South Wigston

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South Wigston is a suburb of Leicester in England. It is outside of the city boundary, forming part of the Oadby and Wigston district of Leicestershire. [1]

It is situated to the west of Wigston Magna, specifically west of the Midland Main Line. The locally famous "Crow Mills" area has been the site of a grain mill since the thirteenth century, though the present mill (now a private dwelling) was built later on the original footings. The Mill is on the north bank of the river Sence and backs onto the nearby Grand Union Canal, which generally forms the southern boundary of South Wigston. The first major development of the area came following the arrival of the Midland Railway Company's Wigston Junction, goods yard and three stations. Industrial and residential buildings, St Thomas the Apostle church (1893), Primitive Methodist church (1900, demolished, now Best Close), Wesleyan Methodist church (1886), Congregational church (1897), United Reform Church, the Clarence Hotel (1890, now the Marquis of Queensbury PH), and the Grand Hotel (circa 1880s, currently unoccupied, incorporates the former Venetia House) were built in the triangle of land between the Wigston junction to Rugby line (dismantled), the Wigston to Nuneaton line (Leicester to Hinckley) to the north and Saffron Road to the west. Much of the building work (including both hotels and his former home Venetia House) was commissioned by local hero Orson Wright (circa 1880s).

Although all three railway stations were closed, a new South Wigston station has been built on the Nuneaton line and is served by Central Trains.

The famous musical artist Gertie Gitana performed at the Clarence hotel, and one of its rooms was named after her.

The land enclosed by the Wigston to Rugby line (dismantled), Midland Main Line and the Grand Union Canal started to be developed around Lansdowne Grove at the start of the twentieth century with town houses becoming a conservation area in the late 80's early 90's, and later a sizeable council estate, industrial estate and in the 1990s another large housing estate.

South Wigston has seen considerable change in recent times, and there are plans for the future development of the area. Tesco opened a new supermarket in October 2005 along with a 24-hour petrol station, creating jobs for the local area. Soon after the Kwik Save supermarket on Station Road closed down. Station Street is currently witnessing redevelopment of formerly industrial buildings, now being converted into residential dwellings. There are a variety of possible plans for disused factory and warehouse buildings on Canal Street also.

1461 (Wigston) Squadron of the Air Training Corps is based at Tigers Road, South Wigston.

Employment

Main employers in the area include Tesco, Jacob's (now a division of United Biscuits), and Cromwell Tools headquarters.