If you were to ask me whether there was a specific building that sparked my interest in urban history, the former St. Patrick's Chapel and School on Royal East Street, Leicester, is the answer I would give.
This building stands in a sadly derelict state in a peculiar corner of Leicester City Centre. It lies just around the corner from my former offices and I used to go and look at it regularly during my lunch breaks.
With the aim of getting to the bottom of the history of this derelict masterpiece, I set about researching the building and its link to the history of the Irish in Leicester. I dived into archives,
read the relevant literature, scoured the web and spoke to people in the know. I was able to uncover some great memories, including from people who attended the school and chapel when it was operational, as well as some photographs of the building from the exterior which were not previously known about. I was also able to go inside and have a snoop around for myself.
The result of my research was a paper which I then submitted to the Centre for Urban History at the University of Leicester. This led to me being accepted onto their MA Urban Conservation course. It was from here that I developed the skills and knowledge that allowed me to establish Carduelis CHR.
The paper on St. Patrick's Chapel and School is available to read in it's entirety here. I hope you enjoy the paper if you do choose to read it. If you are struggling for time, the photos are well worth a look regardless.
I am a freelance historical researcher based in Leicester, UK. If you require any support or guidance around historical research and bringing heritage to new audiences, please contact me via sean@carduelischr.com.
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