Lutterworth Church St Marys
Fifteen miles south of Leicester is the market town of Lutterworth of nearly 8,500 people. The name of Lutterworth is probably derived from the Old Norse name “Lutter’s Vordig” meaning Luther’s Farm. Lutterworth was mentioned in the Domesday Book of 1086 and the town was granted its Market Charter in 1214 by King John and continues to hold a market to this day. It has a certain charm and although there are now large estates around the town it still has a charismatic centre. Being on the main road to London in years...
read moreLyddington Church St Andrew
This pretty village of around 400 people is at the southern point of Rutland some 2 miles south of Uppingham and 19 miles south-east of Leicester. The church of St Andrew is important for a number of reasons and is closely tied with Lyddington Bedehouse which was once a Bishop’s Palace and is now owned by English Heritage. In this regard this church is unique in the two counties in having the remains of a Bishop’s Palace attached. After the Norman Conquest, William I created the Diocese of Lincoln. This large Diocese stretching...
read moreRolleston 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 Quinci held the manor and also Roger de Zouch. In the 14th century John de Cobham held a manor in Rolleston who...
read moreExton 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 the earldom of Huntingdon, when he died in 1111 she married David, King of Scotland. From that date it...
read morePreston 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 it’s best. Preston is a quiet village in Rutland of approximately 180 people. It is 2 miles north of...
read moreNorth 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 mentioned with the hamlet of Sculthorpe which now has completely disappeared. In 1086 the manor was owned by...
read moreRotherby 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 and colonized the area as the present stone church is far later. After the Norman Conquest the manor of...
read moreDunton 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 with them sharpening their swords – of course other people will take the view that this is just a silly...
read moreBagworth 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 ended up being a mining village it has a very long history going back to the Domesday book where it is recorded...
read moreAllexton 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 medieval period. Countess Judith held the manor in 1086. In the reign of King Henry I the forest and surrounding...
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