Mowsley
Description in 1871:
"MOWSLEY, a chapelry in Knaptoft parish, Leicester; near the Grand Union canal, 2¼ miles N N W of The ddingworth r. station, and 6 W N W of Market-Harborough. It bas a post-office under Rugby. Acres, 1,710. Real property, £2,514. Pop., 241. Houses, 63. The property is much subdivided. The manor belongs to the Duchy of Lancaster. The living is a p. curacy, annexed to the rectory of Knaptoft, in the diocese of Peterborough. The church is ancient but good, is small and cruciform, and has an open turret. There are chapels for Independents and Baptists."
John Marius Wilson's "Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales,' 1870-72
- The parish was in the Market Harborough sub-district of the Market Harborough 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. |
| 1861 |
R.G. 9 / 2250 |
| 1891 |
R.G. 12 / 2492 |
- The original chapel was built here circa 1250.
- The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Nicholas.
- The church was partially restored in 1882.
- The church seats 130.
- The Anglican parish register dates from 1660 for baptisms and burials; marriages from 1704.
- The church is in the rural deanery of Guthlaxton (third portion).
- The Congregationalists built a chapel here in 1830.
- The Wesleyan Methodists built a chapel here prior to 1871.
- Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
- The parish was in the Market Harborough sub-district of the Market Harborough Registration District.
Mowsley is a parish, a township and a village in Leicestershire. It is about 90 miles north of London and 6 miles west of Market Harborough. The parish covers 1,710 acres.
The village sits atop a plateau that is just about the highest point for miles around. Surrounded by beautiful countryside and quiet lanes it is an ideal place from which to take a quiet stroll or ride. If you are planning a visit:
- The Grand Union Canal runs through the south portion of the parish.
- John LACEY has authored or co-authored books on the history of Mowsley Village and Mowsley Church. Copies were provided to all households in Mowsley Parish. Check the local library for a copy.
- There is a photograph of a street in the village at Leicester Villages.
- By automobile, take the A50 trunk road south out of Leicester city for about 12 miles. The village will be just off to the left.
- Mowsley had two manors in 1086.
- The national grid reference is SP 6489.
- You'll want an Ordnance Survey Explorer map, which has 2.5 inches to the mile scale.
- See our Maps page for additional resources.
- Most of the parish was grazing land.
- Mowsley was for centuries only a chapelry in Knaptoft parish. In 1866, it was formed as a separate Civil Parish.
- The parish is in the ancient Gartree Hundred in the southern division of the county.
- As a result of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, this parish became part of the Market Harborough Poorlaw Union.
| Year |
Inhabitants |
| 1801 |
248 |
| 1811 |
229 |
| 1821 |
263 |
| 1831 |
283 |
| 1841 |
267 |
| 1851 |
263 |
| 1861 |
241 |
| 1871 |
239 |
| 1881 |
208 |
| 1901 |
168 |
| 1971 |
162 |
| 2001 |
212 |
- The Public Elementary School was built before 1911 for 40 children.
- There is a photo of the village school at the Parish Councils web page.
- The school has no website at present. For enquiries, tele: 0116 2402464.
Follow this link to find help, report problems or contribute information.
[Last updated: 13-November-2011 - Louis R. Mills]
