At the top of Wharf Street, opposite the Three Cranes and stretching along Humberstone Road to behind Spa Place and down towards Wheat Street, were approximately twelve acres of land. Amongst other things it was used as a cricket ground, from circa 1825 – 1860. In its early years, it was run by William Whitehead of the Angel Inn, to be followed in 1840 by William Barker, from the Anchor in Charles Street. The ground was sometime known as Barker’s Ground.
1841 James Smith 21 was sentenced to 4 months hard labour for stealing brandy rum & cigars from Wm Barkers cricket ground.
A pavilion stood close to the Wharf Street end, so it was mainly known as the Wharf Street Cricket ground, although it was used for fairs and other entertainment. This included music festivals, pony races (see below), brass bands, military reviews and even hot air balloon ascents. Thousands would attend these events, and one assumes the Cricketers Arms would do well out of it.
An auction from June 1854 of the Cricketers Arms. Circa 1860, the whole ground was up for sale, gradually falling to development.
A few words must be said on Leicester’s Wharf Street area. Most cities had their fair share of slum housing, and the Wharf Street area was by far the largest in Leicester.
Wharf Street was synonymous with being a rough neighbourhood, slum housing post surviving the World Wars, even during Victorian times, police would only patrol in twos. Some thirty plus pubs and beer houses in the area will give an insight into surrounding life. If one was to put a label on it. Wharf Street was lower working class, if indeed you were in any work. There was little chance of any aspiration.
A kind of unspoken bond held – and holds – Wharf Street together. To say you came from there was not something you would claim with pride. Being ignored by the authorities gave residents a resolve rarely matched by other areas. Yes, fights occurred mainly after the pubs shut – so to say you came from Wharf Street when I was a teenager gave you some edge, as well as being street wise.
I would use the Jolly Angler for a game of table skittles before going to the Palais on Humberstone Gate. Being young, we didn’t have any fear, although despite Wharf Street’s reputation, it didn’t appear as intimidating as you were made to believe.
By the late 1950s – earl6 1960s, the demolition of the area was in fully swing. I worked on the demo of the houses with sheriffs, builders and saw first hand the conditions they had to live in.
The community was broken up in the prevailing slum clearance and moved out to the new estates on the edge of town. For some this was utopia, with running water, bathrooms, inside toilets and heating. Many Wharf Street residents had non of these.
Barry Lount
Couple of days later, Dave Dean kindly called to inform me it was Preston Ltd Elastic Web manufacture’s
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