100 years of Shelthorpe estate

Residents are invited to celebrate the centenary of Loughborough’s Shelthorpe estate with a special community event next month.

The event will be taking place at Lift Beacon Primary School on Saturday, 13 June from midday to 2pm.

The 100-year celebration will showcase the history of Shelthorpe through information stalls and also feature food and drink stands, children’s activities and live entertainment.

The project to celebrate the centenary of the Shelthorpe estate is being led by Charnwood Borough Council.

Funding for the project has been provided by the Government’s UK Shared Prosperity Fund (UKSPF) with £10,000 of funding.

Cllr Jennifer Tillotson, Lead Member for Housing, Economic Development, Regeneration and Town Centres, said: “I am really pleased that we are able to celebrate 100 years of the Shelthorpe estate in Loughborough through the UKSPF.

“The estate has been at the heart of the Loughborough community for 100 years and it is important that we help mark the importance of the year ahead with local residents and I really look forward to this event.”

Cllr Anne Gray, Councillor for Loughborough Outwoods and Shelthorpe, said: “This will be a fantastic event to celebrate the centenary of Shelthorpe – a place that thousands of residents call home.

“The estate has a fascinating history and this will be a real opportunity to come together as a community, learn more about the place we live and celebrate the stories that we have uncovered over time.”

Ben Kilgannon, Principal at Lift Beacon Primary School, said: “It is a real privilege to host such an important celebration event at Lift Beacon.

“This occasion reflects the incredible history, pride and strength of the Shelthorpe community. Lift Beacon plays a vital role in supporting Shelthopre children to thrive and achieve and we look forward to welcoming many guests.”

As part of the centenary year, the Shelthorpe Archive has been created to collect stories and photographs.

The online collection will be available this summer to read stories, anecdotes and view the archived footage from Shelthorpe. The borough council has worked in partnership with Loughborough-based, Creative Initiatives CIC, on the archive.

Another UKSPF project includes the improvement of the Park Road shopping area in Shelthorpe. This project includes a deep clean of the site, new CCTV and the installation of a new community notice board.

Cllr Beverley Gray, Councillor for Loughborough Outwoods and Shelthorpe, said: “The launch of the online archive will be a really fascinating read for the residents in the estate, former residents and the wider community.

“I am also pleased that Shelthorpe has received funding through another UKSPF project to help improve the Park Road shopping area. We have worked with local businesses to help make it a safer and more attractive place for visitors.”

Building of the Shelthorpe estate began in 1926 as the 1919 Housing and Town Planning Act came into effect, giving local authorities more control in building council houses.

The act was brought in following the end of the First World War and was called the ‘Homes fit for Heroes’ campaign.

In the lead up to the event, community craft sessions have taken place with residents to share and map stories which will be displayed at the event.

An exhibition is also currently being held at Loughborough Library to showcase the history of the Shelthorpe estate. This information has been gathered and displayed by the Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteer Group.

To find out more about the 100-year anniversary of the Shelthorpe estate, visit this dedicated webpage.