Leicester Boys Club

Lady Rolleston and the street boys of Leicester 

Lady Rolleston was concerned about the welfare of young boys who were selling newspapers on Leicester’s streets. Most had no shoes, were poorly dressed and were often the sole breadwinner in their family during times of high unemployment. In 1897 she set up the Leicester Boys Club to help them, followed by seaside holidays at Mablethorpe as a break from their harsh life.  

The Leicester Poor Boys and Girls Summer Camp 

For many of Leicester’s ‘poor boys’, the summer camp at Mablethorpe was the first time they had seen the sea. Their adventure of a lifetime began at the Belgrave Road terminus of the Great Northern Railway. At first, only boys were catered for, staying in tents on Mablethorpe’s sand dunes. Later, wooden chalets were built for girls, followed by purpose-built homes. Lady Rolleston made use of her husband’s connections to appoint local wealthy businessmen to the Charity’s board. They in turn encouraged their employees to donate money from their wages to help fund the holidays. 

Shaftesbury Hall 

Shaftesbury Hall was built c.1906 as the headquarters of the Leicester Poor Boys Summer Camp. Shaftesbury Hall was named after Lord Shaftesbury, a politician who campaigned to improve the lives of working children. The upper floor remains the headquarters of the Leicester Children’s Holiday Centre (Mablethorpe) and still provides disadvantaged local children with a free traditional seaside holiday. Today’s holiday excursions still set off from, and return to, Shaftesbury Hall.