Highfields, Leicester - History - Twentieth Century - Second World War

Second World War

The area was badly bombed during the Second World War with bombs falling across the area between the Old Horse and the city center on the night of 19 November 1940. Amongst the High Explosive Bombs and Incendiaries dropped on the area during that night, it was recorded that one of the Luftwaffe's largest of bombs was dropped on Grove Road (the 1000 kg Parachute Mine), causing extensive damage to adjacent streets. 12 soldiers of the Royal Army Pay Corps were amongst some of the fatal casualties of that night. These soldiers were billeted in the Highfields area of Leicester and their deaths bring the total of fatalities on the night 120. This was the city's largest of at least 8 recorded enemy raids between September 1940 - July 1942, where 122 people died in total and 284 recorded as seriously injured. It is still possible to trace the paths of the bombs by looking at the areas of post-1950s building that have gone on in the area. More recently, some infill development has taken place, such as De Montfort Mews behind 5 to 19 De Montfort Street, Andrew Court and Tichborne Court flats (late 1970s) and the bank at 121 to 123 London Road (1973/4). In 1999, a bank was built to replace a 1960s office block on the corner of Saxby Street and London Road.

The worst night of bombing took place on 19 November 1940 when several buildings at the corner of Highfield Street and Tichborne Street were destroyed and 41 people killed.The sites are now occupied by a community hall and a garage. This night is often referred to as Leicester's Blitz. On the same night a number of bombs fell on Sparkenhoe Street destroying homes, the local Post Office and the Methodist Church on the corner of Saxby Street and killing two people. Amongst those killed on that night were members of the Royal Army Pay Corps who were billeted in the area. Fragments of the bomb which destroyed the Methodist Church also damaged St Peter's Church, passing through the West window, bouncing several times before becoming embedded in the high altar.