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Leicester - Gilroes Memorial Walk

Difficulty Easy Access

Walking time 45 minutes

Length 2.6km / 1.6mi

Route developer: Lisa McNicoll

Route checker: John Alton

Start location LOROS Hospice
Route Summary A peaceful and contemplative walk taking in the glade, lawns, rose gardens, meadow, bird boxes and squirrels, mature trees and hedges of Gilroes cemetery.
*move mouse over graph to see points on route
Getting there No details available.
Description

[1] Starting from outside LOROS hospice, turn right onto Duncombe Road.

[2] Turn right onto Allerton Drive and follow this road as it bends around to the left and continue until you meet the main Groby Road.

[3] Turn right onto Groby Road (Heathley Park Pub on your left). Keeping to the pedestrian side of the split pedestrian/cycle lanes, continue along the main road. (Beware of cycles using this stretch of pavement)

Go past the main gated entrance marked Gilroes Cemetery and Crematorium and continue along the main Groby road until you reach the NHS staff car park.

[4] Turn right (off Groby Road) onto an unmarked footpath leading to Gilroes cemetery. The right turn off Groby Road is situated just before the the car park.

(A) This area was know as the rural and Parish area of Gilroes. In 1811 it had a population of four.

[5] Enter the cemetery through a pedestrian gate and turn left follow the footpath round to the left. No dogs are allowed from this point onwards.

Follow the boundary footpath, keeping the glade to your immediate left. (Caution: take care as occasional cars may pass at low speed)

(B) Leicester Corporation took ownership of Gilroes in 1897 and by 1956 most of the area was taken up by the cemetery.

[6] At waypoint 6, just after the wooden bridge, take the path to the left, keeping to the boundary path. You should see a wooden bridge in the glade if you are on the right track - see picture. Notice the rows of bird nesting boxes in the glade.

[7] As you near the end of the boundary path to the west side, you will see green railings ahead of you. You need to do a zig-zag of paths by taking the last path on the right (before the railings), followed by the second path on the left. Then take the first path on the right to complete the zig-zag.

[8] Go straight across the road (marked with double yellow lines) and take the next path on the right. (Caution: take care as occasional vehicles on road)

[9] Turn left before the crematory, taking the path between two mature trees on either side.

(C) The cemetery holds 110 war graves from World War I and 160 graves from World War II.

[10] Take the next path to the right and follow this all the way to the main vehicle entrance road to the cemetery. You will see a meadow area to your left. (Caution: take care for oncoming vehicles in road)

[11] Bear left to exit the cemetery through the main gates onto Groby Road. Turn left and follow your tracks back along Groby Road, left onto Allerton Drive. Follow Allerton Drive around until you get back to Duncombe Road and back to LOROS hospice.

 

 

 

POI information No details available.
Notes

The cemetery and crematory are currently being refurbished and improved. These developments are scheduled to continue until March 2013. There should be minimal disruption.

Acknowledgements

1) British History Online Publication: A History of Leicester: Volume 4: The City of Leicester, edited by R.A. McKinley, published 1958 [accessed 15/12/12].

2) Commonwealth War Graves Commission website: Leicester (Gilroes) Cemetery [accessed 15/12/12].

3) Leicester City Council website: Community and Living - Cemeteries and Crematorium in Leicester [accessed 15/12/12].

4) Leicester City Council website: Memorial Safety Notification [accessed 15/12/12].

  • View on entering Gilroes cemetery.
    View on entering Gilroes cemetery.
    By - Lisa McNicoll
  • Wooden bridge in the glade (near waypoint 6).
    Wooden bridge in the glade (near waypoint 6).
    By - Lisa McNiooll
  • Mature evergreen tree to view (just before waypoint 11).
    Mature evergreen tree to view (just before waypoint 11).
    By - Lisa McNicoll
  • Gilroes cemetary
    Gilroes cemetary
    By -
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