A little bit of history

about the Clock Tower
It cost £1000 to build which was raised by public subscription and is constructed from Ketton Limestone and pink Mountsorrel granite
On the four corners stand statues of the benefactors of Leicester

Left is William Wyggeston. Born 1456 he was a wool merchant and Mayor of Leicester. He devoted his wealth to charitable works and founded Wyggestons Hospital which housed 12 poor men and women. The building is in the process of renovation and conversion into luxury apartments. The poor man would spin in his grave if he knew.

Centre is Simon de Montfort, born in Normandy (yes good people of Leicester, he`s French). Married to Eleanor sister of Henry 3rd in 1238 and invested with the Earldom of Leicester a year later. He lead the 2nd Barons revolt against Henry and is believed to have instituted the House of Commons (so it`s his fault we`re in this mess)

Top Right is Sir Thomas White ( a bit fuzzy) born in 1492. A former Lord Mayor of London and founder of St. Johns` College Oxford. His right to be considered a benefactor of Leicester resides in the loan scheme he set up in 1551 to provide assistance for young men to set themselves up in business

Bottom Right. Alderman Gabriel Newton, born in 1683, he was a wool merchant who went on to become an Alderman and then Mayor of Leicester. He then followed in his fathers footsteps and became a pub landlord. He founded the Greencoat School which is now Leicester Grammar.