A new town trail created by a collaboration between North West Leicestershire District Council and the Coalville Heritage Society has been unveiled

Called The Town of Two Fathers, the trail enables people to follow in the footsteps of William Stenson and George Stephenson.

They are two fathers, who created Coalville. The trail follows its start in the 1820-30s as a small mining village, comprising mining communities around Whitwick, Snibston No.1 and Snibston No.2 pits, to the beginnings of the town in the mid to late 1900s.

It is featured in six street boards which can be found at Stenson House (District Council Offices) on London Road, close to the miner's statue on High Street, outside the library, on Memorial Square and just off Memorial Square on Ashby Road and near to the Mother and Child statue at the entrance to the Belvoir Centre.

The trail traces specific developments in the town from the sinking of Whitwick (Long Lane) Colliery by William Stenson in 1828, to the arrival of the Leicester and Swannington Railway in 1833 - this was built by Robert Stephenson, George Stephenson's son.

The start of the trail with William Stenson outside Stenson House on London Road

It tells the story of the development of Snibston Collieries and miners' housing along Ashby Road by George Stephenson, the need for a railway bridge at Mantle Lane in 1912, the new shops and businesses along Hotel Street and High Street and the revolutionary new shopping centre now known as the Belvoir Centre.

The trail also links into the heritage trail around Snibston Colliery Park where the story of Snibston No.2 Colliery can be followed during park opening hours.

Stuart Warburton, Secretary to the Coalville Heritage Society, said: "It shows how important Coalville, or Long Lane as it was then known, was to the industrial development of the country.

"It was a new 'town' dependant on migrant labour from the north of England and, in 1833, had a railway before London or Birmingham, as well as new revolutionary types of steam engines and new ways of extracting coal. It was a town built on coal and its name, first used in around 1835, reflects the importance of its coal industry to the industrial revolution.

"The trail acknowledges the town's forthcoming 200th anniversary, which will be from 2028 to 2033."

Councillor Richard Blunt, Leader of NWLDC, said: "I'm really pleased with the work the council has done with Coalville Heritage Society on the Town of Two Fathers trail.

The trails tells the story of the Belvoir Shopping Centre and the Mother and Child statue

"This project, which was funded by the government's UK Shared Prosperity Fund, is the latest phase of our work to celebrate Coalville's history and bring some of its unique stories to life."

"As the weather improves, I'd encourage everyone to follow the trail from Stenson House, along High Street and on to Memorial Square. Whether you've lived in Coalville all your life, or are new to the town, I'm sure you'll learn something about Coalville and its rich and important industrial heritage."

The trail has been led by North West Leicestershire District Council and creative artwork by Aruba Creative, a nationally renowned creative design company based in Ibstock.

Each trail board also includes an observational 'quiz' for children to encourage them to learn more about the history of their town and community by looking at the old photographs on the board and linking them to their current surroundings.

For further information regarding the Coalville Heritage Society, click HERE.