Barwell

infobox UK place
country = England
static_

static_image_caption =
latitude = 52.56823
longitude = -1.34616
official_name = Barwell
population =
shire_district= Hinckley and Bosworth
shire_county = Leicestershire
region = East Midlands
constituency_westminster =
post_town =
postcode_district =
postcode_area =
dial_code =
os_grid_reference = SP444968

Barwell is a village in Leicestershire, England, with a population of about 6,300. The name literally translates as "Stream of the Boar" and is said to originate from a boar that used to drink from the well near a brook in Barwell. Soon it became Boarwell, then later that changed to"Barwell", the name in use today.

The village has two churches; In Church Lane a 13th century church, called St. Marys Parish Church, Barwell and Barwell Methodist church, in Chapel street.The parish church was built in 1220 and has an interesting board at the back of the church listing all of the rectors beginning with "William" in 1209 up to the present day. The town has successful soccer and cricket teams and also a large popular indoor bowling complex.

The Queens Head is the oldest public house and oldest building in the town, apart of course from St Mary's church which dates back to 1220. In 1902 the pub was owned by a lady named 'Sarah Ann Powers'and later by the Haines family. In recent years, the old pub roof has naturally deformed so it's no longer straight. In the 1980s the front of the building was completely restored and returned to its original style after years of Victorian style "black and white".

History

It was on the lands of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, a rich and powerful magnate who had fought alongside Canute in his wars against Wessex. In old English, wella is the word for stream and bar the name for boar, and so this clearing in the woods was known in the Saxon tongue as Barwelle. In 1043, Earl Leofric and his wife, Godiva, established a Benedictine Abbey at Coventry and gave the Abbot and his twenty-four attendant monks, lands for their upkeep. Barwelle, along with nineteen other villages passed into the domains of the Abbot of Coventry.

Following the Norman Conquest, Barwelle was still held by the Abbey of Coventry. By 1086, there were 14 villagers with a priest, and 3 smallholders with 2 ploughs; a plough being a plot of land that can be cultivated by one team of oxen. There was a meadow 1 furlong by 1 furlong (201 by 201 m) in size and woodland 3 furlongs by 1 league (604 by 5556 m). The value of which was 30 shillings (£1.50).

The manor of Barwell which is described in Domesday Book as “ancient demesne”, was later given to Hugh de Hastings, a steward and favourite of Henry I, and held in fee along with many other local manors from the priory of Coventry for the service of a single knight’s fee.Fact|date=December 2007

In 1564 there were 48 families living in Barwell, according to a church census.

John Nichols describes an interesting tale of a wich-elm called “The Spreading Tree” or “Captain Shenton’s tree” (pg. 476). As recounted, Captain Shenton who served in the royalist army returned to his house at Barwell with several other officers after the battle of Worcester. Hearing that the parliamentarians were looking for him he sank his portmandeau and valuables in the moat which surrounded the house, and sought refuge in the tree. Despite being close enough to overhear his enemies discussing the price on his head the bold Captain Shenton escaped capture and kept his estate, passing it on through his daughters. The tree was apparently held sacred for many years by the Powers family for preserving their ancestor.Fact|date=December 2007

In June, 1646 the inhabitants of Barwell and surrounding villages made several submissions to the county committee for losses and free quarter from the local parliamentary garrisons. In June, 1646 Mr Gearey from Barwell claimed that Captain Ottaway from hellothe Coventry garrison took a gelding worth five founds and that William Capenkwist and Thomas Bacon, his servants, had taken a mare worth one pound (Exchequer SP 28/161).

After a long and confusing list of owners, the manor of Barwell was purchased in 1660 by a certain John Oneby. Barwell was well known for its market gardeners that traditionally supplied the Leicester market with fresh produce. Nichols provides an interesting illustration of the church and its adjoining parsonage house (p. 477) pulled down in 1746 and rebuilt.

Until recent times, Barwell, together with neighbouring Earl Shilton, was a centre for shoe production in the East Midlands. The area is also known for hosiery, especially in nearby Hinckley.

Barwell meteorite

Barwell was the site of a major meteor impact in the UK. On Christmas Eve 1965, the village was showered with fragments, that when combined, were about the size of a traditional Christmas turkey. Fortunately, no one was hurt, although some minor damage to buildings and property occurred.

Source: John Nichols, "Antiquities of Leicestershire" , Vol. IV.

Future Expansion

There are currently plans to expand Barwell to the North and West with a Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE), which will see approximately 2,000 new dwellings being built. It is hoped that this will have a major impact in the area, with the aim to regenerate some of the more deprived areas of the village.

Famous Inhabitants

David Peace, the well known "Mind of Information" lives in the village of Barwell. His reminiscences of "The Barwell Lightning Bolt" (not to be confused with the meteorite), "Queen Victoria's Lost 'High Tea' Tea Set" and "The Vision of Bristol in the Sky" are all now part of popular Leicestershire folklore. It seems quite odd that there are no web sites dedicated to this man and his incredible insights into modern life.

Wigan Athletic and former Liverpool goalkeeper Chris Kirkland grew up in the village.

Industry

Between the 19th and late 20th centuries, Barwell was a busy industrial village consisting of numerous Shoe, Hosiery and Knitwear factories. Due to competitive pressure from abroad these once large factories have all but ceased trading.

Nevertheless Barwell, still retains three industry estates including Dawsons Lane, Stapleton Lane and the larger Moat Way. The luxury sport car maker Noble Automotive Ltd is located in Barwell and the largest employer within the village is the parcel company [http://www.crowfootscarriers.co.uk Crowfoots Carriers] employing around 100 people.

Hinckley United football club play at the recently built Marston's_Stadium to the south of the village.

External links

* [http://www.barwell-pc.org.uk Barwell Parish Council]
* [http://www.barwell-parish.org.uk Barwell Parish Online]
* [http://www.barwelljuniorschool.co.uk/ Barwell Church of England Junior School]