Cossington Church All Saints
This village is five miles north of Leicester in the Soar valley near to Syston and Sileby. I have little information on the early years of the village so will concentrate on the church itself. The present church mostly dates from the 13th century and consists of a west tower, nave, north & south aisles, chancel and 19th century south porch. The oldest parts of the church are the north aisle and nave which date from the 12th century. The south aisle is from the 13th century the pillars are later than the 12th C north aisle and the...
read moreFrolesworth Church St Nicholas
The village of Frolesworth is ten miles south-west of Leicester and four miles north of Lutterworth. It is sited on the high ground with Broughton Astley its nearest neighbour a few miles to the north. The church of St Nicholas sits on the highest point and the impressive tower with its large pinnacles can be seen for miles around. The church consists of a west tower, north & south aisles, chancel, nave, vestry and north porch. The earliest parts of the church date to the 13th century, but the tower was rebuilt in 1762 and a further...
read moreSwithland Church St Leonards
The village of Swithland is well known for its slate which is found all over the county and further a field in churchyards as finely etched gravestones and as roof slates. The slate was probably first worked in the 13th century but with the advent of gunpowder the industry rapidly expanded to around 1740 until under competition from Welsh slate the quarries fell into decline and by the end of the 19th century had all but ceased. Today the quarries are now known as Swithland Woods and there are some fine walks around them and the surrounding...
read moreStapleford Church St Mary Magdalene
The ‘new’ Gothic church at Stapleford was built in 1783 and dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. This church was part of the manor of Stapleford which was given to the Ferrers family after the Norman Conquest. In 1265 the family chose the wrong side in the second Baron’s war and most of their lands were forfeited. The manor changed hands several times until it came to Robert Sherard in 1402 where it remained in the family for nearly 500 years. The church sits in the grounds of the Hall and Stapleford Park which is now an upmarket hotel and leisure...
read moreRatcliffe on the Wreake St Botolphs
Nearly seven miles north-east of Leicester is the small village of Ratcliffe on the Wreake which takes the second part of its name from the River Wreake that lies to the south. It has a small population of a few hundred and is just off the Fosse Way. The pretty church of St Botolph’s consists of a nave, chancel and tower with a tall crocketed spire. There was originally a north aisle but this was removed between 1791 and 1795, internally the arches of the north aisle can clearly be seen. The chancel dates from the early 14th century and...
read moreMedbourne Church St Giles
The small village of Medbourne is some 15 miles south-east of Leicester and 5 miles north-east of its nearest town at Market Harborough. It is tucked away in the rolling hills in the far corner of Leicestershire near to the county line of Northamptonshire & Rutland. The name is probably Anglo-Saxon and means ‘meadow stream’, but the Saxons were not the first in the area and there have been Roman finds which indicate a Roman settlement in the area. Medbourne had a church in the late 12th century on the manor held by the king....
read moreBlaston Church St Michael (ruin)
Blaston is small village south-east of Leicester near to Rutland county. Its largest neighbour is Medbourne. With only 30 people living here it should perhaps be described as a hamlet and consists of one main pretty street with some imposing houses along its length. This very small village was originally two parishes, and the two chapels were no more than 500yards apart. St. Michael’s was a donative chapel and although it is not clear whose gift it was, there is evidence to show that it was in existence before 1389. Like St. Giles it...
read moreBlaston Church St Giles
Blaston is small village south-east of Leicester near to Rutland county. Its largest neighbour is Medbourne. With only 30 people living here it should perhaps be described as a hamlet and consists of one main pretty street with some imposing houses along its length. Blaston is mentioned in the Domesday book when Robert de Tosny owned land there. In the past it has been known as Bladestone and Blachestonei and has had many owners. Richard I gave the manor to Hugo de Nevill who had been on the Crusade with him in 1193. The manor stayed with the...
read moreBreedon on the Hill St Mary & St Hardulph
This has to be one of the most important churches in the two counties if not in the whole of the UK because of its unique Saxon carvings – but more on that later. This church is dramatically sited on a limestone hill being cut-away by the quarry below and can be seen for many miles. The hill has been occupied for thousands of years and the present church is not the first. In 675 a monastery was founded on the hill with Hedda as the first Abbot. The monastery is mentioned in the Anglo Saxon Chronicles and due to its importance various...
read moreFrisby on the Wreake St Thomas of Canterbury
Back to Leicestershire and the Wreake Valley which we have been slowly progressing through the last few months. There is another Frisby 8 miles away but this is distinguished by the ‘Wreake’. The name of the village may have derived from the Danes who settled in the area in the 9th and 10th centuries. It may refer to a settlement of Frisians, this ethnic group from Northern Europe settled in England during this period and earlier. Originally the main road to Melton ran through the village and the other ‘Wreak’ villages...
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