Creative Mill Leicester - A Brief History

According to the insurance records of 1892, the site of what is today Creative Mill was occupied by a series of houses that would have fallen under the ‘slum’ bracket. The building as we know it today stands on land previously used as stables and a court of houses. This was Court C, Mansfield Street, which appears to be a row of 7 cottages lined along a communal yard. It seems these houses backed directly onto the stables with no rear entrance.

 

There was also a line of seven cottages lining Mansfield Street from its corner with Sandacre Street, covering much of the car park of where the modern building stands.

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The backs of these cottages I believe are visible in the photo sent on previously from the Slums of Leicester book. As well as the aforementioned stables, Mansfield Street at this time was home to a Malt House, Saw Mill, Boot Factory and Timber yard, as well as many dwellings and the Floral Hall, which was demolished in the 1960s.

 

The first part of the building as we know it today was built in the late 1890s. By the early 1900s, Tompkins, Spence & Co Boot and Shoe Manufacturers are listed at 64 Mansfield Street in the local directories. It seems that Tompkins, Spence & Co formed around the turn of the century, and I found this excerpt on the company from Shoe and Leather News and published in 1919:

 

W. Tompkins & Son

Mansfield Street

This business was founded 19 years ago by Mr W Tompkins, bringing to it a thorough knowledge of the trade in all its branches.

He was joined by Mr E.D. Spence and for several years carried a business under the style of Messrs. Tompkins, Spence & Co.

Ten years ago, Mr W.A. Tompkins was admitted into partnership, and upon Mr Spence retiring from business, the firm became known as Messrs. W Tompkins and Son.

To cope with increasing trade, it has been found necessary to move into larger premises three time and they are now considering a further extension of their present factory.

Ladies’ and Childrens’ medium grade footwear is their specialty, but quite recently a melting plant was installed, and they are now producing high grade melted shoes.

The firm have a very fine export business, and their products are well known in South Africa, New Zealand and Australia. In 1914, the firm was placed on the list of government contractors, and large quantities boots and shoes made for the British and Allied governments.

This article also noted that Tompkins & Son created boots included the Platinum and Rexall range for ladies, and the Jewel range for children.

 

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Plans for the extensions mentioned above were submitted and approved in 1924. This saw the building extend out parallel with Mansfield Street – specifically the part of the building which sits further back and faces Mansfield Street sit today. The architect who designed the extension was Frank H Jones.

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W Tompkins & Son were still listed at 64 Mansfield Street in 1960, though it appears they closed business shortly after this.

 

The building’s history in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s is harder to track, and it appears that a few different companies called 64 Mansfield Street home. It appears in the early 1980s the building was a cash and carry called MJL, before being taken over by a company called Knitprint Fabrics, who renamed the building Deepalvi House. Looking at these Council records, it seems that since 1987 the building has served a number of purposes, including a factory shop. In terms of very recent owners, I know Fuelled Media were here for a time, as were Tru-Stitch. 

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64 Mansfield Street was renovated in 2017, and became Creative Mill. Internally many original features have been restored and the building now provides a contempory home to many high tech businesses based in Leicester City Centre.