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Barlestone

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Description in 1877:
"BARLESTONE, a village, township, and chapelry, in the parish, and 2.5 miles N.E. by N. of Market Bosworth, has 602 inhabitants, and 1,039 acres of land, generally fertile, and rising boldly from a small rivulet. The Earl of Stamford and Warrington is lord of the manor, as parcel of tbe honor of Winton, but the soil belongs to Miss Selina Baker, Edward Power, Esq., Alfred Cox, Esq., J.P., William Wright, Esq., Messrs. James Brown, Thomas Kirkman, and Thomas Arnold, and Sir J. W. C. Hartopp, Bart., and several smaller freeholders, some of whom are residents. The Church is a neat Early English structure, with a tower and two bells, and was rebuilt (with the exception of the chancel, which was restored at the same time by the rector) in 1854, at a cost of £1,367, raised by subscription, principally through the exertions of the Rev. Henry Homer, BA., the present curate. The living is a curacy, annexed to the rectory of Market Bosworth, and the chapelry pays a modus of 7.75d. per acre in lien of tithes. Here is an old General Baptist Chapel, built in 1798, and rebuilt in 1865; and also a Primitive Methodist Chapel, built in 1833. The poor have 3s. 6d. a year, left by D. Baker and T. Butler, and £3 a year as the rent of 1A. 1P. called the Bull Piece. Mr. William Sills, of Leamington Priors, left £495 12s. 4d., and Mrs. W. Sills £107 16s. 4d. stock invested with the Charity Commissioners, the interest to be distributed yearly at Christmas, half in coats and half in blankets. The trustees of this money are the minister and churchwardens for the time being.
A FREE SCHOOL was built here in 1849, by the governors of Bosworth School, from whose funds it is still supported. It is attended by about 130 children, of whom about 40 are infants. Post from Leicester, but Market Bosworth is the nearest Money Order Office. There is a WALL LETTER Box, which is cleared at 4.30 p.m."
WHITE's "History, Gazetteer and Directory of the Counties of Leicester and Rutland. 3rd Edition," 1877

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Cemeteries

  • There is a civil cemetery just northwest of the village center, off Barton Road.
     
  • The Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society have published details of Barlestone burials from 1813 - 1865 on microfiche. (Ref: 863F)
     
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Census

  • The parish was in the Ibstock sub-district of the Market Bosworth Registration District.
     
  • 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.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1841H.O. 107 / 587 & 602
1861R.G. 9 / 2265
1871R.G. 10 / 3241
1891R.G. 12 / 2507
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Giles.
     
  • The church is a plain Gothic building with a western tower
     .
  • The church was rebuilt in 1855, except for the chancel, which was restored.
     
  • The church seats 320.
     
  • John SALMON has a photograph of St. Giles' Church on Geo-graph, taken in August, 2012.
     
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1652, but it is in poor condition.
     
  • The Society of Genealogists holds microfiche copies of Barlestone parish records including copies of baptisms from 1652 - 1943, marriages from 1652 - 1837 and burials from 1652 - 1812.
     
  • A Primitive Methodist chapel was built here before 1849.
     
  • A General Baptist chapel was built here before 1849.
     
  • The church is in the rural deanery of Sparkenhoe (first portion).
     
  • There was a Primitive Methodist chapel in the village prior to 1925.
     
  • J. THOMAS has a photograph of the Baptist Chapel in Barlestone on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2015.
     
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Civil Registration

  • Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
     
  • The parish was in the Ibstock sub-district of the Market Bosworth Registration District.
     
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Description & Travel

Barlestone is a village, a chapelry and a parish which lie about 115 miles north of London, 2 miles south-west of Leicester city and 2.5 miles north-east of Market Bosworth. The parish covers about 1,074 acres (but was once slightly smaller).

If you are planning a visit:

  • By automobile, take the B5830 west out of Leicester city to Desford and continue on the B582 to Barlestone.
     
  • Mat FASCIONE has a photograph of the Village Sign on Geo-graph, taken in June, 2013.
     
You can see pictures of Barlestone which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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History

  • Coal was found in the parish 90 yards underground. The seam was 8 feet high.
     
  • In the 1800s and early 1900s, most of the inhabitants were frame-work knitters (stocking weavers).
     
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Manors

  • The Manor House was the residence of William KIRKMAN in 1881.
     
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Maps

  • See our Maps page for additional resources.
     

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK427056 (Lat/Lon: 52.646463, -1.370328), Barlestone which are provided by:

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Military History

According to White's 1925 Directory of Leicestershire, a War Memorial was erected inside the church in 1920 to the seven men of the parish who fell in the Great War. It consists of a figure of St. George carved in a niche in front of the pulpit, while underneath is a tablet of Smithland slate - with an inscription.

There is also a War Memorial just inside the gates of the Cemetery.

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Names, Personal

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Politics & Government

  • The parish is in the ancient Sparkenhoe Hundred in the southern (or western) division of the county.
     
  • This place, formally a Chapelry in Market Bosworth parish, became a Civil Parish in late 1866.
     
  • In August, 1882, the parish was enlarged by gaining a part of Newbold Verdon Civil Parish.
     
  • In April, 1935, the parish was enlarged by gaining 5 acres of Newbold Verdon Civil Parish.
     
  • You may contact the Barlestone Parish Council regarding civic or political issues, but they will NOT do family history lookups for you.
     
  • The Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council provides district governance.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Market Bosworth petty session hearings.
     
  • As a result of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, this parish became part of the Market Bosworth Poorlaw Union.
     
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Population

 YearInhabitants
1841580
1871602
1881708
1891805
1901829
19111,042
19211,137
19311,251
19511,229
19611,229
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Schools

  • A Free School existed here before 1849.
     
  • A Public Elementary School was built here in 1878 for 220 children.
     
  • Andrew TATLOW has a photograph of the Church of England Primary School on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2006.
     
  • And, Andrew TATLOW has a photograph of the Old School on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2006.