Episode details
Radio Leicester,20 Jul 2026,6 mins
Leicester’s brass band music controversy of 1856
Secret LeicestershireAvailable for over a year
On a Sunday afternoon in 1856 thousands of people turned up at Leicester’s Victoria Park – then used for horse racing - to hear a brass band concert. This event prompted outrage from many people in the city as Sunday was deemed a holy day, and music performed outside of church services was frowned upon. The issue caused a huge row, and some people even ended up in the law courts over it. Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ Leicester’s Ben Jackson went to find out more with Ned Newitt from Leicester Secular Society. Produced by Pete Wardman. If you want to know as soon as a new episode is available, make sure you subscribe to Secret Leicestershire on Ä¢¹½¶ÌÊÓƵ Sounds and have push notifications turned on. Image: Postcard of Victoria Park Bandstand 1905
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