Leicester has long been an important city in the East Midlands. Remains
of Roman Leicester can still be seen today, as well as many buildings
from the Middle Ages, not least being the resting place of Richard III
at the end of the Wars of the Roses. Leicester grew rapidly during
industrialisation, led by industries such as textiles, clothing,
footwear and engineering. It was granted city status in 1919 after its
industries had played a key role in the First World War and St Martin's
Church was consecrated as the cathedral in 1927. The last 100 years have
seen sweeping changes to Leicester as the city has extended and rebuilt
itself. In Leicester: The Postcard Collection author Alan Spree has
drawn on a remarkable selection of old postcards to give a pictorial
record of life in Leicester in the past, from c. 1900 to the 1950s.
Although some of the historical Leicester seen in these views has been
lost, many landmarks have remained and will be familiar today. The
postcards show the changes in Leicester's fabric and how its community
has adapted to and changed over the course of this period. This
fascinating collection of images will be of interest to those who have
lived in Leicester or know it well.
