Home Putting Melton First Saving the War Memorial Hospital Hill House Project Craven Lodge Messages & Support News Releases Clippings Archive Contact 07/09/2010 08:07 Putting Melton First Melton's lost heritage There is great concern in Melton at the loss of the town's historical and heritage buildings. Some have been the victims of inappropriate planning. Others have been felled by arson or errant bulldozers. So it is hardy surprising that some locals hold the view that there has been a wholesale and deliberate attempt to rid the town of its heritage and links with Royal history. There even exists an urban myth, that the late Queen Mother, bitter at having been forced from a private life with her husband and young family to become Queen Empress, and later blaming the Duke & Duchess of Windsor for her husband's early death at the age of 56, in some way left instructions to the effect that history should be obliterated from the town where Edward met Mrs Simpson. The Queen Mother's animosity toward the couple is extensively recorded; she refused to meet them, caused them to live out of the UK and prevented the Duchess from holding the title Her Royal Highness, but whether a Melton Mowbray agreement was ever made, and with whom, has never been discovered. Jenny Allsop, local historian, author and Secretary of Melton's Civic Society, views the passing of Melton's historic buildings with concern, "When I give talks on the history of the town there are always questions about why certain of Melton's heritage buildings have been destroyed. In the case of the War Memorial Hospital and Craven Lodge we know what's going to happen, and thanks to Melton First we can do something about it." "When the property's gone and those wonderful grounds are covered in new homes, there will be no point moaning about what's lost to the town forever." The photos that follow show just a few of Melton's destroyed and late-lamented buildings and monuments. Cheapside Northern Station Park Road The Limes The Round Houses The Old Basin Also in this section: Message from Our Melton First Chairman... How you can help Melton First... The history & heritage of Melton Mowbray... Read some of Melton First's many letters of support, and send us some of your own...! Melton First       -       From the Land to the Hand