Focus on Braunstone. Nearly sixty years ago, in 1967, work and play in Braunstone Town, Part Two

Focus on Braunstone. Nearly sixty years ago, in 1967, work and play in Braunstone Town, Part Two
Focus on Braunstone almost sixty years ago. The Braunstone Community spirit thrived in Braunstone during this period, with local clubs and societies organising regular social events and supporting charitable causes. The annual carnival became a highlight, bringing together families and neighbours for lively celebrations and friendly competition. Streets were decorated, laughter filled the air, and the sense of pride in Braunstone’s achievements could be felt throughout the town.
Meanwhile, the presence of dynamic companies like Jones and Shipman and Bell Woodworking provided valuable employment opportunities, helping to shape the area’s character and prosperity. The expertise in engineering and craftsmanship not only served local needs but also attracted workers from neighbouring communities. At the same time, educational initiatives at Winstanley High School encouraged young minds to explore new skills and interests, nurturing the next generation of talent and leadership for Braunstone’s future.
Braunstone Hall, now known as Winstanley House, is a building of historical significance and is Grade II listed on the English Heritage Register. It was built in 1775 by Clement Winstanley and remained in the Winstanley family for the next 150 years. The hall was originally commissioned for Clement Winstanley, the wealthy owner of the surrounding estate, to become the family’s permanent residence. The architect and builder selected for the project was William Oldham, who would later become Lord Mayor.
For more than 150 years, the Winstanley family occupied Braunstone Hall, and the Hall saw many births, deaths, and marriages as it was passed down through the generations. The Winstanley family had a reputation for being fair-minded and judicious, holding important roles as leading dignitaries in the Leicester Corporation. Their decisions influenced the lives of the communities of both Braunstone and Leicester, and they were held in high regard by the public.
Winstanley’s residence and ownership of the Hall came to an end soon after Britain’s success in the First World War in 1918 2. An act of parliament was passed ‘to make Britain a land fit for heroes to live in,’ which resulted in Richard Winstanley, the last Lord of the Manor, being forced to sell off his estate through a compulsory purchase order. This was so that much-needed modern housing could be built.
Braunstone Hall served as a school from 1932 until its closure in 1996. In February 1944, it became the Divisional Headquarters to the U.S 82nd Airborne Division, an elite combat unit of the U.S Army that was fundamentally important to the Allied invasion of Europe, otherwise known as D-Day, on June 6th, 1944. As the Divisional HQ, the security surrounding the Hall was extremely tight, as the Division’s top-secret objectives for the Allied invasion were all planned from rooms within the Hall.
Music: Around the Globe by Alexander Nakarada (www.creatorchords.com)
Licensed under Creative Commons BY Attribution 4.0 License
https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...
Filmed with Standard 8mm Cine Film
Edited with Davinci Resolve 20
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