Information on Loughborough

100 year old ceremonial key returns to Market Harborough

Posted on 18/12/2009

Leicestershire Councty Council Community Services

20 November 2009

100 year old ceremonial key returns to Market Harborough

Harborough Museum is to display the ceremonial silver key given to the Urban District Chairman, Mr J.L. Douglass in 1903 to celebrate the opening of the Cattle Market. The key is being donated to the Museum by Mr Douglass’ descendents.

On 15 December, Mr Miles Wilson, the Grandson-in-law to Mr J.L. Douglass will formally donate the key on behalf of his mother-in-law, Mrs Noreen Douglass.

Mr J.L. Douglass, a prominent local solicitor, was Chairman of the Urban District Council from 1900 – 1908 and one of the founders of the Market Harborough Fire Brigade to which he gave 30 years service, both as a volunteer and as its Captain.

The silver key, bearing the heraldic arms of the Earl of Harborough commemorates the opening of the new Cattle Market on April 14, 1903 in what is now Sainsbury’s carpark. The Settling Rooms are all that is left of the market place. Mrs Douglass, who has donated the key, wishes the key to be cared for at the Museum so that others might enjoy what is a symbol of the historic occasion.

Ernie White, Cabinet member for Museums said, ‘This beautiful key is evocative of an important part of Harborough’s past as well as a tribute to a man who contributed so much to the town.’

The key will be on display from 16 December.

  • To contact Harborough Museum phone (01858) 821085 or email harboroughmuseum@leics.gov.uk

  • The Symington Collection of corsets features in the Fashion Gallery at Snibston. For more information about Snibston please phone 01530 278 444, email Snibston@leics.gov.uk, or check out the website at www.snibston.com. The Fashion Gallery features a major new exhibition "Sporting A-Z, the Fashion Alphabet" until September 09.

  • For information about the Leicestershire County Council's collections, and for research enquiries and identifications please contact the Curatorial Team at the Collections Resources Centre on 01509 815514.

  • For information on local history, family history and photographs please contact the Record Office for Leicestershire, Leicester & Rutland on 0116 257 1080 or email recordoffice@leics.gov.uk .

  • For information about Leicestershire’s Open Museum including ArtWorks, Resource Boxes and Moving Objects please contact the Environment and Heritage Resources Centre on 0116 267 1950.

Harborough Museum is operated in partnership by Leicestershire County Council, Harborough District Council and the Market Harborough Historical Society.

  • For more information about Harborough Museum and the Southeast Leicestershire Treasure Project, please contact Helen Sharp, Project Officer, at Harborough Museum, on 01858 821087 or email helen.sharp@leics.gov.uk, or Frank Hargrave, Temporary Keeper of Harborough Museum, also on 01858 821087 or email frank.hargrave@leics.gov.uk

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