YouTube clip: Melton Mowbray in 1846

Click here to view larger map.

Egerton Lodge and Leicester Rd Bridge.

St Mary's Church and Play Close.

Burton Street with The Anne of Cleves on the left and the Bede Houses on the right.

I found this wonderful panorama of Melton on a hand-drawn map of the town dated 1875. The caption underneath reads:

"This view of Melton Mowbray was taken from sketches to show what it was like in the year 1846. Before the railway was made. Before several trees were cut down. And before a beautiful meadow was cut up into small gardens."

The illustration measures about 60 x 12cm and was drawn in pen and wash. It's been heavily varnished which is why it has such a yellow tint. If there's enough interest, I'll spend some time trying to restore the image to its original sate, and perhaps offer prints for sale.

YouTube clip

I put a small video clip showing the map on YouTube in early December 2008. Click here to view it.

As well as this view across the river and canal, there are three more illustrations around the edge of the map: of Burton Street, Burton Lazars Church and Sysonby.

I spent some time working out where the main illustration was drawn from, using Egerton Lodge, the canal and the river as reference points. Click here to view the portion of the map covering the view. Today, the nearest point I could get to was a small area of green, just behind the swimming pool, close to where the railway runs under Dalby Road.

The angler on the left is fishing the River Eye. Just past the wooden footbridge the river flows to the right before turning left towards Leicester Road Bridge in the distance. Not far from this point, the river's name changes from the Eye to the Wreake.

The Melton Navigation

The Melton Navigation canal meets the river just behind the family walking their dog. The canal runs to the right, across the meadow to a large basin which lay the other side of Burton Street bridge (above).

The original plan was for the canal to meet the river just beyond the footbridge, and then flow all the way to the Soar. But the owner of Egerton Lodge refused to allow his view to be spoilt by the canal, and insisted that a costly detour be cut which took it out of sight of his grand house and manicured gardens.

This detour runs into the distance, along the left hand edge of the illustration, just beyond the wooden footbridge, before flowing under another (unseen) bridge under Leicester Road. Today, this area would be beside the town's swimming pool. And there's a very similar footbridge there today.

At some point I'll put some more photos and information here. Comments, questions and suggestions are always very welcome. Please use the contact form to send them.