Leicester History

In Roman times the settlement at Leicester was known as Ratae Coritanorum, or capital of Coritani. The only Roman remains can be seen at the Jewry Wall, where you will also find the Jewry Wall & Archaeology Museum. By the 8th century Leicester had a bishop, though the bishopric lapsed in 874 A.D. and was not re-instated until 1926, when 14th century St. Martin’s Church became a cathedral. St. Nicholas’ is the oldest church in Leicester built in Saxon times, using some Roman stones.

The Normans built a castle here, the motte is still visible today and the 12th century Great Hall was until relatively recently used as the city’s Crown Court. Next to the castle is the Newarke building, which dates from the 14th century and is where the city Museum & Art Gallery is housed. An Augustinian Abbey was founded in Leicester in 1143, which is where Cardinal Wolsey died in 1530; a plaque marks his grave.

Leicester’s markets have been trading at Gallow Tree Gate since the 13th century and nearby is the Victorian Clock Tower, showing city benefactors like Simon de Montfort, who founded the houses of parliament and is also remembered by De Montfort Hall, the city’s main performance centre.

During the Victorian era the railways and light engineering came to Leicester and supplemented the traditional shoe making and hosiery trades and the town underwent a significant period of growth.