Leicester Road Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was built in 1828/9. It was a neat red brick building which cost £2000 and seated 1200. In 1850 the chapel it had 390 free and 630 other sittings but by1873 it only provided seating for 720 (380 lettable, 200 free and 140 for children, on the basis of 18 inches per sitting) persons. The premises were described in detail in 1940. The chapel measured 55 feet by 52 feet and seated 350 on the ground floor. There was also a gallery of 2200 square feet all round the interior which seated a further 350. All seating was in pews. There were three vestries, one of 624 square feet and two of 150 square feet. The school which was situated on the opposite side of Leicester Road measured 50 feet by 30 feet. There was also a guild room, 28 feet by 22 feet and a clubroom, 21 feet by 11½ feet but it is not clear which site they were on. The chapel was subsequently closed and the buildings demolished.
Sources
The National Archives HO129/415/1/3/4 1851 Ecclesiastical census
Leicestershire Record Office, N/M/NDD 1-15, Annual trust schedules, Nottingham and Derby District 1860-1878
John Rylands Library University of Manchester, MAC Lawson Returns of Accommodation provided by Wesleyan Methodist Chapels and other Preaching Places, 1873/594/,
Methodist Church Buildings: Statistical returns including seating accommodation as at July 1st 1940, 697
Leicestershire Record Office, N/M 207/28 Accommodation return, 1873
W White, History, Gazetteer, and Directory of Leicestershire and Rutland, 1846, p276
Site visit 17.4.2019
John Rylands Library University of Manchester DDPD2/602 Wesleyan Accommodation returns, 1931
Comments about this page
I remember this building being used as an army surplus store in the 1980s. It was a scruffy old place then. I only went in once or twice but I don’t remember any of the chapel fittings still being in situ. What happened to them, especially the memorial window erected in 1921 to commemorate the 12 members of the congregation killed in WW1. The unveiling of this was reported in the Loughborough Echo dated March 4th 1921 with biographies of the men.
Do you or does anyone know or have any records of the Venerable Robert Peck as being a lay preacher in this church. He was born at the Angel Inn Loughborough, had a grocery business in Loughborough and preached in many places. Born 20/12/1782 Died 2/1/1855 Buried in All Saints Church of England of which his parents were married and he was a member until he chose to become a Wesleyan. Photos would be appreciated.
I remember going to the school rooms weekly evening social event for older teenagers during 1957 and 1958, sometimes playing in a skiffle group. It was the highlight of my week and the only social occasion where I was able to meet other people of my age outside of school.
Many happy memories of years gone by.
Dear Gwyneth
It would be great if you could send us digital copies of the photos. If they relate to churches that we already have a page about, then please email them to wesleyanancestors@gmail.com so we can add them.
If we don’t have a page about the building (or if you have enough information to write about William Broadley) them submit them via ‘Add your Story’ at the right of the website title. Many thanks.
Editorial Team
Hello – I have the photograph album of Rev William Broadley, who was minister at Loughborough 1906 – 1909. He recorded all his chapels throughout his ministry. His daughter gave me his album before she died, aged 97. The album includes photos of Loughborough Leicester Road including the interior (and rostrum) with some of Woodhouse Eaves and Quorn. He also photographed his Manse on Park Road, Loughborough. Would you be interested in digital copies of the photos?
To quote from page 9 of the Souvenir handbook of the Centenary celebrations.
“It was felt that the old organ had served its useful purpose at Leicester Road, and that a new one should be provided, and in 1897, the Misses Chester, who later became Mrs. T.H. Barratt and Mrs. G. Phillips Jones, handsomely came to the rescue and presented the present organ, built by Messrs. Brindley & Foster, of Sheffield, at a cost of over £700, and a hydraulic engine was installed for the purpose of blowing it.”
I am pleased to see that some photographs have come to light to illustrate my text. Views of chapel interiors are rare enough at best and views of Georgian buildings even rarer. Is it too much to hope there might be a picture of the rostrum area?. I imagine that the organ was a later addition. Do the papers referred to above give the date of installation or the name of the maker?
I have added some photographs, collected to commemorate 50 years of Trinity Methodist Church, Loughborough, and 250 years of Methodism in Loughborough.
Leicetershire Record Office :
ref. C93 .7-organ. DE4826/33, new contract, tuning etc., organ, Wesleyan Chapel, Leicester Rd., Loughborough, at £4.4/-, annual charge, 11th Jan., 1921.
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