Random things - September 2021

 Here are nineteen photographs that I took in Loughborough this September. Some of the subjects will be discussed in more detail in the future.

This footpath, seen near Maxwell Drive, lies over the Derwent Aqueduct, a large water pipe that takes water from reservoirs in northern Derbyshire to Leicestershire. The aqueduct leaves an unusually straight line through the west of Loughborough, as obviously you can't build buildings over the top of the pipe, lest the water company have to take down your house to fix the pipe. For most of it's length through Loughborough it is quite noticeable, only becoming more concealed as it passes under gardens on the Brook Lane estate.

The foundations of a group of three terraced houses, one of twelve new affordable houses being built near the Co-op on Knightthorpe Road, scheduled to be completed in May 2022.

Unfinished paving at Devonshire Square.

Paving works at Devonshire Square.

These cabinets were painted gold to celebrate the achievements of ParalympicsGB in the (delayed) 2020 Tokyo Paralympics in 2021. Note the plaques, some of which are written in Braille.

Detail of the nearly-completed Luxurio student development on the corner of Leicester Road and Barrow Street.

Some of the later council estates shunned the car early on, devoting large areas to pedestrian walkways. The way this was done, however, was rather poorly executed, with estates becoming confusing labyrinths with illegible street layouts. It's not exactly surprising that this estate near the town centre (see also picture below) has a map, with the properties being colour-coded according to which street they are on (or rather, which street they are).

Flats on Peel Drive (left) and Russell Street (right).

The northern section of Cobden Street, flanked on either side by Taylor's bell foundry. Cobden Street is one of two streets that have been completely severed in two, this being done in the 1960s with the demolition of terraced houses and their replacement with council flats (see previous picture), as well as the expansion of the playground at Cobden Street Primary School.

The rather tattered Union Jack flying from the tower of the bell foundry.

Mill Lane. This is the second road in Loughborough to be called Mill Lane; the first was located off Market Street, which was at the time called Mill Street, it's current name being taken from another Market Street which was located opposite Granby Street!

The block of flats known as The Gate under construction.

Loughborough railway station looks immaculate in the September sunlight.

A swan on the Grand Union Canal, near Belton Road.

Another labyrinthine housing estate; this is Warwick Court, on the Epinal Way estates.

Charnwood Water. This was the first time that I had visited the lake since the ill-fated visit in March 2014! 

Arriva Midland's Alexander-Dennis Enviro200 MMC 3101 (YXI7 NLA) passes through Wards End on a number 16 service from Coalville. This bus was also formerly an airport park-and-ride shuttle bus, one of a batch of four new to Arriva at East Midlands Airport in 2017; however, it left the airport in 2019 for Arriva's Thurmaston Depot after being repainted and having the centre door removed.

The Grand Union Canal, looking from the Belton Road bridge.

Loughborough's second Home Bargains store, on Belton Road. These premises were formerly occupied by Staples.