By Tim Lambert
43
The Romans invade Britain
47
The Romans capture what is now Leicestershire
48
The Romans build a fort and a town grows up nearby
80
The Roman army moves on but the town flourishes
100
The town of Ratae (Leicester) is rebuilt
c 250
Suburbs grow outside the walls of Ratae (Leicester)
407
The Roman army leaves Britain. Afterwards, Roman civilization breaks down and Roman towns are abandoned.
c. 800
Town life revives in England. The old Roman town at Leicester is revived by the Anglo-Saxons.
877
The Danes capture Leicester
918
The English recapture Leicester
1086
Leicester has a population of about 1,500
1143
Leicester Abbey is built
1173
An earl rules Leicester. He rebels against the king but the king’s men capture Leicester and burn part of it.
1231
The Earl, Simon de Montfort expels all Jews from Leicester
1464
Leicester is given a corporation and a mayor
1500
The population of Leicester is about 3,000
1545
A grammar school is built in Leicester
1564
The plague strikes Leicester
1583
The plague returns to Leicester
1604 and 1606
The plague is back in Leicester
1610
The plague returns to Leicester
1612
A conduit is built to bring water into Leicester
1625
The plague strikes Leicester again
1636 and 1638
The plague strikes but fortunately, the 1638 epidemic is the last one
1645
During the Civil War, the Royalists briefly capture Leicester
1670
The population of Leicester is about 5,000
1681
Leicester gains a fire engine
1686
A scavenger is appointed to clean the main streets of Leicester
1730
The population of Leicester is about 8,000
1737
New Road is built
1759
Pumps are installed by public wells
1771
The Royal infirmary is built
1774
The town walls are demolished
1794
The Soar Canal is finished
1801
Leicester has a population of about 17,000
1821
Leicester gains gas light
1836
Leicester gains a police force
1849
Cholera strikes Leicester
1853
Leicester gains a piped water supply
1855
Leicester gains a sewage works
1871
The first public library in Leicester opens
1881
A telephone exchange opens in Leicester
1882
Victoria Park and Abbey Park open
1894
Electric street lights are switched on in Leicester for the first time
1910
The first cinema is built in Leicester
1914
The first council houses in Leicester are built
1919
Leicester is made a city
1927
Leicester gains a cathedral and a bishop
1935
Leicester General Hospital opens
1940
Bombs kill 40 in Leicester
1957
The University of Leicester is established
1969
Leicester Polytechnic is formed
1971
The Haymarket Centre opens
1977
Gas Museum opens in Leicester
1984
St Martins Shopping Centre opens
1988
The Phoenix Arts Centre opens.
1992
Shire Shopping Centre opens. Leicester Polytechnic becomes Simon De Montfort University.
1997
Leicester is made a unitary authority