New Zealand Lane
SK6312 : New Zealand Lane SK6312 : New Zealand Lane, Queniborough SK6312 : New Zealand Lane, QueniboroughLooking at the map, particularly the OS 1:2500, this looks as if it should be a typical bit of inter-war ribbon development. However, it goes a long way further back than that as it already exists on the first edition of the 1:2500 map of 1884.
The maps show that it occupies almost the whole of one of a series of field strips stretching away from the main Melton Road. The implication is that a particular landowner speculated on getting a better return from sales of housing plots, rather than continuing to farm it. The 1884 - it was then mapped as New Road - shows it divided into relatively large plots, certainly much larger than those which exist today, some of which already had houses within them. This suggests that the market aimed at was the expanding class of prosperous businessman in neighbouring Leicester, where industry was booming. Even so, it could hardly be called a prime location, being 6 miles from the centre of Leicester.
By around 1900 it was being mapped as New Queniborough, but many of the plots remain undeveloped, and the majority of the few houses are small, not the large house that a prosperous buinessman would have had built. Even by the 1930 edition of the 1:2500 map, development is sparse, although the later 1930s do seem to have had some activity. In particular, two of the larger plots were subdivided and developed with houses and bungalows built using the distinctive locally developed concrete block known as Watchcrete; a few other individual houses are also of this material.
After the Second World War, the housing boom ensured that any remaining plots were developed, all being subdivided into much narrower lots, to give the current aspect of the lane.
It would be fun to know a bit more of the detailed history of its development.