Loughborough Carillon

The Carillon Tower, Britain’s first Grand Carillon, was built in 1923 as a war memorial. It stands some 151 feet high and is home to a belfry containing 47 bells covering four chromatic octaves. These are played by keyboard  by a carillonneur in the clavier chamber below them. The bells were cast locally at the John Taylor Bell Foundry. Visible from miles away it affords excellent views of the surrounding area to those brave enough to climb the 138 steps past its bells to its gallery. Memorial plaques are attached to the tower’s base.

QUEEN’S PARK, a favourite spot with both local residents and visitors, lies at the heart of the town and is home to the Loughborough Carillon, the War Memorial Museum and Charnwood Museum. It was opened in June 1899 to celebrate Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee and features aviaries, a bowling green, bandstand, and a Swan Maze.

Loughborough Library

The town’s octagonal public library was built 1903-5 in a Baroque style in red brick with interior Art Nouveau details. It was extended in the 1960s and today houses not just books, DVDs and CDs, but extensive IT facilities. The library is home to an extensive local studies collection including an area dedicated to family history. Its primary focus is the history of the town and the villages surrounding it, but the collection also includes census and parish records, local newspapers and various trade directories.