Coalville Walk: Town Centre【4K】

Located in the county of Leicestershire, and around 12 miles northwest of Leicester, is the town of Coalville.

The origins of Coalville go back to the year 1824 when engineer William Stenson opened a deep mine on the edge of Whitwick parish, calling it Whitwick Colliery. A small settlement grew around it, providing housing for his workers.

In 1830 Stenson enlisted the help of steam locomotive pioneer George Stephenson and his son Robert to build the Leicester and Swannington Railway. George Stephenson sunk two collieries here, named Snibston Number 1 and Snibston Number 2.

With the opening of the coal mines and the railway station, the Leicester Chronicle printed the following in 1833 alluding to the origin of the town's name: "Owing to the traffic which has been produced by the Railway and New Collieries on Whitwick Waste, land which 20 years ago would not have fetched £20 per acre (£50 per hectare), is now selling in lots at from £400 to £500 per acre (£1,000 to £1,200 per hectare), for building upon. The high chimneys, and numerous erections upon the spot, give the neighbourhood quite an improved appearance. We hear it is intended to call this new colony 'COALVILLE' - an appropriate name."

By 1900, Coalville had become a thriving town owing not only to coal mining, but also to other industries including brick and tile making, engineering and textiles. In 1925 the Memorial Clock Tower was unveiled, paying tribute to those killed during the First World War, and later adapted to honour those who perished in the Second World War as well.

In 1919 Alfred Edward Pallett founded a company in Coalville that would later become known as Palitoy. In 1966 it acquired the rights to the American GI Joe, renaming it Action Man for the British market. Among its other licensed products were Star Wars figures.

In 1964 Coalville's railway station was closed to passengers as part of the notorious Beeching Axe. The line of track remains open to freight, however. In a cruel twist of fate, a level crossing runs through the town centre (as can be seen just before the 10-minute mark), meaning the same tracks that built and served the town now impede it. Access to Coalville via public transport consists of direct bus services from locations including Leicester, Swadlincote and Loughborough.

Around an eight-year period from 1983 to 1991 six collieries in and around Coalville closed, bringing an end to this industry in the town.

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Filmed: 26th September 2022

Link to the walk on Google Maps: https://goo.gl/maps/1Vfqf48oCzNi5dgZ6

Filmed on a Sony FDR-AX700 with a Zhiyun Crane 2 and a Sony ECM-XYST1M Stereo Microphone.

TIMESTAMPS:

0:00 Belvoir Road
4:48 Memorial Clock Tower
5:08 Memorial Square
6:44 High Street
7:59 Mother and Child Sculpture
8:03 High Street
9:21 Miners' Memorial
9:31 High Street
10:04 Hotel Street
10:45 High Street
11:24 New Broadway
14:20 Belvoir Road