Leisure & Sport
The inter-war period saw an expansion in the venues providing entertainment in Leicester, most notably the rapid rise in cinemas, which added to the social and cultural life of the city. Recreation took many other forms though. In 1918 there was no television and radio was still in development. The BBC broadcast its first radio programmes in 1922, but coverage was limited and high-power transmitters were only developed in the late 1920s, with work continuing throughout the 1930s. For many, entertainment was still family get-togethers in the home and an afternoon stroll. Working hours were typically long but Sunday was a leisure day for most, and often involved Church activities and Sunday School for the younger family members. Many people worked on Saturday mornings until the two day weekend was introduced in the 1930s.
Social gatherings took place outside and in the streets also. Outings to local parks were organised. Children played street games like statues, marbles, fox and hounds, whip and top and skipping games.
Not all activity in the streets was strictly legal.
Public Houses
The public house was already established as the traditional place for social gatherings, especially for the working classes. That remained the case throughout the inter-war period.(1) In 1922, Humberstone Gate, Belgrave Gate and Church Gate between them boasted 30 pubs. By 1938, there was little change, the number had grown slightly to 31. Of the original 30, 24 still had the same name. There were some closures, but these were offset by new hostelries opening.(2) The city centre and its immediate environs were certainly well served. Not everywhere in the city had such choice. The housing estates built in the 1920s and 1930s - Coleman Road estate, Saffron Lane estate and Braunstone estate - provided improved housing but “there was a complete lack of pubs or any other form of entertainment”.(3)
There is statistical evidence that drunkenness diminished after World War One. Nevertheless, “evidence for Leicester pubs indicates that they were centres for everything from organised betting and gambling through to the staging of unlicensed boxing matches”.(4)
The importance of the pub for social interaction and entertainment would continue long after the inter-war period.
Clubs and Societies
Following the visit of George V in 1919, Leicester was granted city status. St Martins church became a cathedral in 1926. Despite the Depression in the 1930s the city thrived to such an extent that, “in 1936 statistics issued by the League of Nations declared it to be the second most prosperous city in Europe”.(5)
By 1938, there were over 270 clubs, societies and organisations active in Leicester, many of which had their origins in the inter-war period.(6) Some of these reflected the civic pride which seems to have been felt by the local people at the time. These included many organisations associated with specific employers, works, sports and social clubs. The annual dance for staff became a popular event at many firms, but such clubs organised much more than just an annual event.
Working Men’s Clubs were already established in Leicester, and during the inter-war period flourished. In 1922, there were eleven in Leicester itself. By 1938 that figure had grown to 16.(7) At least three of the newly established clubs were in close proximity to one of the new estates, which were initially poorly served by traditional public houses.
Local newspapers reported regularly on indoor sports leagues involving the various Working Men’s Clubs. On Thursday October 3 1929 the Leicester Evening Mail reported that “four thousand five hundred dancers spent the happiest time of their lives at the Granby Halls... last night at a dance supported by the working men’s clubs of Leicester and Leicestershire in response to the Lord Mayor’s appeal for the Royal Infirmary.”
The importance of these social organisations is clear from the extent to which they were involved in the Leicester Pageant of 1932. The Pageant saw different episodes of the history of Leicester played out over ten nights, and involved more than 4,000 active participants from diverse groups. The actors for episode one, for example, were provided by “the Catholic parishes of Leicester, the British United (shoe company) Drama League, the Glen Parva Army Barracks and the Leicester Women’s Athletic Club”.(8)
The scale of the undertaking and the lavish spectacle it provided are evident in the numerous photos of the event available from the link below.
Further reading about Leicester Pageant of 1932
'Fascinating pictures of the Leicester Pageant of 1932' - Leicestershire Live
An article by Siobhan Begley about the pageant.
Film of the pageant at the Media Archive for Central England.
Film of the Prince of Wales attending the Pageant:
Sports
Sports clubs were amongst the many organisations that flourished in this period, and “the advent of the Saturday half-holiday finally made the sports of football, cricket and rugby union a regular activity and persuaded many that they could be going concerns.”(9)
The City’s leading clubs were well established. In 1929, Leicester City Football Club came within a point of winning the top division, with a side including several England internationals. Leicester Tigers hosted the New Zealand All Blacks in 1924 in front of a record crowd of 35,000 people at the Welford Road Stadium.
Leicestershire County Cricket Club had little success in this period, but still competed at the highest domestic level.
De Montfort Hall
Built by the Corporation of Leicester, De Montfort Hall (DMH) opened in 1913. With a capacity around 2,000 in the indoor auditorium DMH quickly became an important venue for music adding to the cultural life of the city. 1922 saw the formation of the Leicester Symphony Orchestra, led by Malcolm Sargent who would later gain international acclaim. Sargent’s growing reputation meant many of the leading lights of classical music appeared at DMH in the inter-war period. “Cortot, Backhaus, Schnabel, Solomon, Suggia, Rubinstein and Moisiewitsch all performed with the LSO in its first decade”.(10)
The Leicester Evening Mail of Friday 21 September 1923 advertised the upcoming 1923 and 1924 season which would feature "world famous celebrities" including Dame Clara Butt along with the London Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Thomas Beecham and the Hallé Orchestra conducted by Irish composer and conductor Hamilton Harty.
Now past its centenary year DMH still presents a varied range of classical and popular concerts, opera and other performances. The Leicester Symphony Orchestra continues to perform annually at the venue.
Link to the home page of De Montfort Hall
Page created by Paul Rowe.
Further listening from EMOHA's Collections
References
- Nash, D and Reider, D (Ed), Leicester in the Twentieth Century.
- Kellys Directory of Leicestershire and Rutland 1922 and Kellys Directory of Leicester 1938.
- Begley, S, The Story of Leicester. p.197-198.
- Nash, D and Reider, D (Ed), Leicester in the Twentieth Century. P.196.
- Begley, S, The Story of Leicester. p.189
- Rodger, R and Madgin, R, Leicester – A Modern History. p.46.
- Kellys Directory of Leicestershire and Rutland 1922 and Kellys Directory of Leicester 1938
- Begley, S, The Story of Leicester. p.207.
- Nash, D and Reider, D (Ed), Leicester in the Twentieth Century
- LSO History | Leicester Symphony Orchestra