Leicester Secular Hall facts for kids
The Leicester Secular Hall is a special building in Leicester, England. It was built in 1881. This hall was made for a group called the Leicester Secular Society.
This building is located right in the middle of Leicester. You can find it at 75 Humberstone Gate. An architect named W Larner Sugden designed it. The front of the building has five statues. These statues show famous thinkers like Socrates, Jesus, Voltaire, Thomas Paine, and Robert Owen. These people are important because they all had big ideas about how society should work.
A Look Back: The Hall's History
The idea for the hall started in 1872. A man named George Jacob Holyoake wanted to give a lecture. He was the person who first used the word "secularism". This means believing that government and education should be separate from religion.
However, George Holyoake was not allowed to use a public room for his talk. This made people realize they needed a place where everyone could speak freely. So, they decided to build the Secular Hall.
Many famous thinkers have spoken at the hall. These include George Bernard Shaw and William Morris. They shared their ideas about society and how to make things better. The hall became a place for important discussions and new ideas.
Building the Hall: Who Helped?
The Leicester Secular Hall Co. Ltd. was formed to build the hall. The main person who invested money was Josiah Gimson. He was an engineer and also a local councillor. This means he helped make decisions for the city.
Today, the Leicester Rationalist Trust owns the hall. They help keep the building going.
What's Happening Now: Future Plans
In 2013, the ground floor of the hall was improved. They added new, accessible toilets. This work was paid for by members of the Leicester Secular Society and a company called Biffa.
There are also big plans for the future. The goal is to make the whole building modern. This includes making it easier for everyone to access, even the upper floors. They hope to get help from grants like the Heritage Lottery Fund to make these plans happen.
