 |
 |
| Leicester Chronicler A reflection of past and present thoughts and aspirations |
|
Harcourt and Beauchamp |
|
Travellers along the former A6, perhaps those travelling south and leaving the Great Glen bypass, may see Kibworth as just one village, about ten miles from the centre of Leicester. However, there are two villages here - Harcourt and Beauchamp - and each has its own character and history of development. |
|
|
|
|
Kibworth Beauchamp's sprawling
character is due in part to the change of ownership of the manor after
the 17th Century. By being divided into a number of owners, separate
developments took place. The name Kibworth derives from Chiburde,
originally the settlement of a man called Ciber or possibly Cybba.
The suffix Beauchamp comes from the family who held the manor. Today, Kibworth Beauchamp is a busy and thriving community, constantly expanding, serving as a dormitory area for both Leicester, Market Harborough and beyond. |
 |
| The Parish Church of St Wilfrid serves both villages, and two porches on the north and south of the nave are still known, respectively, as the Harcourt and Beauchamp porches. The Church is largely of late 14th Century construction, although the tower dates from 1832/6, replacing a spire that collapsed most dramatically on 23 July 1825. It is said that one small local girl ran home to tell her parents that she had just jumped over the church steeple - only to be rebuked by her disbelieving family. |
 |
| John Nichol's etching of Kibworth Church and earlier rectory is from the opposite aspect to the recent photograph above. Although the perspective is uncertain, the artist was located somewhere in the area now occupied by Rookery Close in Kibworth Beachamp. It indicates the fine lines of the original slender six-faced spire which, at a height of 160 feet, was visible seventy miles away. |
 |
| The Manor House, otherwise known as 30 High Street, is the oldest residence in the village, and was constructed in the late 16th Century. Essentially, it is an `H' shaped house designed (in Tudor style) as a compliment to King Henry. Next to the house are the stables with their ornamental clock, being of early 19th Century construction. |
 |
| Although a busy and steadily expanding residential area, Kibworth Beauchamp still retains a rural character. This picture of Church Road, looking towards the church and taken in late Spring after the daffodils had flowered, and when the bluebells were still evident, shows modern housing within an older setting. |
 |
 |
| The Rose and Crown is still a prominent landmark on the main road through the Kibworth villages and is in the parish of Kibworth Harcourt. It is a former coaching inn, like the Coach and Horses which is situated on the opposite side of the road. It was built in the 18th Century, and at one time, being located on the former turnpike between Leicester and Market Harborough, as many as twenty four coaches stopped here for rest and refreshment each day. Originally, the main route from Leicester towards Market Harborough followed a left-turn at this inn, the junction still evident in this picture. Just south of the inn (to the right of this picture) is where Thomas Cook, whilst awaiting a stage coach, had his first thoughts about universal travel for the working classes. |
 |
| The footpath towards the Warwick Road playing fields. To the right is the Kibworth primary School. Note the undulating landscape, apparent in the late afternoon sunshine. |
 |
| One of the most attractive of the older properties in Kibworth Beauchamp. Cross Bank House, overlooking the Cross Bank, now marked by a roundabout. |
 |
| The old Church Hall on High Street, close to the beginning of the Fleckney Road. This rather sad looking building was impracticable because of its location, a considerable distance from the parish church, and was superseded by a new church hall erected next to the church. It was threatened with demolition proposed in a planning application for the expansion of the adjacent Co-op store, but was saved, largely due to a campaign by the local community. It now serves as a photographic studio. The Co-op has since been totally rebuilt, following the demolition of a former farmhouse on the other side of the site. |
 |
| A building of great character, near to the roundabout in the centre of the village, the former home of the schoolmaster of the parish school. The school was next door, and is now a GP practice. A modern extension to the old school building can be seen on the right of this picture. The school house is now a residential and business property. |
 |
 |
 |
|
Two views of the railway station at
Kibworth Beauchamp which was closed under the Beeching Plan in the
1960s. In recent years it has housed a fencing and wood merchants
business but became empty in 2002. Housing development on this
extensive site is now taking place. Sadly, neglect and vandalism have
taken their toll on this, the last remaining example of this type of
railway architecture.
|
|
All images and text © Stephen Butt 2004-2006
Rev 04/03/06 |
