Rolleston Church – St John the Baptist
The small hamlet of Rolleston is around 7 miles east of Leicester near to Billesdon. You may wonder whether you are actually allowed to drive to it, as from the B6047 from Billesdon it looks like a private road with its gated entrance and cattle grid but I can assure you it is public right of way. Rolleston was known as Rovestone and Roheston in earlier days and was a hamlet connected to Billesdon. In 1270 it appeared that Roger de...
Exton Church – St Peter and St Paul
This fine church with its amazing array of monuments is another of the counties best. But first a potted history on the village and manors. The village lies a few miles east of Oakham and north of Rutland Water and according to the 2001 census the population was around 600. It is recorded in the Domesday book and was held by Judith a widow to Earl Waltheof in 1086. Maud their eldest daughter married a Norman, Simon de St. Liz who held...
Preston Church – St Peter & St Paul
This church is a delight. Usually I wait until the end to give my overall impression of a church, however in this case it warrants this in the first sentence. From its fine Norman arches, the beautiful chancel and its many interesting features this church deserves a visit. The afternoon sun lighting up the chancel through the southern windows is a fine sight, please ensure you visit on a sunny day to enjoy this peaceful place at...
North Luffenham – St John the Baptist
South of Rutland water and 5 miles east of Uppingham is the village of North Luffenham which had a recorded population of over 700 for the 2001 census. The village is separated from South Luffenham by the river Chater and it has had a notable history. There are remains of a Anglo-Saxon cemetary to the north of the village dated to the 5th century AD and the village prospered during the Middle Ages. In the Domesday Book entry it is...
Rotherby Church – All Saints
Some ten miles north-west of Leicester is the small village of Rotherby sited in the Wreake Valley. Having a ‘by’ in the village name like so many others in the area such as Frisby, Brooksby, and Hoby etc probably means that the area was most likely settled by the Danes. The village was mentioned in the Domesday Book as Redebi, which is from the Danish for ‘cross’. Perhaps an earlier structure stood on the site when the Danes arrived...
Dunton Bassett Church – All Saints
An interesting entry in ‘Nichols’ tells us that in 1745 the Duke of Cumberland marched through the village of Dunton Bassett at the head of an English Army on his way to Culloden Moor to defeat Bonnie Prince Charlie, who with the remnants of the Scottish Highlanders was retreating from Derby. They were barracked in the village and church and some of the scored stonework inside and outside the church signifies this event...
Bagworth Church – Holy Rood
Bagworth is approximately six miles to the west of Leicester and forms a parish with Thornton its neighbour, there is however at present a church in each village. It lies now in the National Forest but was once home to one of the most productive coal mines in Britain, however this came to an end in 1991 and like so many other villages in this area of the county that relied on mining many changes have taken place. Although Bagworth...
Allexton Church – St Peter
Only just in Leicestershire, this small pretty village of approx 60 people lies off the busy A47 which separates it from its near neighbour Belton-in-Rutland. It lies some 15 miles east of Leicester and 3.5 miles west of Uppingham, separated from Rutland by Eye Brook which runs just north and forms the boundary with Rutland. The area around Allexton had for many years been wooded and was part of Leighfield Wood during the early...
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