Park to Parks - The Story of New Parks, Western Park, Braunstone Frith and Kirby Frith

Published Oct 2021

Park to Parks explores the story of the centuries long transformation of the hunting park of Leicester Forest and the development of the 20th century communities of New Parks, Western Park, Braunstone Frith and Kirby Frith.

This book will appeal to anyone interested in the social history of Leicester, whether current residents, ex-pats, or even to people interested in Britain's historic past.

Archaeological discoveries indicate an ancient past but the recorded history begins when the area was the section of Leicester Forest nearest to the town, run in medieval times under Forest Law.  The rest of the area, the Frith, was enclosed about 80 years later, restricting access to Leicester dwellers and neighbouring villagers further and eliciting protests.  As farming profits fell and Leicester's population grew, building land became valuable, landowners sold their estates and farms to be developed for urban activities.

Whilst Park to Parks is concerned with an area to the west of Leicester, it is representative of other suburban areas of Britain that grew up on the borders of industrial cities in the 20th century.

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