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Rolleston

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Description in 1871:
"Rolleston, a chapelry in Billesdon parish, Leicester; 1¾ mile S S E of Billesdon, and 5¾ N E of Kibworth r. station. Post-town, Billesdon, under Leicester. Pop., 42. Houses, 10. The manor, with R. Hall, belongs to Mrs. Heap. The living is annexed to the vicarage of Billesdon. The church is good; and on the S side of it is a well-preserved ancient cross."
John Marius WILSON's "Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales," 1870-72

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Cemeteries

Rolleston shares a public cemetery with Billesdon parish out on Uppingham Road.

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Census

  • The parish was in the Billesdon subdistrict 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.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1861R.G. 9 / 2253
1891R.G. 12 / 2494
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church was dedicated to St. John the Baptist.
     
  • The church was built in Norman times (13th century).
     
  • The church was restored in 1740.
     
  • Timothy HEATON has a photograph of Church of St John the Baptist on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2020.
     
  • There is an ancient cross in the churchyard.
     
  • Rolleston chapel is a private chapel attached to Rolleston Hall. This tiny church seats 50.
     
  • Andrew TATLOW has a photograph of Rolleston Chapel on Geo-graph, taken in September, 2006.
     
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1579.
     
  • The church was in the rural Gartree deanery (third portion).
     
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Civil Registration

  • Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
     
  • The parish was in the Billesdon subdistrict of the Billesdon Registration District.
     
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Description & Travel

Rolleston was a village, a chapelry and a township in Billesdon parish. It has since become a parish. It is 10 miles southeast of Leicester city. The parish covers 1,094 acres.

The land around the village has been mostly pasture for centuries. If you are planning a visit:

  • By automobile, take the A47 east out of Leicester city to Skeffington. Turn south (right) and drive down to Rolleston village.
     
You can see pictures of Rolleston which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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Manors

  • Rolleston Hall was the property of Viscount CHURCHILL, G.C.V.O., the lord of the manor, in 1912.
     
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Maps

  • See our Maps page for additional resources.
     

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SK731004 (Lat/Lon: 52.596487, -0.922232), Rolleston which are provided by:

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Politics & Government

  • Rolleston was a chapelry and a township in Billesdon parish for centuries.
     
  • Rolleston became a Civil Parish between 1867 and 1881.
     
  • The parish lies in the Gartree Hundred (or Wapentake) in the eastern division of the county.
     
  • Rolleston's citizens have elected to forgo a formal Parish Council and, instead, have periodic Parish Meetings for everyone to discuss civic and political issues.
     
  • For current politics and civic issues, try the Parish Meeting website. They will not assist with family history questions.
     
  • District governance is provided by the Harborough District Council.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

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

 YearInhabitants
187140
188168
189157
190174
191159
192154
193167
195161
196155
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Schools

  • The children of this place attended school in Billesdon parish.