On this day, 21 November 1921, a devastating fire ripped through the Harvey Lane Baptist Chapel, leaving it in ruins. The historic Harvey Lane Baptist Chapel, which was the scene of the early ministry of the Rev. Dr. Carey, the pioneer missionary, was destroyed by a fire that started in the early hours of Monday morning, 21 November.

After the Sunday evening service, the caretaker William Busby, who lived opposite the church, locked up the building. At 12.30 am, Elizabeth Lawrence, the daughter of William Busby, who lived with her father at the time, was awakened by the sound of breaking glass. When she looked out of the window, she was alarmed to see the top part of the chapel engulfed in flames. William Henry Lawrence, husband of Elizabeth, quickly called the fire brigade from the West Bridge street alarm. A few minutes later, the brigade arrived to find the building engulfed in flames.

The fire started in the roof, and the firemen used their motor pumps and several lines of hose to direct water at the fire. Despite firefighters' best efforts, the building could not be saved from the inferno.

The woodwork inside the chapel was mostly pitch pine, which had recently been given a new layer of varnish. This made it easy for the fire to spread. The flames quickly spread and engulfed the building, leaving almost no corner untouched.

The Brigade's efforts to save the chapel were frustrated by a stiff breeze and the amount of woodwork, so they directed their attention to cutting off the fire from the adjoining school and various meeting rooms in the wing that overlooked Thornton Lane.

These, fortunately, were saved; however, the roof of the vestry was damaged. The wall just over the pulpit, which was a memorial to Rev. Dr William Carey, was also damaged, and the organ fell heavily. Although the wall was completely destroyed in the fire, the memorial tablet was saved.

The Harvey Lane Chapel was founded in 1756, when a group of hosiery workers who had migrated to Leicester from Sutton-in-Ashfield pooled £50 7s 6d and bought the land from a Mr Coleman. The land was originally home to a barn, which served as the place of worship for two or three years until a small building was erected. This opened in 1760. The building was first enlarged in 1791 under the guidance of William Carey, who was minister at the time. It was enlarged again in 1809, when Rev Robert Hall was preacher, and then again in 1831.

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In the 18th-century Carey’s cottage on Harvey Lane drew tourists from across the globe, who came to see the former home of world-famous Baptist missionary. But, in 1968, it was knocked down to make way for Leicester's new central ring road. These days the site is occupied by the Holiday Inn and a multi-storey car park.