Classwork: 7th February 2007: Background about Leicester

We are beginning a short project on the Midlands city of Leicester.

Where is Leicester?



This map shows the location of Leicester.

A timeline of historical development
1AD - village built by a local tribe on the banks of the river
60AD - Romans build a garrison here
410AD - Romans leave. Saxon people settle here.
850AD - Fort built and maintained by the Danes.
1066AD - Battle of Hastings, and stability and peace becomes normal allowing Leicestesr to become a market town

Industrial devopment
- 18th century. Textiles industry involves hand operated machines and is labour intensive.
- Industrial revolution (about 1850). Steam powered machines mean more work. Migration into the city. The city expands. More related industries e.g. shoemaking and light engineering.
- 20th century. Work moves abroad as labour costs are cheaper there. Many factories close down.

Population change
Generally quite a lot of increase from 1801 to about the 1970s as people came from within the UK to work in the factories, and later from other parts of the world particularly Asia. Since 1980 there has been a small decrease in the population as migration has stopped and people move out of the cramped poor quality housing in the centre of the city.

Population structure
Leicester has one of the most diverse ethnic populations in the UK.