Joseph Dare 1800-1883 In / memory of / Joseph Dare / for 30 years minister to the poor / of Leicester who died Sept 6 1883 aged 83. / Also of Mary his wife / who died Jan 5 1880 aged 68. Also of Isabella / wife of William Evans / and daughter of / Joseph and Mary Dare who died May 20 1894 aged 56 / and Edward Dare, second son of William and Isabella Evans / born February 21 1875 / died at Alexandria May 30 1915 / from wounds received in the Dardanelles. Also of William Evans / born Nov 7 1830. Joseph Dare was born in Hampshire and moved to Hinckley with his family while still a boy. In 1830 he married Mary Collington by whom he was to have nine children. Joseph and his family moved to Leicester in 1845 to lead the newly-formed Leicester Domestic Mission, which sought to care for the poor by seeking to remove the underlying causes of social deprivation.

Samuel Deacon Samuel Deacon died October 17 1867 in the 80th year of his age. Ann his widow died January 8 1869 aged 72 years. Helen, third daughter of Samuel and Ann Deacon died January 25 18[ . . ] aged 27 years. Mary Burbidge only sister of Ann Deacon died September 6 1858 aged 59 years. Samuel Deacon ran a music shop in Gallowtree Gate. His shop was always stocked with the latest models of pianos as well as good selection of second hand ones. In December 1830, at a concert held in the George Inn Assembly Room, Deacon introduced his improved Patent Piano. Said to be one of the finest instruments ever introduced into a concert room, it produced not only a fuller volume of tone but also remained in tune much longer than the conventional piano. Deacon’s principle was that the wires were fixed in such a way as to supersede the then usual method of twisting thereby rendering them less liable to break, either from changes in the atmosphere or playing upon them, however hard the keys were struck. Deacon was so sure of his handiwork that he claimed that the strings could bear a tension of a third to a fourth above concert pitch without breaking. Indeed he promised to take back any piano within six months if it did not give satisfaction. In November 1830, while in Brighton, Deacon was honoured to exhibit one of his new pianos to King William and Queen Adelaide, who, it would seem, were so impressed that they purchased one, for by 1834 Deacon was proudly proclaiming his establishment as ‘By Appointment’. In 1849, Deacon was appointed the Leicester agent for the British Music Society’s publications, and, in 1852, that for Geoff Luff & Sons. The latter had just introduced the Royal Albert Cottage Piano, which, along with superiority of touch and increased durability, was claimed to be able to achieve a greater and more equalized power of tone over all other pianos.

William Dickisson In affectionate remembrance of William Dickisson who died Jan 24 1881 aged 65 years Also Elizabeth Dickisson wife of the above who died August 9 1880. Having held the office of master and matron to the Leicester Union Workhouse for twenty-six years. Christ died for us. When Mr and Mrs Dickisson were appointed to the post their salaries had been deducted by £10 each on the understanding that if they discharged their duties to the satisfaction of the Board their salaries would be increased. Obviously they did satisfy the Guardians for within a year they were on full pay. The Leicester Union Workhouse, designed by William Flint, was at the top of Sparkenhoe Street, on the site of the present Moat Community Centre. It was a lofty and spacious building with stone dressing in the Gothic style and space for sixty inmates. In 1848 there was a slump in the town, which caused as many as one third of Leicester's population of 68,000 to be unemployed. This caused problems at the Workhouse. As there were many more people seeking help than there were places available so a system of 'out-work' was established. This consisted mainly of stone-breaking, very hard work, especially for those men who had not been used to such strenuous labour. They had to do it, however, for if they did not they got no financial help. The spirit of the Poor Law being that "while no person shall be allowed to perish from want, no one shall receive parochial aid, who by any possibility can do without it." In 1858 the estimated cost of keeping a person in the Workhouse was three shillings and sixpence. The scale of relief for a man, wife and child was six pence and a loaf of bread, with an extra penny for each additional child. At the weekend he was given an extra sixpence worth of groceries.

John Ellis 1789-1862 In / loving memory / of / John Ellis / of / Belgrave / who died / October 26 AD1862 / aged 73 years. John Ellis was the instigator of the first steam railway in Leicestershire. When coal was discovered in north-west Leicestershire, Ellis approached George Stevenson and asked if a railway could be built between Swannington and Leicester. The line was soon laid and opened in July 1832. This new cheap means of transportation of coal brought a new prosperity to Leicester. Ellis now set his mind to a grander passenger line and he was the main mover behind the Midland Counties Railway, which opened in 1840. John Ellis was a Quaker and a liberal reformer. he was elected to the town council in 1836 and the following year elevated to the aldermanic bench. He was elected as a Member of Parliament for the County in 1848, at about which time he moved to Belgrave Hall.

William Ely In / affectionate remembrance / of / William Ely / for 20 years Chief of the Leicester Fire Brigade. Died March 3 1912 / aged 60 years. He giveth his beloved sleep. Also Elizabeth, wife of the above / Died March 12 1925 / aged 72 years. / Rest comes at length. Also William Ernest / died March 31 1931. / Also Alice / Died March 18 1939.

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