Centenary of Loughborough estate celebrated with special community event – Latest News – News Updates

Published: Mon 15th June, 2026

Loughborough’s Shelthorpe estate has marked its centenary year with a special community event.

The event at Lift Beacon Primary School took place on Saturday, 13 June.

The 100-year celebration showcased the history of Shelthorpe through information stalls and also featured food and drink stands, children’s activities and live entertainment.

The project to celebrate the centenary of the Shelthorpe estate has been led by the communities and neighbourhoods team at Charnwood Borough Council and has received £60,000 from SPF funding.

Cllr Jennifer Tillotson, Lead Member for Housing, Economic Development, Regeneration and Town Centres, said: “The Shelthorpe estate is at the heart of Loughborough which is why it was so important for us to mark the centenary with this event through the UKSPF.”

Cllr Anne Gray and Cllr Beverley Gray, both Councillors for Outwoods and Shelthorpe, successfully bid for the funding and helped organise the event on Saturday.

Cllr Anne Gray said: “This was a fantastic event and to spend it with residents past and present was an honour as we shared stories from through the years, learnt more about the history of Shelthorpe and took part in fun activities.

“I would like to thank everyone that attended the event and those that helped make the event happen and tell the story of Shelthorpe.”

Cllr Beverley Gray said: “This was a wonderful event that not only celebrated the rich history of Shelthorpe but also highlighted the strong sense of community that continues to shape its future. It was fantastic to see residents coming together to share their stories and take pride in where they live.’

Another aspect of the UKSPF project to mark Shelthorpe’s centenary includes the improvement of the Park Road shopping area. This includes a deep clean of the site, new CCTV and the installation of a new community notice board.

Building of the Shelthorpe estate began in 1926 as the 1919 Housing and Town Planning Act came into effect, giving local authorities more control in building council houses.

The act was brought in following the end of the First World War and was called the ‘Homes fit for Heroes’ campaign.

Advertisement

In the lead up to the event, community craft sessions took place with residents to share and map stories which will were displayed at Lift Beacon Primary School.

An exhibition is also currently being held at Loughborough Library to showcase the history of the Shelthorpe estate. This information has been gathered and displayed by the Loughborough Library Local Studies Volunteer Group.

As part of the centenary year, the Shelthorpe Archive has been created to collect stories and photographs.

The online collection will be available this summer to read stories, anecdotes and view archived footage from Shelthorpe. The borough council has worked in partnership with Loughborough-based, Creative Initiatives CIC, on the archive.

To find out more about the 100-year anniversary of the Shelthorpe estate, visit: www.charnwood.gov.uk/shelthorpe100.