Newarke Houses, Leicester

Located next to Leicester Castle in the historic heart of the city, the Newarke Houses Museum consists of two distinct yet complementary buildings that provide insight into Leicester’s evolution. These two structures—Wyggeston’s Chantry House and Skeffington House—originate from different periods and styles but together help illustrate the city’s architectural and social history.

Wyggeston’s Chantry House, built around 1511, is Leicester’s only surviving Elizabethan-era house. Skeffington House, from the 17th century, was home to the Skeffington family. Both played roles in the 1645 Siege of Leicester, with Cromwell’s troops modifying the garden wall for defense. After serving as a residence, school, and military quarters, they became a museum in 1953 for Queen Elizabeth II’s coronation.

The Newarke Houses Museum presents a wide-ranging collection covering over 300 years of Leicester’s post-medieval and modern history. One of the museum’s highlights is its exhibit on Daniel Lambert, an 18th-century Leicester resident famed for being Britain’s largest man at over 50 stone (320 kg). His possessions, including clothing and furniture, are on display.

A standout feature of the museum is the recreation of a 1950s Leicester street, modeled after Wharf Street, complete with shopfronts and period details. Another notable exhibit showcases toys from Tudor times to the present, illustrating childhood experiences across centuries.

The museum also emphasizes Leicester’s industrial heritage, particularly its hosiery and textile industry, with exhibits on major clothing firms such as Corah’s and Wolsey.

One of the museum’s integral sections is dedicated to the Royal Leicestershire Regiment, containing an extensive collection of military memorabilia, medals, and records. Visitors can explore accounts of Leicester residents’ contributions during wartime through digital archives accessible on-site.

Surrounding the museum are carefully maintained gardens, divided into distinct areas. One section features a Victorian-era collection of exotic trees and plants, while another follows a medieval-style design with intricate box hedge patterns. The garden wall, still bearing 17th-century gun loops from the English Civil War, serves as a tangible link to Leicester’s turbulent past.

Today, the Newarke Houses Museum serves as a key cultural landmark within De Montfort University’s campus, offering visitors a rich and immersive journey through Leicester’s history.