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15. Leicester (9) The New Walk, 'The Clicker' sculpture, Holy Cross Church and Leicester Museum
The lower end of New Walk (dated 1785), a promenade free from road traffic for over two hundred years! The iron lamp standards (lampposts!) date from the early 19th century.
As the blue plaque on the right reads, the museum was started in 1849, but the building was originally built in 1836-1837 as the Proprietary School. It was designed by Joseph Aloysius Hansom (1803-1882), inventor and architect.
It is a pleasant walk up 'New Walk' promenade for the tourist-visitor to the New Walk Leicester Museum and art gallery, which is a good attraction and well worth a visit and it has regular changes of features-displays.
A cetiosaurus dinosaur greets the visitor on the ground floor gallery!
A very good display of minerals, most found locally.
The fine looking house, No 47 The New Walk.
Near and just across New Walk from No 47 is the sculpture called "The Clicker". A clicker was a skilled worker who cut out the upper parts of the shoe from the leather, the elite of the shoemaking trade. The name derives from the clicking sound made by the knife on the board beneath the leather. This John Atkin sculpture celebrates the contribution of the footwear industry to the growth and prosperity of the City and County of Leicester. The sculpture presence is due to the 'Friends of New Walk' 15th May 2007.
The Catholic Church of the Holy Cross, New Walk. The following is copy of the information plaque on the wall of Holy Cross Church to remind us of some uncomfortable truths concerning English history but at least things changed for the better! eventually!: The Dominican Friars (Blackfriars) came to Leicester in 1247 and were given the church of St Clement by the canons at Leicester Abbey. With the support of King Henry III and Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, the Friars built a priory around this church. It became known as 'the Blak Frears in the Ashes' because of the many ash trees in the grounds. The site is now the disused Leicester Central Railway Station. off Blackfriars Street and Friars' Causeway. On the 10th November 1538 the priory was surrendered to State greed by the prior, Father Ralph Burrell OP. Those friars who did not apostatise and conform to the State religion went into exile in Flanders, with some of them returning to work in England at the risk of martyrdom. In 1657 Fr Philip Howard OP, later Cardinal Howard, the brother of two dukes of Norfolk, persuaded his superiors to found Holy Cross Priory at Bornhem, Flanders, to train friars for the English Mission. In the dark Penal times (1559-1829), when the State persecuted and killed many Catholics for their faith, the first Dominican missionaries had to travel disguised and celebrate Mass secretly. Fr John Clarkson OP began the Leicester Mission in 1746. Fr Benedict Caestryck OP moved to a small house at the corner of Dover Street and Wellington Street, where he said Mass. Under his inspiration, the first Holy Cross Church was built, opening in 1819. It became a priory in 1882. During this period the friars opened Mass centres around the city. Thus all the parishes in Leicester began as Dominican foundations. The famous preacher and author, Fr Vincent McNabb OP, built this larger church. The choir and transepts were opened and the high altar was consecrated in 1931. Later the nave was completed and the church consecrated on May 14th 1958. |
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