Loughborough's Shelthorpe estate celebrates 100 years
A project to celebrate 100 years of the Shelthorpe estate in Loughborough has brought together residents' memories and stories to showcase the area’s rich history and strong sense of community.
Led by Charnwood Borough Council, the Shelthorpe Archive is a series of videos highlighting the area's heritage and personal stories as part of an augmented reality (AR) trail.
People can follow the trail and through an app scan numbers and letters to access to the stories.
The Shelthorpe Archive is part of a wider project which not only marked the centenary but also saw the shopping area around Park Road roundabout supported through additional CCTV, a deep clean and other street improvements. The project was supported by £60,000 from the UK Shared Prosperity Fund.
Cllr Jennifer Tillotson, the Council’s Lead Member for Housing, Economic Development, Regeneration and Town Centres, said: “It has been so special to celebrate the Shelthorpe estate. It is such an important milestone for all the people that lived there and still do.”
Cllr Beverley Gray, Shelthorpe ward councillor, added: “Shelthorpe has a rich history, and it is only right we acknowledge and celebrate that. It’s been wonderful to see the community come together, share their stories and take great pride in where they live.”
Cllr Anne Gray, who is also a Shelthorpe ward councillor and attended school in the area, said: “When I attended Shelthorpe school in the sixties, little did I think that in 2026 I'd be attending Shelthorpe Estate's centenary celebrations as a borough councillor!
“I'd like to say a big thank you to the resident who first alerted us to the centenary, to local businesses and all residents who helped on the day and shared stories.
“Thanks also to officers at Charnwood Borough Council who helped make our event a reality. And huge thanks to the Local Studies team at the library who put together a great exhibition and produced a booklet.”
Fellow Shelthorpe ward councillor Sarah Maynard said: “It has been fantastic to learn so much about the history of Shelthorpe and I encourage people to explore the trail and hear all the wonderful stories.
“It has been such an honour to hear so many wonderful stories from the residents, both past and present.”
Local creative company Creative Initiatives CIC, based in Loughborough, produced the trail and videos, supported by the Loughborough Library Local Studies Group.
The videos can be accessed by downloading the free Graff.io Arts AR app and scanning numbers placed in the windows of Shelthorpe businesses or letters from the Shelthorpe ARchive Heritage Trail leaflet. These trigger augmented reality (AR) stories to view on a phone or tablet.
The videos are also available on the Charnwood Council website www.charnwood.gov.uk/shelthorpearchive
Lifelong Shelthorpe resident Graham Swan, known as Swanny and who runs Swanny’s Tattoo Studio, features in one of the videos in which he says: “I have lived in Shelthorpe all my life. Life for me started on Griggs Road and it was wonderful growing up here.
“My Gran lived here and I remember playing on the little green on Manor Road. The estate was like one big family, and I have so many wonderful memories growing up here.”
The first homes on the Shelthorpe estate were built in 1926 following the 1919 Housing and Town Planning Act which gave local authorities more control in building council houses.
Today the estate has around 300 homes and a strong local identity.
Charnwood Borough Council News - Published: Wed 16th September, 2026
