Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/575

Rh LEICESTER. 567 LEICESTER. length from N. to S. is about a mile, but the town gradually extending in all directions. Water is 'light from springs at Thornton by the Leicester 'ater Company, and a considerable quantity is also afforded by a conduit in the market-place, and by wells in different part* of the town. The streets are lighted with gas manufactured by a company. At the S.E. side of the town there is a promenade called the New Walk, consisting of an avenue of trees. Both sides of the walk are lined by well-built villas. The townhall was built in the reign of Elizabeth, and opened by a dinner to celebrate the victory over the Spanish Armada. The principal room is about 80 feet in length. The assizes re held in the assembly rooms, one of the handsomest buildings in Leicester, which was originally built for an hotel, but purchased by the county and altered to serve its present purpose. The town library, founded in 1632, adjoins the Guildhall. It contains about 1,000 volumes, mostly of old divinity. The public library and newsroom is an Ionic building, erected by Mr. Flint in 1838. The town museum is situated in New Walk, and contains a collection of antiquities and other objects of curiosity. The literary and philosophical society have placed their collection there. There is also a mechanics' institute, possessing an extensive library. Tho theatre was built in 1837, and is a handsome build- ing both externally and internally. The temperance hall is also a fine room. The exchange is a plain brick building in the market-place. The new county gaol and house of correction are at the S. side of the town, and the town gaol in Highcross-street. There is a bath-room in the New Walk, comprising plunge, vapour, shower-baths, &c., of the most perfect arrangement. There are five banks in Leicester, including a branch of the National Provincial Bank of England, in addition to a savings-bank.- Leicester is noted for its stocking manufacture, both woollen and cotton, which is inferior in extent only to that of Nottingham. Lace, cotton, and woollen thread, gloves, and rope arc also largely manufactured. The first charter of incorporation was granted to the town by King John, and extended by other sovereigns, the last grant being in the forty-first year of Elizabeth. It is now divided into seven wards, and governed by a mayor, fourteen aldermen, and forty- two councillors, with the stylo of the " mayor, bailiffs, and burgesses of the borough of Leicester." Since the reign of Edward I., the borough has returned two mem- bers to parliament. Tho mayor is the returning officer. The mayor and his predecessor hold commissions of the peace in conjunction with about twenty borough magis- trates. The corporate revenue is about 22,700. The population, according to the census of 1861, was 68,050, against 60,584 in 1851, giving an increase of 7,472. The Poor-law Union is co- extensive with the borough, and contains 3,9CO acres. The headquarters of the militia are fixed here. The earldom of Leicester is now held by the Coke family. It was previously possessed by Robert Dudley in the time of Queen Elizabeth, having belonged to various families since the Norman period. The manor is the property of the duchy of Lancaster. Leicester is divided into the following parishes: All Saint?, St. Leonard with Abbey and Woodgate, St. Mar- tin, St. Mar}', St. Nicholas, St. Margaret with Bishop's Fee, and the liberties of Blackfriars, Newark, and Whito- friars. All Saints' is a vie.,* val. 70, pat. the lord chancellor. Tho church is small, with a low tower. ncel is modern, the rest being early English. Tho font is remarkable for its age and curious design.
 * ird's is a vie., val. 50, in the patron, of the

>r, but the church was destroyed in the Civil War, and was never rebuilt. Tho churchyard is, i', still used. St. Margaret's is a vie.,* val. :380, -C tho cur. of Knig&ton, in the patron, of the incoln. The church, which possesses a
 * ilt in 1444, is stated by Lcland to have been

a cathedral. It is a mixture of tho English pendicular styles. St. Martin, or St. Crossc, is also a vie., val. 148. The church is cruciform, with a central tower sxipported on four arches, and is tho largest in the town. The archdeacon's courts are held hero, and the judges of assize attend Divine service here. The Puritans made use of it as a barrack during the Civil War. St. Mary's is a vie., val. 221. The church was built in 1353, on the site of a more ancient One, an aisle being added by John of Gaunt. Three Norman stalls still remain. The tower has been three times struck by lightning, and tho present one was erected 1783, on tho model of the one destroyed at that time. St. Nicholas is a vie.,* val. 150. This is the most ancient church in the town, and tho tower is supposed to be Saxon. It is partly built of the remains of a Roman temple, a portion of which, called the Jewry Wall, adjoins the church. Tho last three vies, are all in the patron, of the lord chancellor. St. George's is a perpet. cur. in tho par. of St. Margaret, in the patron, of the Prebend of Lincoln, val. street, was built by subscription, and is placed under the patron, of trustees. St. John's district church was built in 1854, by grants from various funds. The living is a perpet. cur.* in the patron, of tho Bishop of Peter- borough. There are also ten chnpels belonging to tho Baptists, three to the Independents, two to the Weslfey- ans, three to the Primitive Methodists, one to the Uni- tarians, one to the Latter-day Saints, and one to the Roman Catholics, and a Friends' meeting-house. Leices- ter archdeaconry, in Peterborough diocese, contains the deaneries of Ackley, Christianity, or Leicester (the town parishes only), Framland, Gartrce, Goscotc, Guthlaxton, and Sparkenhoo ; the benefices numbering about 200. There were formerly religious houses belonging to the Austin, Black, and Grey i'riars, and the Friars dc Picni- tentia. Cardinal Wolsey died at tho Augustine abbey of St. Mary de Pratis, founded in H43, and partly endowed by the lands of a more ancient collegiate church. A hospital in honour of the Virgin was founded in 1330 by Henry Duke of Lancaster, and converted into a college by his son. Tho town gaol was built by the corporation on a portion of the land belonging to it, and on the remainder the Trinity Hospital, for 90 inmates. The cemetery stands on a hill to the S. of tho town. Its extent is about 25 acres. Most of tho churches and chapels have Sunday-schools in connection with them, the total number exceeding 30. There are also two National and several other day schools. The collegiate school, in Prebend-street, affords a good commercial and classical education, and is in connection with tho Esta- blished Church, tho Bishop of Peterborough being visitor. There is also a Dissenting school of a similar character. Both aro sufficiently large for 300 boys. Alderman Newton's green-coat school was founded in 1762 for the education of 35 boys, but tho number has since been increased to 100. The free grammar school, which was open to all sons of burgesses, has been dis- used since 1836, in consequence of the stoppage of an annual grant from the corporation. St. Martin's charity school was built in 1791 ; and St. Mary's, at which 80 boys and 40 girls are brought up, was erected by sub- scription at a later period. Tho female asylum, in Newark liberty, is an industrial school for from ten to sixteen girls between the nges of thirteen and fifteen, who aro entirely supported for three years. Tho school is maintained by subscriptions, and by the sale of tho children's work. A school of design has been established in tho town within tho last few years by the council. Trinity Hospital, mentioned above, is tho principal cha- rity in the town. Other hospitals aro Wigston's hospital, founded in 1513, for twelve old men and twelve old women, all of whom must be unmarried ; St. John's hospital, for six widows ; Bent's, for five ; Simons', for six single women ; and the Spittal House. There aro also three almshouscs : Johnson's Consanguinitnrium, founded by John Johnson, a native of Leicester and an architect, for five of his relatives ; Miss Mason's, in Vauxhall-street, founded in 1833, for four women, each of whom receives 4s. weekly ; and tho Cock Muckhill almshouscs. Leicester also possesses a lunatic asylum,