Secular Hall

Over a 140 years ago Secular Hall was built as the home of Leicester Secular Society and has always played host to numerous organisations seeking a comfortable but economical place to meet. Our online calendar lists forthcoming lectures and meetings at the Hall and other selected events of interest. We are determined for Secular Hall to remain a venue of choice, but major regeneration work is needed.

As a previous President, Allan Hayes has said:

Secular Hall is one of the most significant Victorian buildings in the city. It deserves conservation as part of our architectural heritage and for the contribution that it can make to the regeneration of Humberstone Gate. This has been recognised by English Heritage, the Heritage Lottery Fund and the City Council.

Many know it because of having attended the Leicester Karate Club, the dance classes of the ABC Ballroom and the activities of other organisations that have used the Hall, such as the

Red Leicester Choir
.

There is a shop on the ground floor of the building that was originally a secular book shop, then became the booking hall for coach trips and then reverted to a book shop. It is now occupied by a pick and mix sweet shop "Sweety Shakes"

As the home of Leicester Secular Society, the oldest secular society in the world, the Hall rises to national heritage significance: a place where the battle for human rights and equality has been fought, where William Morris, Charles Bradlaugh, Annie Besant, George Bernard Shaw, Bertrand Russell and Tony Benn plus many other campaigners have spoken.

Secular Hall is at 75 Humberstone Gate Leicester LE1 1WB

• Ned Newitt prepared a document (2017)) reviewing the condition of the Hall(pdf 4.6Mb) for an HLF bid
• RH Partnerships Options Assessment (pdf 2.5Mb) including outline plans presented by Helen Axworthy to a meeting of LSS members, 31 January 2010.

Five busts by Ambrose Louis Vago decorate the façade

Tom Paine

More about the busts.

Two old prints and a recent photo

Josiah Gimson, the main benefactor, chose a young innovative architect, W Larner Sugden to design the Hall, which opened in 1881, 30 years after the foundation of the Society.

Other Resources

• The hidden tiles in the Main Hall.
• Photos by our former webmaster George Jelliss.
• Photos prior to the redevelopment (2008)
• The Gimson Family (Josiah was the Hall's main benefactor) from Leicester City Council.
• More on the History of Leicester Secular Society and Secular Hall.