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Burton Overy

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Description in 1877:
"Burton Overy, a neat village, in a pleasant valley, 8 miles S.E. of Leicester, has in its parish, which is in Gartree Hundred, Billesdon Union, and Leicester County Court District, 469 persons, living in 106 houses, on 1,660 acres of land, watered by a rivulet, and having a strong clayey soil. The Earl of Stamford and Warrington is lord of the honor, and Sir J. H. Palmer is lord of the manor, which has been called Burton Noveray; but the soil belongs chiefly to the Rev. F. Thorp, the Misses Coleman, G. Coleman, Esq., R. Haymes, Esq., and J. Woodruffe, Esq. Hugh de Grentemaisnell had land here in 1086, and since then the land has been held by the Ferrers, Quincy, Verdun, Meynell, Noveray, and other families. The Church (St. Andrew) is an ancient structure, with a tower and three bells, and was restored in 1866-8, when it was re-seated, the chancel newly roofed, the pulpit and reading-desk erected, and the gallery removed at a cost of £700, defrayed by subscription."
White's "History, Gazetteer and Directory of the Counties of Leicester and Rutland, 3rd Edition," 1877

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Census

  • The parish was in the Billesdon sub-district of the Billesdon 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 and Volume 11 covers the Billesdon sub-district which includes Burton Overy.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1841H.O. 107 / 589
1861R.G. 9 / 2254
1871R.G. 10 / 3228
1891R.G. 12 / 2494
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Andrew.
     
  • The original date of construction is not reported, although the tower is the oldest part of the church and dates from the 13th century.
     
  • Most of the church appears to date from the 14th century or 15th.
     
  • John HOWCROFT has a photograph of Burton Overy Church on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2016.
     
  • The church was restored in 1864-68.
     
  • The church roof was restored in 1907.
     
  • The church seats 225.
     
  • You can find more about church history at the Leicestershire Churches website.
     
  • The church is open to visitors almost every day. The disabled will have to negotiate a few small steps to enter.
     
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1575, but there are gaps in baptisms from 1645 to 1653.
     
  • The church is in the rural deanery of Gartree (second portion).
     
  • The Congregationalists built a chapel here in 1855.
     
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Civil Registration

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Description & Travel

Burton Overy is a village and a parish 8 miles south-east of Leicester city, 8 miles north-west of Market Harborough and about 98 miles north of London. The parish covers approx. 1,900 acres.

If you are planning a visit:

  • By automobile, take the A6 arterial road southeast out of Leicester city and turn left (north) after passing through Great Glen. That county road should, after about a half mile, bring you to Burton Overy village. Check current maps because the webpage author's map shows a bypass under construction.
     
  • Stop at "The Bell" public house for refreshments and visit the church across from the parking lot.
     
  • Mat FASCIONE has a photograph of the Village Sign on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2007. This sign is on the south side of the village and looks as if someone has roughed it up for being rude. Perhaps you could create a sign more worthy of respect for the village.
     
  • Steve ROWEE has a photograph of a newer Village Sign on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2007.
     
You can see pictures of Burton Overy which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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History

  • After the Norman Conquest the parish passed into the hands of Hugh de GRENTEMESNIL.
     
  • Much of the parish land was used for grazing. Farmers used the remainder to grow wheat, beans, oats and barley.
     
  • In 1844 there were 20 stocking frames in the village. Stocking manufacture never seems to have developed into a factory industry here.
     
  • Tim GLOVER has a photograph of the Bell Inn on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2009.
     
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Maps

  • See our Maps page for additional resources.
     

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SP677979 (Lat/Lon: 52.574715, -1.002451), Burton Overy which are provided by:

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Military History

The WWI War Memorial in St. Andrew's Church is an alabaster plaque on the wall with carved Christ on the cross in the centre, raised moulded border with florets and black incised lettering.  Eight names are listed on the Memorial.

There is one Commonwealth War Grave in St. Andrew's Churchyard.

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Military Records

The Commonwealth War Grave is for (data from the CWGC site):

NameRankUnitDiedOther info.
John Charles COXprivateArmy Service Corps7 Sept. 1918Age 34, husband of Mary Beet (formerly COX)

The names listed on the War Memorial in the churchyard are:

NameRankUnitDiedOther info.
George COXprivate8 Btln., South Staffs Regt.8 Nov. 1916Age 28, No match in CWGC database
Harold COXsergeant  Unable to identify in CWGC database
John Charles COXprivateRoyal Army Service Corps7 Sept. 1918Age 34, he was the son of Robert Cox, a bricklayer
Walter COXprivateRifle Brigade30 Oct. 1917Age 28, he was the son of Robert Cox, a bricklayer
Alfred FOXprivate8 btln., Royal West Kent Regt.29 Mar. 1916Age 32, he was the son of Robert Fox, a shepherd
Walter HERBERTcorporal2/5 Leics. Regt.18 Sept.1917Age 32, he was the son of Henry John COOK
Alexander R. HUBBARDprivate1 btln., Sherwood Foresters5 June 1918Age 19, he was the son of John HUBBARD, and Sarah SANDER, a charwoman
Harry A. NEWTONprivate1/5 Leics. Regt.14 Dec. 1917Age 23, he was the son of William NEWTON, a groom, and Elizabeth NEWTON
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Names, Geographical

  • In the 1086 Domesday Book the name is given as "Burtone".
     
  • A short time later, the name appears as "Burton Novrey".
     
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Politics & Government

  • This place was an ancient parish of the county and a modern Civil Parish until 1936.
     
  • The parish was in the ancient Gartree Hundred (or Wapentake) in the southern division of the county.
     
  • David THOMPSON has a photograph of the Village Hall on Geo-graph, taken in November, 2016.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Market Harborough petty session hearings held every other Tuesday.
     
  • The Common Lands were enclosed here in 1766.
     
  • Mr. WIlliam WOODWARD left the interest on £200 in 1829 to distribute as meat and bread to the poor at Christmas.
     
  • The parish maintained its own workhouse from at least 1761 through 1836.
     
  • As a result of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, the parish became part of the Billesdon Poorlaw Union.
     
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Population

 YearInhabitants
108634
137772
1801399
1811386
1821383
1831418
1841449
1851484
1861465
1871469
1881424
1891348
1901292
1911304
1951259
2001289
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Schools

  • Some children of this parish attended school in Galby.
     
  • A Public Elementary School (formerly a National School) was built here in 1857 to hold up to 65 students. This school was in use until 1958.