11 more things you didn’t know about the borough
1) Many years ago, in around 1800, the approach to the village of Earl Shilton from either end was by toll gates, which was administered by the Turnpike Trust. One was near to the bottom of Shilton Hill and the other was situated in the region of Belle Vue Road.
Travellers avoided this gate by going through Elmesthorpe and eventually the county authorities gained control and the gates were abolished.
2) An alarming event took place on Dadlington village green in 1401. Two strangers called at the villager’s house to inquire the way to Fenny Drayton.
While walking with them on the green, one of them struck the villager upon the head with a knife. He fell to the ground broke his leg and died the following day. The motive of this strange murder was never ascertained.
3) Over the years Barwell can claim to have had many notabilities. In 1660 the manor house was bought by John Oneby who lived to the venerable age of 92.
He became Bailiff of Leicester and eventually died at Cufford in Suffolk. John Oneby’s son was detested as much as his father was admired, and was eventually sentenced to death at the Old Bailey for murder.
4) Barwell Cricket Club has produced three county players – George Geary, Albert Lord and George Ball. George Geary was the most outstanding player. He came from a family of 16 brothers and sisters. He was the finest medium paced bowler ever to play for England and on several occasions took the wicket of Sir Donald Bradman.
His finest achievement was taking all 10 wickets for Leicestershire against Glamorganshire.
5) In 1832, a railway was constructed from Leicester to Swannington. This 16-mile single line track cost over £75,000 and passed through Desford. It was one of the first to be constructed in the country.
George Stephenson’s son Robert was the engineer. He had made his home at Alton Grange near Ashby de la Zouch.
The contractor who constructed the Glenfield Tunnel was accidentally killed by falling down a shaft.
The line was opened by Robert Stephenson driving the “Comet” but alas the original station building was demolished in 1966.
6) Sir Wolstan Dixie, the Sheriff of Leicestershire, is said to have set up a man-trap in the grounds of Bosworth Hall to discourage a young man who was suitor to his second daughter, Anne.
Unfortunately, it was Anne who was caught in the device, severing her leg at the ankle. She died of her injuries shortly afterwards in 1758.
7) It is recorded that in 1745 the Duke of Cumberland marched through Dunton Bassett at the head of an English army on his way to Culloden Moor to defeat Bonnie Prince Charlie who, with the remnants of the Scottish Highlanders, was retreating from Derby.
8) In 1899, the Great Central Railway opened a mainline from Nottingham, Leicester to Rugby, which could accommodate the fastest express trains in the country. A section of this ran though Dunton and contained a tunnel which was known as the Dunton Bassett Tunnel.
In 1923, the Midland Railway became part of the London Midland Scottish Railway (LMS) and the Great Central became part of the London and North Eastern Railway (LNER). The railway system was nationalised in 1948.
After a review by Dr Beeching around the 1960s, alas Dunton was to lose its railway. The Midland line closed in 1962 and the Great Central Line finally closed to all traffic in 1969.
9) In Thurlaston churchyard is a remarkable monument to John Riddell who came from Israel on a tour of England in 1861 and on arrival at Thurlaston became ill and died.
He was of Jewish origin and was buried just outside the church with a beautiful headstone with the “Star of David” – the emblem of Israel – curved in a neat circle.
He is believed to be the only Jew to be buried in a Church of England Cemetery in the whole of the country.
10) Normal crime in villages was seldom experienced but in 1880, Henry Davies, who had just got married, murdered his wife in Church Street, Thurlaston, and shortly afterwards took his own life.
His wife belonged to an old Thurlaston family but he was a stranger to the village.
The usual morbid curiosity evinced on the day of the funeral and an enormous crowd gathered to witness the proceedings.
11) Near to the gate in Peckleton churchyard is a slate tombstone which bears a name of a great significant interest. In this grave lies an ancestor of William Howard Taft, who was the 27th President of the United States (1909 -1913).