[1] Start at the library building, on the corner of Cossington Road and Rendell Road. Go down Rendell Road, using the path beside Cossington Recreation Ground.
(A) All the houses in this area are from the late Victorian era built in the 1880s and 1890s. They were built to house those workers in the labour-intensive factories producing boots and shoes and hosiery.
(B) Cossington Street Recreation Ground was originally allotments until 1894 when it was declared a public space for the use of local residents. There is a children's play area and facilities for many different recreational activities. It has hosted many popular events such as the Mela, Dasheera and Diwali festivals and also funfairs.
[2] At the end of the park go right and follow the road as it takes a right turn and becomes Rothley Street (crossing over to walk on the right-hand pavement). On reaching the main road (Belgrave Road), cross it using the pedestrian crossing, then turn left.
[3] Walk along Belgrave Road, crossing side roads with care (caution: busy traffic). Continue past the start of the flyover then take the last turn right before the roundabout (Abbey Park Street. Continue, noting the Wolsey building on your right (C), then bear left onto Abbey Park Road and go right, crossing the Grand Union Canal, and immediately take the path on the right down the ramp to the canal and continue with the Wolsey factory on your right.
(D) The Grand Union Canal, Leicester. The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line start in London and ends in Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles (220km) with 166 locks. It has arms in places, including Leicester, Slough, Aylesbury, Wendover and Northampton.
[4] Continue along the canal for some time. Either side of you are the buildings of Leicester's industrial past and present, now mainly under redevelopment. On the left was Leicester's main tram depot and more of the Wolsey Factory, of which only the chimneys remain. On the right was the British United Shoe Machinery factory.
[5] When the left-hand canal path nears the weir, cross the canal bridge to the right. Go left past Belgrave Lock, which brings the canal onto the river Soar.
(E) On the far left-hand bank of the River is Abbey Pumping Station, now open to the public as Leicester's Museum of Science and Technology. The station houses 4 Gimson pumping engines, built in 1891 to pump sewage to a new treatment plant in Beaumont Leys, off Anstey Lane. The pumps worked until 1964, when new electric pumps were initiated and the pumping station closed soon after. For opening times, see their website: www.abbeypumpingstation.org
The museum is reputed to have a ghost in the basement of the engine house, as several volunteers have reported feeling that they are not alone there, and 'a warm sensation that someone is with you'. It is not known who or what this is, but the only fatal casualty at the pumping station was that of 43-year old engineering labourer, Robert Richardson in 1890. Robert slipped and fell 45 feet during the engine's construction. He died later in hospital of internal injuries. His workmates were not allowed to attend his funeral (presumably, they had to work), so instead they inscribed a simple memorial in the brickwork at the site where he fell - a cross which can still be seen inside.
[6] When you reach the next bridge, take the path to the right to leave the river, leading between industrial buildings and out at the corner of Holden Street/Ross Walk. Cross the road to the sign 'Ross Walk' then go left up the right-hand side of the street.
[7] On reaching a small side road, Asha Margh, turn right. Shortly, turn left through an iron gate to access a footpath between houses which leads onto Loughborough Road. Turn right along Loughborough Road and walk along it to the junction with Belgrave Road.
[8] Continue on the right-hand-side, past the traffic island crossing, then shortly cross Belgrave Road at the next pedestrian crossing. Turn left and then right into Cossington Street to return to the centre.