Exhibitions

A Second World War collection including harrowing documentary photographs of the aftermath of German air raids over the city of Leicester on November 19th, 1940, now known at the "Leicester Blitz". Wardens, clean-up crews and families line the rubble of their homes, shelters, and city streets, surveying the damage.

Auster Aircraft Photo Collections

The Auster is a light, highwing monoplane designed for private flying and club use, but also successfully adapted for military and other purposes. They were built at Thurmaston and Rearsby in Leicestershire between 1939 and 1965.

You can see an Auster aircraft on display at Charnwood Museum.

The Beginning

In 1938, Leicestershire County Flying Club bought a new Taylorcraft Model A aircraft from America. One of its members, A. L. Wykes, a pilot from World War One (WWI) and a local businessman, was so impressed with this aircraft, he decided to build them himself.

With no previous experience, but a love of flying and some local financial backing, Wykes headed for Taylorcraft in America to purchase a licence to produce their aircraft. He returned with a Taylorcraft Model B aircraft, details of how to manufacture them and 50 engines.

The Early Years

In November 1938 Taylorcraft Aeroplanes (England) Ltd, was formed in the spare buildings at the rear of Wykes' machinery factory "Crowthers" in Thurmaston. The first aircraft produced, the model Plus C, sold for approximately £500.

The company continued to produce aircraft until the outbreak of WWII in September 1939, when all civilian flight was banned along with the manufacture of civil aeroplanes.

WWII Production

Because of the ban, Wykes negotiated contracts to produce other goods to keep it afloat. This included repairing Tiger Moth, Typhoon and Hurricane military aircraft. Meanwhile, the Army had been undertaking trials to test modern methods for air observation. For this they needed a light aircraft that could be used by artillery officers to locate enemy forces. Wykes knew of this and produced for the trials 6 new Taylorcraft Model Plus D aircraft. Taylorcraft were awarded the contract because of their factory facilities and the Model D was:

- small enough to avoid attacks
- low cost to run
- easy to handle
- easy to dismantle and reassemble
- easy to transport

Air Observation Posts

To distinguish the military aircraft from the civilian they were renamed "Auster" - the Latin word for a warm, dry southwesterly wind. he first military aircraft produced was the Auster Mk 1, 100 of which were ordered in 1942 for use as the new Air Observation Posts (AOP). Under the direction of the RAF, the AOPs were flown by trained Army artillery pilots. The Austers became known as the "eyes of the army" and were used worldwide throughout the war years.

With increased demand and a shortage of a male workforce, women were employed to take on their workloads. By the end of the war in 1945, over 1600 Austers had been built.

Auster Aircraft Ltd 1946-1961

After the war, the company under the new name "Auster Aircraft Ltd" continued to develop new, improved military Austers. A new line of more economical and low powered civilian Austers were also produced from the successful wartime Mk 5 model. The aircraft were modified for a variety of purposes and were used at home and around the world. These included:

- training
- touring
- observations
- crop spraying and dusting
- aerial advertising
- delivery
- aerial photography
- pleasure trips
- private flying

However, lack of demand and the availability of cheap ex-military aircraft soon led to a slow down in production and many redundancies throughout the workforce. To keep the company productive, they established connections with motor companies and started making car parts, including gear changes for the Hillman Minx and Hunter.

The End of the Company

Auster Aircraft Ltd continued to make civilian and military aircraft until 1960 when it was absorbed into British Executive and General Aviation, better known as "Beagle", part of the Pressed Steel Group. Auster models, such as the Terrier, Airedale and Husky, continued to be produced by Beagle until 1968, when all aircraft production ceased.

County Council Artworks Collection

Modern art collections from Leicestershire County Council, revealing local artists' important contribution to modern art movements of the 20th century.

Held at the Sherrier Centre, Lutterworth

Visit the Sherrier Centre

sherrier@leics.gov.uk

County Council Fine Art Collection

Fine art collections from Leicestershire County Council, including lush rural landscapes, portrayals of foxhunting and equestrian pursuits, and portraits of local families

Held at the Collections Resources Centre, Barrow-on-Soar

Visit CRC

Harborough Photography Collection

These images area mainly drawn from the Harborough Photographic Collection, which contains approximately 10,000 photographs of Market Harborough and surrounding villages and is in the process of being digitized. The collection reflects the history and development of local manufacturers, retailers, agriculture and food production. They are a record of domestic and social life and the contribution of local individuals.

Read more about the Harborough Collection

Leicestershire's First World War

Century old glass plate emulsion photographs depicting men and women on the Leicestershire home front during 1914-1918. Featuring military parades, recruitment photography, notable personalities such as Lords Kitchener and Baden-Powell, industrial and munitions work, and care of the returning wounded at the 5th Northern General Hospital (now occupied by part of the campus of the University of Leicester, which itself was founded as a memorial to the fallen).

Melton Mowbray Collection

A collection of photographs and paintings relating to the town of Melton Mowbray depicting various buildings, townscapes, and historic events and people. Paintings and photographs physically held at the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland and The County Council Museums Service

Visit Melton Carnegie Museum

Painted Lantern Slides of the First World War

Lantern Slides depicting diverse scenes from the First World War battle front, including vividly-wrought conflict at land and at sea, local civilians, and an array of regiments from across the Commonwealth. Originally created mid-war in 1916, on behalf of the London Illustrated News.

R & W H Symington Photography Collection

From humble beginnings in the 1850s, R & WH Symington became a world leader in the manufacture of corsets and other garments. Its main factory in Market Harborough employed generations of families. This collection features photographs of working life spanning two centuries.

S. W. A. Newton Railway Collection

The Newton collection is an important and vast swathe of documentary photography by Sydney Walter Alfred Newton, a commercial photographer who was based in Leicester in the late 19th and early 20th century. His photography is particularly notable as a record of early rail engineering and construction.

The young Newton recorded the London Extension of the Great Central Railway - "the last main line" - between Nottingham and London, travelling the route with his camera.

Significantly, in addition to photographing the railway and its associated features, Newton also recorded the navvy community and the rural life in the villages along the course of the line. The collection provides a unique picture of life in Buckinghamshire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Leicestershire and Warwickshire around the turn of the 20th century.

You can learn more about the photography collections and about the GCR on The Railway Archive.

Symington Corset Patterns

Symington Corset Patterns:

The Symington collection was created by the Market Harborough company R. & W. H. Symington, which began to make corsets for fashionable Victorian ladies in the 1850s. The company eventually grew into an international concern and one of its most famous products, the Liberty Bodice, was produced for almost seventy years.

The Symington garment collection is held at the Collections Resources Centre, Barrow-on-Soar

Visit Collections Resource Centre

More corset patterns can be viewed in the Symington catalogues held at the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester and Rutland.

Visit The Record Office

Symington Fashion Collection

The Symington collection was created by the Market Harborough company R. & W. H. Symington, which began to make corsets for fashionable Victorian ladies in the 1850s. The company eventually grew into an international concern and one of its most famous products, the Liberty Bodice, was produced for almost seventy years.

This unique collection was presented to Leicestershire County Council's Museums Service in 1980. Although it includes some pieces made by their competitors, the collection essentially tells the story of the Symington company over a period of one hundred and thirty years. It includes garments and supporting advertising material, which provide an insight into the development of corsetry, foundation garments and swimwear from the late 19th century through to the beginning of the 1990s.

Held at the Collections Resources Centre, Barrow-on-Soar

Visit Collections Resource Centre

The Art Of John Flower

John Flower (14 Oct 1793 - 29 Nov 1861) was an artist from Leicester famed for his skills at painting landscapes and architecture. His favoured subjects were the buildings and scenery of Leicestershire, and his artwork is an important historical record of life in the county during the 19th century. Much of his artwork is held by the County and City's museum service, although many examples still remain in private collections.