Before the establishment of South Wigston in 1883, the area was largely open fields. The Leicestershire and Northamptonshire Union Canal, which runs south of the township, was built 1793—1809, and a house stood by the Countesthorpe Road near the bridges over the river and canal. In 1840 the Midland Counties Railway was built between and ; it ran to the east of where Canal Street stands today. North of Kirkdale Road, the Midland Railway built the south chord of Wigston Junction in 1872.