On this day, 13 December 1961, the last sale at the Leicester Horse Repository on Charles Street took place.

After one-hundred years, the “King of Repositories” as it was known was to be relocated from the city centre to make way for a £450,000 – eleven story redevelopment project. The repository, which was a popular destination for horse dealers from all over the country, was taken over by Mason's multiple grocery firm and food depot during the war years. However, sales were resumed after the war.

All types of horses and hounds were auctioned off at the Repository, including carriage horses with their harnesses and saddles. Many famous people visited the sales, including members of royalty. The Prince of Wales, who would later become King Edward VIII, attended an auction in 1929 where a dozen of his hunters were sold.

The site was changed in 1930 when they widened Charles Street, and as a result, the old stables had to be torn down. The sales closed during the Second World War, and the building was used as a food depot, but it reopened in 1946 and became one of the major horse sales in the country. The horse repository was also a place where people could leave their horse when they visited the city centre, and this particular building was the only horse sale room in England with an overhead gallery.

Mr Arnold Scholfield, secretary of the repository, remarked to those around him while waiting to take his turn on the auctioneers stand, “We all feel very sad about it, but I feel sure the new site at the racecourse will be successful”. Mr Scholfield went on to say that, in the future, sales would take place on a monthly basis rather than every two weeks.

Mr Bill Luck, who was 65 years old at the time of the closing, worked as a gardener and ran the horses, was being transferred to the racecourse. He remarked at the time, “I think it's a thousand pities this site is to close”.

The repository was replaced by the high-rise Epic House home of Radio Leicester, which remained there for more than 35 years. If you go beyond that, you'll see the stylish 1930s block Hannam Court, which is still standing today.

​