Main Street runs from Ashby Road/Leicester Road at the top, to London Road/Forest Road at the bottom. It has been home to many of the village's residents, shops, pubs and churches over the years.
Main Street, or Town Street as it was frequently named, was once just an earth track reinforced with a few stones. It has for centuries been the main route and right of way through the village for people, livestock and various forms of vehicles.
Until the late 1800s, the village largely comprised Main St, The Nook, The Green, Hill Side and Forest Road. Even into the mid-1900s, there was limited development elsewhere, with new housing gradually emerging along Ashby Road/Leicester Road and London Road/Forest Road. The map is from 1883, running from top to bottom of Main St.

We start at the top of Main St with the first photo below. This is a view from circa the 1930s back to the Old Police House, looking onto the junction with Ashby Road.
Charles Timson was the first village policeman, in 1852. In the 1881 census, Robert Kirton is recorded as the Police Constable, and in 1911 George Webster. Another old postcard with a similar view of Main St calls this area Markfield Hill.
The hill on Ashby Road, which led up to the Police House, eventually got itself the nickname ‘Bobbies Hill’.
The location of the Constable's house moved over the years. The 1891 Census sited it near the top of what is now Oakfield Avenue. Later on, it seems a building opposite the old school on The Green was used and then the 'Old' Police House at the top of Main St until the 1960s. Notice the former cells facing the left fork as you pass by, originally a single-storey extension!

On the map above, but not on the photo, is the row of seemingly quite old cottages standing back from the left fork in the road. One is called Clarke's Place, after a horse-breaker who lived there in the mid-20th Century. Also of interest is Alma Cottage, marked to the right just before the fork. This was a very substantial property, accessed by a carriage drive from Leicester Road and with a paddock. It was sold at auction in 1909. Perhaps this is how the more modern road The Paddock got its name.
The next picture looks down Main St, with the Old Police House off the picture in the centre. Some people who have turned out for what was probably quite an event. Look closely and you'll see that the second set of houses was also home to a shop - this was Wardle's butchers, one of three in the village in the early 1920s . The smaller building next to it was the slaughterhouse. The modern day frontage of the house is very different.


A similar scene in 2015, with the above houses still here , but starting nearer Ashby Road, with 188 Main Street on the left.
Originally called the Dandees, it was home to Dr Robinson, the village doctor. He was known for being fascinated by cowboys and Indians. The surgery was a large wooden hut in the garden to the right. Around 1925, he bought the second car in the village, a Morris Cowley (the first belonged to the Rector, the Rev. Chambers, a Model T Ford named after his wife Alice). Note also the houses to the to right of the older picture above are still visible further down, with the cream rendering on the gable end wall.
Continuing further down Main St and looking back up in this next picture, with the Old Police House visible at the very top. What seems to be the roof of the slaughterhouse can just be seen to the right. Again, the locals have turned out for the occasion. Quite a lot of the houses are no longer with us. The web master thinks the two houses opening direct onto the street on the left towards the top are the rendered properties in the modern photo above; and the house to the front left is now nos. 153 and 157. Some of the houses in between eventually made way for The Crofts development in 1989.

This (1940's?) view below continues down, again looking up back up towards Ashby Road. The horse drawn cart is outside the Red Lion pub, now the Fusion Indian restaurant. The "crown" on the roof was the air raid siren in the Second World War. Pubs of any size often hosted property sales and the like; here, for example, on 21 April 1909, Alma cottage and a number of other nearby properties were up for auction. The building next door (now the hairdressing salon, rendered white, see further down), was built in 1760 by Benjamin and H. Read. In years, it had housed the Red Lion, was one of the locations for the village post office and has been a greengrocers.


The "Institute" is just inside the photo, in the bottom right hand corner. This has recently been demolished and replaced by new housing. It began as a Picture House or cinema around 1920, showing silent films only. After the First World War, the villagers wanted to have a Memorial Hall rather than just a War Memorial, but it proved too expensive to build from scratch. So, with help from the Miners' Welfare Organisation, the Picture House was adapted, with a stage, a billiard room and a large back room/kitchen. There were playing fields behind. It served the village well over the years, but ceased to be up to modern needs and fell into poor repair, and of course the modern Sports and Community Centre was built on the park. There are more details on a separate page.
The former Red Lion is still immediately recognisable, but perhaps not too much else. However, the hairdressing salon is in fact those same buildings. The door nearest the Red Lion has been bricked up, the front wall rendered in white and the ground floor windows replaced. A 1760 date stone is sadly hidden behind the studio sign.

Here is a close-up 1950's picture of the Red Lion and the Post Office. The Red Lion sold ales from the Offilers Brewery in Derbyshire. The Post Office was run by A. Reid, who was also a stationer and tobacconist. Kodak films were sold and developed. It became the Post Office in the 1930s. It had been a greengrocer's shop in earlier years.

This colour photo is thought to date around the late 1940s / early 1950's. The mail van is parked outside the post office and a bus stop has appeared (in earlier days, bus stops in the village were not marked). The car in front with the trailer is thought to be a Triumph Renown.
This well-populated picture below shows the shop of J Spence - Baker, Grocer & Provision Dealer. Posted in 1933, the note with the card says these buildings were demolished to make the access to the Red Lion car park. So, darting back up Main St for a moment, they would be the buildings just up from the Red Lion in the 1950's picture above.


And fast forward to 2015.......the former Red Lion is still immediately recognisable, but perhaps not too much else. However, the hairdressing salon is in fact the same Post Office buildings. The door nearest the Red Lion has been bricked up, the front wall rendered in white and the ground floor windows replaced. The 1760 date stone is sadly hidden behind the studio sign.

A similar view again, but this time from the 1940s and taking us to look further down Main Street. See the post box, by the Post Office.
The Institute can also be seen and telegraph poles have arrived.
The next, much earlier, photo below shows the rectory (now the old rectory) at the junction with The Nook. This was built in 1770, probably as a Master Hosier's house with the workshop to the side (many Markfield residents were framework knitters). It was then used as a school, before becoming the rectory in 1847 until replaced by a new building in 1960. It is very similar to the Master Hosier's House on Darker Street in Leicester. The present windows facing Main St were added later.
The Church building next up was built in 1842 as the Bourne Methodist Chapel. Later it became the Bourne Primitive Methodist Chapel and finally in 1963 the Congregational Church when the 'Prims' moved to join the Wesleyan Methodists down the road. Note the doorway is in its original position, later this was blocked up and a new doorway added to the right. Much more recently, the Congregational Church has returned to its original building and the 1842 building has been converted to houses.
The two larger and smaller houses after the Church are still there today. The Institute (1920) has not yet been built, so the buildings that preceded it can be seen. The Institute is course itself now demolished and replaced by new housing.

The next picture below to the shows a similar view, some years later - 1950's or 1960's. The pointed front roof of the Institute is just visible as the road bends out of site. The front of the old rectory and the junction with The Nook are obscured from view by the car. Telegraph poles have appeared (see the 1940s photo above also), and the path and road are made up. The housing opposite gave way to new developments around Upland Drive. The history of the buildings to the front right are picked up in the next photo down.

This next earlier 20th century view looks down Main Street, starting from The Nook (by the car in the above photo).


The first building is now Bradgate Financial advisers. The next building along with the proper shop front is now the Chippy, but at the time is thought to have been Clara Hewitt's. She sold virtually everything and had a pet parrot that used to utter impolite things, which was a source of much amusement. Next along is now the Chinese takeaway, with a ground floor extension. Then the Congregational Church, built in 1852 by Henry Chapman (helped by many volunteers), whose family over the years must have built most of the old village. Following down, is now the Turkish Barber (and which since 2008 has been a cake shop, deli, dog groomer, cake/treats shop and fitness suite).
We then come to what is now Bown's Homeware shop. At the time, the shop was the Earl Grey pub. This was acquired and run by forebears of the current homeware shop owner for a couple of years. It closed in the 1920's, probably around 1927. It then became a grocery store serving Markfield and delivering to neighbouring villages. The wide arched entrance between the present barber and homeware shop was where the horse drawn drays delivered the beer to the pub cellar. Â

This picture enlarges part of the above photo, better showing the Earl Grey pub sign. Â In the 1870s, there were around 14 pubs in Markfield. See the notes of the Group's November 2019 meeting for further details. The was around 1 pub for every 100 people (of all ages) and for every 20 houses!
Continuing down the street, we come to the Co-op. This was on the same site until 2014, when the Co-op moved into The George Inn site and houses were built on the old shop area. More details and photos can be found on the Co-op page.

In the late 1700s/early 1800s, the cottage on the left of the terrace opposite the Co-op likely served as Markfield's first non-conformist chapel. A church shaped window in the middle at the back is visible from Holywell Lane, together with mouldings to a front top window.

In 1753, the George was known as the Framework Knitters Arms. Later, it became the Boot Inn, then The George, or The George Commercial Inn or Hotel. A lodging house was adjacent to the left. Perhaps the accommodation was an alternative to the inns on the Turnpike (Leicester Road?). Various wartime activities took place there. Since 2014, the building has been the Co-op. This photo is from 2002.

This next photo looking back up is from the early 1900s, with the George Inn sign clear and then the Co-op beyond. The locals have turned out again!
The shop to the left front edge of the photo is the post office, in the later picture next down.
This next photo from circa the 1940's shows the post office at the time almost in full (before it moved up the road to near the Red Lion), looking back up Main Street. The former George Inn can be seen at the end of the row of cottages, which is now the front of the Co-op. The post office at the time is now 68 Main St, on the corner of Neville Drive.


A similar view, with bunting for the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in June 1953. The board above the window is advertising the Picture Post. The post office is just off the picture.
This next much earlier postcard starts at the Post Office (now 68 Main St), continuing our journey down, with three people posing for the camera. The wall is now where Neville Drive meets Main St. This became the post office around the turn of the century - the 1903 map (revised in 1901) shows this as the location and remained so on the 1928 map. The premises were in use as shops through to the 1980s, the last being Jean Russell's shop selling wool and other bits and pieces.

Beyond the end of the wall and set back from the road is the Mill House (now no. 54). This is a more recent name and much of its history remains to be discovered - however, seemingly there was a water-powered mill, perhaps linked to the sawpit on the Lower Green.
The houses to the right are now the much newer properties in and around Warner Close - named after Mr Vic Warner (and his bus) whose main office and garage was there. In between times, however, this area became a factory, which we will come to shortly.

Before we move on, a similar view in the snow, possibly the harsh winter of 1947. When we used to get 'proper winters'!
The area to the left of this next picture now looking back up Main St for a moment is now the site of Warner Close and the newer houses leading to The Green. Mr Spence's grocery shop could be found here, pictured at the bottom left - 'Spence' is visible above the door.
Next, off the photo, was Warner's lorry garage, by the corner of The Green. In the 1950s, this came to be owned by "Jock" Macdonald and later by Bob Jones (subsequently of Tyredrome on the A50/Ratby Lane corner and then the old chapel by The Green).


Then, this area was cleared and the factory premises arrived in the 1960s. At various times (in no particular order ), were Lodge Filters, Markfield Plastics, Airborne Shoes, Pearce Components, Marmins and Varipak. The photo shows the site for sale in 2004, after which it was demolished and the present houses built. The area is completely unrecognisable today, with Warner Close and the newer housing fronting Main St.
Moving down again, we arrive at Trinity Methodist Church, built in 1894 for the Methodists who moved out of the 1811 chapel at the top of Holywell Lane (The Green). Being closer to the bottom end of Main St, it became known as the ‘bottom chapel’. The Bourne/Primitive Chapel became known as the ‘top chapel’, as it was towards the top of the street. In the early 1960s, the two congregations united and formed the present Trinity Methodist Church. And some local children have turned out!


Next, we stop to take in the 1950s view looking downwards from just past the Church, with The Green to the right (which is on a separate page).
The sign pointing outwards is above Wardles Bakers, still fondly remembered by some villagers. Note the period car outside.
Having perhaps regained our bearings in the 1950s, we step back another 60 years to this much earlier photo. This starts with the shop that later became Wardles and takes us down to the bottom of Main St. This is 1900 or earlier, when the premises was the post office and shop, run by Simeon Brewin Smith and wife Elizabeth. The 1883 map shows the post office as here. Simeon was also noted as an architect, farmer, grazier, grocer and local preacher. Elizabeth died in 1898, he remarried in 1899 and died in 1900. On our journey, we have seen three locations for the village post office, which moved up the street from here shortly afterwards.


This picture focusses on Wardle's bakers shop (the sign links to the 1950s view) - the aroma and taste of the bread is very fondly remembered. "Wrapping it up in tissue paper on the counter. Cheese and bacon being weighed and cut, not pre packed, the bell as you walked in the door and the beautiful aroma, mmm yum!".
Locals could cook their Christmas turkeys in the ovens.
Wardles closed in 1986 and the premises are no longer a shop. The window frontage remains, as does the cart entrance to the right.

Taken more or less from Wardles, looking up Main St, with the trees bordering the Lower Green on the left. Note the young girl - the coat suggests perhaps the 1940s or 1950s. An interesting old vehicle is parked up in the distance. The house just visible on the corner of The Green might be the original Plough public house.
This next scene probably dates from the early 1900's. The Victorian house with the girl outside has been demolished, as has the old thatched cottage. However, the end of the house at the corner of Main St and London Road (Joyner's Corner, as was - see below) is visible, and the outhouse that precedes it is now a dwelling. The row of cottages on the Forest Road side can also be made out, some with thatched roofs now long gone.


The equivalent modern views to the bottom, right. The row of cottages are the first from the Forest Road corner. Note they are now rendered and the thatched roof is no more. The house facing the bottom of Main St is long gone.

Now we reach 'Joyner's Corner', named after Joyner's general store which was there for many years.
This marks almost the end of our journey along Main Street, near its the junction with London Road. It was also a pet shop for a while.Â

This picture to the left was taken in the 1950's, looking back up over the last part of our journey. A car can just be seen in the distance at the entrance to The Green.

And the same scene in 2016. The former shops on the right are now houses. The far-most cottages in the earlier photo have been demolished to make way for the newer houses.
We hope you enjoyed the walk! There was another pub, the President Lincoln, on the corner with London Rd. Perhaps many years ago, we could have quenched our thirst.
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