Knossington
Description in 1871:
"KNOSSINGTON, a parish, with a village, in the district of Oakham and county of Leicester; on the river Gwash, adjacent to Rutland, 4 miles W by S of Oakham r. station. Post town, Oakham. Acres, 1,443. Real property, £2,686. Pop., 251. Houses, 63. The property is divided among a few. The manor belongs to T. Frewen, Esq. The parish is a meet for the Cottesmore hounds. An inhabitant possesses a cheffonier which belonged to the mother of Henry VIII., and was found near her ancient residence. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Peterborough. Value, £324. Patron, T. Frewen, Esq. The church is old but good, and has a tower. There are a Wesleyan chapel, a national school, and an hospital for four clergymen's widows, with £160 a year from endowment."
John Marius Wilson's "Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales", 1870-72
- The parish was in the Oakham sub-district of the Oakham 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 Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Peter.
- The church dates from prior to the 15th century.
- The church was restored in 1883.
- The church seats 150.
- The Anglican parish register dates from 1558.
- The church is in the rural deanery of Goscote (first portion).
- The Wesleyan Methodist chapel was built in 1830.
- Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
- The parish was in the Oakham sub-district of the Oakham Registration District.
Knossington is a village, a township and a parish which lie 100 miles north of London, about 16 miles east of Leicester city and 4 miles west of Oakham. The parish borders on Rutland county and covers 3,198 acres, most of which was pasture for sheep and cattle.
If you are planning a visit:
- The River Gwash passes through this parish into Rutlandshire and into the Rutland Water Reservoir.
- By automobile, head due west out of Oakham for about 4 miles. The village is just south of Cold Overton.
- The national grid reference is SK 8008.
- You'll want an Ordnance Survey Explorer map, which has 2.5 inches to the mile scale.
- See our Maps page for additional resources.
- William SMITH of Croxton founded a hospital here to hold up to 4 clergymen's widows. It is unknown if any records survive from this institution.
- The parish is in the ancient Gartree Hundred in the eastern division of the county.
- In April, 1936, the parish of Knossington was enlarged by 1,729 acres with the abolishment of Cold Overton Civil Parish.
- Richard BELL, in 1718, left a charity of 8 Shillings annually to be distributed in bread to the poor.
- The parish had 2 acres of Common Land left after the enclosure, which they let out for the benefit of 12 poor families for gardens.
- As a result of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, this parish became part of the Oakham Poorlaw Union.
| Year |
Inhabitants |
| 1871 |
319 |
| 1881 |
291 |
| 1891 |
323 |
| 1901 |
297 |
| 1911 |
247 |
| 1921 |
230 |
| 1931 |
252 |
| 1961 |
339 |
- A Public Elementary School was built here in 1899 to hold up to 120 children.
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[Created: 5-July-2009 - Louis R. Mills]
