As others see Leicester ………. part three

The fun of being a tourist is that you often see a place differently.

You are seeing it for the first time and with that usually comes a curiosity to know more, so when we walked past The Church of St Mary Magdalen on Church Lane in Knighton, I wanted to know its history, and to record its appearance.

Unfortunately, our Josh and Polly couldn’t help with its story added to which I had come out without my camera.

But fear not google maps had an image of the church, which I was able to use providing I gave them the credit, and a search of Tuck DB offered up a fine picture postcard. *

Tuck and Sons were a picture postcard company with office across the world and during the late 19th and into the 20th century produced heaps of cards.

In turn Tuck DB is an online resource which holds large number of the company’s work, and amongst the Leicester collection was the church.

According to one source it's history dates back to 1097, with the earliest part of the building, which is the tower, is from the 13th century. **

Added to which Historic England records that it is a Grade II listed building. ***

In time I will go looking for some information, although I note that various sites do include pictures, but where would the fun be for a tourist in using them, when I can take my own photographs next time we are in Knighton.

And so, qualify for being a tourist all over again.

Leaving me just to observe that Tuck's postcard is undated, but the reverse does mention Queen Mary which I take to be Mary of Teck who was the wife of King George V who was on the throne from 1910 til 1936, which may suggest a date for when the earlier picture was taken and marketed.

For those who want to enter the spot the difference over time competition between the two images I will just say there is no prize, for the best essay.

Location; Knighton, Leicester

Pictures; Church of St Mary Magdalen, Church Lane, Knighton, courtesy of Google Maps, 2022, and by Tuck and Sons, undated, courtesy of Tuck DB

*Tuck DB, https://tuckdbpostcards.org/

**Knighton: St Mary Magdalen, The Church Of England, https://www.achurchnearyou.com/church/2917/

***Church of St Mary Magdalen, Church Lane, Knighton, Historic England, https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1074020