Highfields, Leicester facts for kids
Highfields is a lively area in Leicester, England. It sits on high ground southeast of the city centre. Highfields is bordered by the Midland Main Line railway to the west. To the south is London Road (A6). East Park Road forms its eastern boundary. North of Highfields is Spinney Hills, and sometimes people consider Spinney Hills to be part of Highfields. This neighbourhood is close to Leicester's city centre. It has many places for religious, social, cultural, and shopping activities. The people living here are part of different local council areas.
A special part of Highfields, called the South Highfields Conservation Area, was set up in 1981. This area helps protect important buildings and the look of the neighbourhood. Its boundaries were slightly changed in 2003.
Highfields is near London Road and Evington Road. This means it has many useful places close by. You can find the railway station here. There are also many Mosques, Churches, and Temples. The biggest Mosque even has a leisure centre! Highfields also has a modern health centre, nurseries, and schools. You'll find local shops, restaurants, community centres, and banks. There is also a public library on Melbourne Road.
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Community Hubs in Highfields
Highfields is known for its many community groups. These groups help everyone in the area. They also support specific parts of the community.
- The African Caribbean Centre helps people from African and Caribbean backgrounds.
- Leicester Community Radio (94.1fm, 1449 AM) is based at St Peter's Church. It broadcasts many hours of shows for the Afro-Caribbean Community.
- Highfields Association of Residents and Tenants (HART) works to make Highfields a better place. They hold regular meetings for residents.
- Highfields Youth and Community Centre opened in 1974. It offers social and fun activities for local people. Over the years, it has grown to offer many learning and community services. The centre was updated in 2004. It has rooms for events and gatherings.
- The Melbourne Centre on Melbourne Road used to be a Polish school. The front part of this building is now a health centre. Other groups and businesses use the back part.
- The Muslim Khatri Association (MKA) started in 1982. It helps South Asian communities and local residents. They work on issues like finding jobs and improving homes. They also help with cultural challenges, especially for women and children.
- South Highfields Neighbours is another local group.
- St Peter's Neighbourhood Management Board helps solve neighbourhood problems. They work on health, jobs, education, and housing. They even used the internet to show pictures and videos of issues like litter. This helped get support for their work.
- St Peter's Community Centre is another important meeting place.
- The Leicester Hebrew Congregation is on Highfield Street.
Learning in Highfields
Highfields has several schools for children and young people:
- Medway Community Primary School
- Uplands
- Sparkenhoe
- Highfields
- Shenton
- Charnwood
- Moat Community College
- Bridge School
- Sacred Heart RC School
Keeping Highfields Safe
The Leicestershire Constabulary police force looks after Highfields. The closest police station is on East Park Road. This is near Spinney Hill Park. Highfields is mainly covered by the Highfields and Spinney Hill police areas.
A Look Back in Time
Highfields in the 1800s
In the early 1800s, Highfields was a countryside area outside Leicester. It had lots of water sources and windmills. This farmland was reached by small lanes leading off London Road. Some of these lanes, like Mill Hill Lane, still look much the same today.
Building homes in Highfields started in the 1820s. Glebe Street, Conduit Street, and Prebend Street were developed first. Number 20 Glebe Street is one of the oldest houses still standing. Some large houses were also built on London Road. The Collegiate School on College Street was built in 1835.
The first terraced houses appeared in the 1860s. These were on Lincoln Street, Hobart Street, and Seymour Street. By the 1870s, much of the area was still open fields. But a large house, Highfields House, had been built. The area between Highfield Street and Mill Hill Lane was also developed. Houses facing London Road were mostly built between the 1850s and 1860s. Most of these are now shops or offices.
More large houses were built as Highfields grew southwards until the 1880s. Some streets were named after Prince Albert's family. But they were renamed during the First World War. For example, Saxe Coburg Street became Saxby Street. Gotha Street became Gotham Street. Mecklenburg Street became Severn Street.
New places of worship were also built for the growing population. St Peter's Anglican Church opened in 1874. It was designed by a famous architect, George Edmund Street. The Society of Friends opened a Meeting House in 1876. By 1886, more churches were built. These included a Congregational Chapel and a Wesleyan Church. The Victoria Road Baptist Church also opened.
By the 1880s, land was expensive. Small groups of houses like Woodbine and Gordon Avenues were built in 1884. They only had footpath access to use the land well. This also happened between Prebend Street and College Street. It created College Avenue in 1886 and Brookhouse Avenue in 1888. These pedestrian-only areas give Highfields a special feeling. However, richer families started moving to Stoneygate. So, the demand for large houses in Highfields went down. The area was finished with smaller terraced houses. These were built on Churchill, Connaught, and Hamilton Streets.
In 1898, a respected local architect, Arthur Wakerley, designed the Highfield Street synagogue. This place of worship served a new Jewish community settling in the area.
Highfields in the 1900s
Highfields still looks much like it did in the 1800s. There hasn't been a complete rebuilding of the area. The main changes are that front gardens on London Road were removed for the road. Also, many buildings on London Road became shops and offices.
The 1920s and 1930s
Some new buildings appeared in the 1920s and 1930s. Offices and businesses were built on Nelson Street. New shops and offices were built on London Road in 1935. Many original houses and a chapel were replaced by offices and showrooms.
Before and during the Second World War, the Jewish community grew. People escaping from Europe came to Highfields. A Polish and Latvian community also started to form.
Highfields During World War II
Highfields was badly bombed during the Second World War. The worst night was on November 19, 1940. This night is often called Leicester's Blitz. Bombs fell across the area. Several buildings on Highfield Street and Tichborne Street were destroyed. Forty-one people died there. Bombs also hit Sparkenhoe Street. They destroyed homes, the local Post Office, and a church. Two people died there. A bomb fragment even damaged St Peter's Church.
One of the largest German bombs fell on Grove Road. It caused a lot of damage to nearby streets. You can still see where bombs fell. Look for areas with buildings built after the 1950s. Some new flats and banks were also built later.
Highfields After the War
After the war, Highfields became less popular. Many residents moved to the city's edges. The area became known for rented rooms. This attracted new people to live there. After the war, many Irish migrants came to Highfields. Workers from the Caribbean also moved to the area.
The first South Asian migrants also came after the war. They were from Pakistan, Punjab, and Gujarat. They came to work in factories after the war. Most were men from rural areas. They formed strong communities. They often shared lodging houses in Highfields to save money.
The 1970s in Highfields
In the early 1970s, many Asian people from East Africa moved to Highfields. This happened especially after 1972. They came after being asked to leave Uganda by Idi Amin. Many arrived quickly. It became clear that Highfields could not fit everyone.
These new immigrants were different from the earlier migrants. Many were refugees. They had good business skills and knew English well. They often arrived as whole families. This meant their housing needs were different. Some also had savings. This helped them buy homes in Highfields. But Highfields didn't have enough space. So, many East African Asians settled in Belgrave.
The 1980s in Highfields
On July 10, 1981, a protest happened in Highfields. This was part of a series of protests across the country. These events were about people feeling treated unfairly. A report by Lord Scarman said these were community problems with a racial side.
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