely corner facade was being kept :)

[@Duchy3168]

Hi, I remember walking around the Wolsely mill site with friends in 2010 when I was about 15. I was fascinated to stand right next to the huge chimney. Had so many questions and knew I wanted to learn more about the industrial past then. I went back in 2020 after going away for a while. Now it's all housing. What was it like to work there?

[@davidmcmillan3417]

Tragic, the sad demise of a once great city. 3rd world now, I'm afraid.

[@knitmaven]

very tragic, And what about all the people that lost their jobs

[@bonnieandclyde222]

It's a massive mess and has become like 3rd world yes

[@scot4u]

Great historical vid and what part of the Asher clan are you My mother was an Asher

[@wayneasher4031]

thank you! My dad was from Countesthorpe, Mum from Highfields

[@scot4u]

@@wayneasher4031 Mine came from great glen and moved to Highfields

[@redlineracing4947]

Song name ?

[@paulbishop7943]

Nice little video. It seems grade listing old factories or breweries in Leicester means nothing. They all get burned down. Then it becomes the blame game. Never Leicester City Councils fault though is it! All saints brewery was a joke. Look what’s there now 🤔. As for the old parish of all saints Leicester the church is still there. At the minute.

[@ruthwilson8080]

Corahs is still there

[@wayneasher4031]

Hi Ruth - at the moment yes. But developers are seeking permission to knock it all down for new build rather than refurbish it. I hope city planners turn them down

[@redlineracing4947]

So g?

[@peterphilstacey4698]

Leicester is a dump, the city centre is , provincial and culturally a total mess, im glad I will be out of it 1 day soon

[@andymurday4538]

Surely it is time for those buildings to be demolished. They are eyesores.

[@bobclark6703]

They could be converted to flats for more housing rather than keep building on greenbelt land.

[@bonnieandclyde222]

They need to do something big with a lot , on Leicester they didn't want to save and improve a lot of old buildings just build light blocking students buildings like at De Montfort uni and on Welford road now the ugly additions to Leicester University

[@spinynorman8217]

Maybe you should do a course on industrial architecture or even take a trip to London to see Docklands. Check out what those factories warehouses were like before redevelopment to see how short sighted your comments are. I bet you have plastic windows too!

[@redlineracing4947]

So g?