"Anstey, a village and township in Thurcaston parish, picturesquely situated in the vale of a rivulet, 4 miles N. W. of Leicester, contained in 1861, 734 inhabitants, but in 1871, owing to the development of the shoe trade and stocking-frame knitting and to the demand for labour at the granite quarries, they had increased to 1012 persons, living on 711 acres of land. many of the inhabitants are employed in the manufacture of boots and shoes, and many persons from Leicester and other places reside here during the summer months. A brown paper mill was established here in 1873."[White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of the Counties of Leicester and Rutland. 3rd Edition 1877]
The 1851 Census for Leicestershire has been indexed by the Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society. The whole index is available on microfiche. The society has also published it in print and Volume 13 covers the Barrow on Soar District of which Anstey was a part.
Anstey became a separate parish in 1866.
St. Mary's Parish Church.
St. Mary's, was demolished with the exception of the tower in 1845 and rebuilt. The new church which could seat 500 worshipers was completed in 1846.
Methodist (Wesleyan) Chapel.
Built in 1797.
Methodist (Primitive) Chapel.
This was erected in 1840 and rebuilt in 1871.
Independent Chapel.
The Independents purchased a warehouse for £130 in 1871 and converted it into a place of worship.
The Society of Genealogists holds microfiche copies of records of baptisms from 1571 - 1892, marriages from 1556 - 1837, and burials from 1557 - 1812 which can be studied at their library in London.
Anstey was part of the Barrow-upon-Soar Registration District. The Registrar's Office in Barrow-upon-Soar closed in 1945. Certificates of birth, death and marriage can now be obtained from the Superintendent Registrar at Leicestershire Central or Loughborough.
See Civil Registration entry on our county page
for obtaining copies of certificates from Leicestershire Registration Services.
Ned Ludd who gave his name to the Luddite movement was born in Anstey.
A short pen portrait
about him is included on the
Leicester and Leicestershire.com site.
Multi Media Mapping have a current map showing the location of Anstey.
Most of the parishes making up the Barrow-upon-Soar Union were joined together for many years for the support of their poor under the Gilbert Act but in 1837 the 'Barrow-upon-Soar Incorporation' was dissolved and its workhouse was sold to the new Guardians of the Union set up under the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act. In 1840 a new workhouse in Rothley was completed capable of housing 300 paupers, although it seldom held more than 100.
This parish page was developed by Tim Arguile.
Follow this link to
find help, report problems or contribute information.
Last updated: 25 August 2004 - David Hawgood
