Leicester’s brass band music controversy of 1856

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On a Sunday afternoon in 1856 thousands of people turned up at Leicester’s Victoria Park – then used for horse racing - to hear a brass band concert. This event prompted outrage from many people in the city as Sunday was deemed a holy day, and music performed outside of church services was frowned upon. The issue caused a huge row, and some people even ended up in the law courts over it. BBC Leicester’s Ben Jackson went to find out more with Ned Newitt from Leicester Secular Society. Produced by Pete Wardman. If you want to know as soon as a new episode is available, make sure you subscribe to Secret Leicestershire on BBC Sounds and have push notifications turned on. Image: Postcard of Victoria Park Bandstand 1905