The Francis Frith Collection.
You are here: Home > Explore your past > England > Leicestershire > Oadby

Oadby

Oadby photos (2 available)

Old photo of Oadby

Oadby maps (2 available)

Old map of Oadby

Oadby books (6 available)

Oadby memories

Swimming Lessons

As a pupil at Launde School it was compulsory that we were taught to swim at Oadby Swimming baths, for those of you who know Oadby today it wasn't the newly built baths on Brabazon Road, the baths were in the centre of the village, it looked like an old theatre or cinema on first glance.
The boys changing rooms were on the side of the baths themselves the girls were upstairs and across a balcony.
The bath was covered in a glass roof, this would get covered in thick black mould and as you swam or doggy paddled it would plop off the roof into the baths and onto us little swimmers below.
Whatever the weather we walked to the ...read more here
Contributed by Karen Miller

schooldays

Oadby, Leicester Road c1955

Going to Mr Allens chemist and walking to Sandhurst street School'also going to the public library over the swimming baths
Contributed by valerie freeman

Leicestershire memories

schooldays

Oadby, Leicester Road c1955

Going to Mr Allens chemist and walking to Sandhurst street School'also going to the public library over the swimming baths
A memory of Oadby contributed by valerie freeman

Swimming Lessons

As a pupil at Launde School it was compulsory that we were taught to swim at Oadby Swimming baths, for those of you who know Oadby today it wasn't the newly built baths on Brabazon Road, the baths were in the centre of the village, it looked like an old theatre or cinema on first glance.
The boys changing rooms were on the side of the baths themselves the girls were upstairs and across a balcony.
The bath was covered in a glass roof, this would get covered in thick black mould and as you swam or doggy paddled it would plop off the roof into the baths and onto us little swimmers below.
Whatever the weather we walked to the ...read more here
A memory of Oadby contributed by Karen Miller

Extracts From Oadby & Leicestershire books

Melton Mowbray, Burton Street c1955

A fashionable place to be seen throughout the 19th century was the luxurious Harboro Hotel (right), originally the Lord Harborough Arms and a coaching inn. It was carpeted throughout, which was a huge extravagance for the time.
An extract from from"Melton Mowbray Town and City Memories".

Melton Mowbray, Nottingham Street c1955

This view looks from the junction of the High Street and South Parade on market day. The sign of the popular White Lion Hotel is just visible in the centre of this photograph and Barclays Bank (now Ladbrokes) is on the far left.
An extract from from"Melton Mowbray Town and City Memories".

Oakham, High Street 1932

A pleasant, traffic-free scene with the horse and cart unattended, patiently waiting for the master’s return from Illsley the saddlers. The post office is on the left then Corney Manufacturing Jeweller. Amongst other businesses is the chemist beyond the Crown Hotel and opposite, the family firm of Matkin’s printers, who from 1881 to 1941 published an almanac listing people and occupations in town and county. Flore’s House protrudes in the distance - one of the oldest houses in Oakham dating from the 14th century.
An extract from from"Uppingham Photographic Memories".

Oakham, Market Place 1932

This classic view has All Saints’ spire behind the shops with the famous Butter Cross (at least 300 years old) in the middle. Hart and Smith next to each other seem to sell just about everything anyone could want - postcards, wooden hoops, newspapers, parasols, toys and groceries. Glaziers, the well-known family draper, milliner, outfitter and clothier is opposite the Butter Cross selling trilby hats at 3s 11d, boys suits from 7s 11d and a galaxy of other goods.
An extract from from"Uppingham Photographic Memories".

Oakham, the Old Pump and Buttercross 1927

Until 1880 this area was the butchers’ shambles, then replaced by the pump (in the shelter, foreground). There are milk churns on the cart outside F W Hart ‘Family Grocer, Tea and Provision Merchant’. Note the errand boy’s bike propped up against the gas light. There is a motorbike and sidecar up in the corner near the Butter Cross. Could it be the one bought for the police station in 1926? A boarding house of Oakham School is behind the pump surrounded by railings.
An extract from from"Uppingham Photographic Memories".