Portraits of Valour: The Soldiers Who Came to the Guildhall

Event Description

Step into the exact spot where First World War history was captured!

Step back in time at Leicester’s historic Guildhall for a poignant exhibition that brings local history back to the very ground where it was made.

On 22nd November 1919, the Leicester Chronicle published an iconic photograph of eight extraordinary local men standing proudly in the Guildhall courtyard. These men—shoemakers, blacksmiths, cotton workers, and telephone engineers from the Belgrave and District Working Men’s Club and Institute—had served with distinction during the First World War.

Now, The Guildhall, in proud partnership with the At-Risk War Memorials Project, invites you to stand in their footsteps and experience their stories.

Exhibition Highlights

• The Roll of Honour in the Mayor's Parlour: Walk into the historic Mayor's Parlour—the exact room just inside from where the soldiers stood for their iconic photograph. Thanks to the At-Risk War Memorials Project, a stunning replica of the club's original six-panel vellum Roll of Honour will be on loan and proudly displayed here, detailing the names of all 143 members who served.


• Leicester Through the Lens: Explore an incredible window into the past with a curated collection of images from the Leicester City Council Photographic Archive. See what our city looked like at this monumental, transitional turning point in history.


• Stories of Valor and Equality: Discover how the Belgrave community broke tradition by listing every serving man equally—without mention of rank or unit—alongside a special tribute to the club's four highly decorated WWI "Medallists" and the 14 men who never returned.

Talks & Tours

Dive deeper into Leicester's rich wartime heritage with our exclusive series of expert-led talks and guided tours designed to accompany the exhibition. These sessions will reveal the hidden stories behind the archive photos, explore the architecture of the Guildhall during the early 20th century, and detail the vital conservation work keeping these memorials alive. 

• 2nd Nov: At the Going Down of the Sun


• 15th Nov: War Memorials in Other Lands and the Meaning Behind Them


• 16th Nov: Leicester’s Victorian War Memorials by Robin Jenkins


• 23rd Nov: Consecrated to Peace

Visit Us

This exhibition is entirely free to enter and offers an unforgettable, immersive look at grassroots heritage, local craftsmanship, and the enduring spirit of early 20th-century Leicester.

Bring your family, explore the archive, and connect with the real faces of Leicester's history.

Acknowledgements

This exhibition has been made possible through collaborative community heritage efforts. We gratefully acknowledge the dedicated work and assistance of Denis Kenyon, Robin Jenkins, and Sheila Banyard from the At-Risk War Memorials Project in bringing this exhibition together and preserving these vital pieces of Leicester's history.

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