Anstey, Leicestershire
Encyclopedia
Anstey is a large semi-industrialised village in Leicestershire
, England, located north west of Leicester
in the borough of Charnwood
. Its population was about 6,000 at the 2001 census although this is likely to have increased. The village is separated from Leicester
by the Rothley Brook
, Castle Hill Park and the A46
, and it borders the villages of Glenfield
, Groby
, Newtown Linford
, Cropston
and Thurcaston
as well as the suburb of Beaumont Leys
and Anstey Heights. To the north-west lies Bradgate Park
.
Anstey is known as the Gateway to Charnwood Forest
. It is a combination of traditional English village (with two village green
s - the top green and bottom green) and an industrial town (with several 19th-century hosiery
factories, many of which are now being turned into apartments) which is made up mostly of a number of small estates, both council and private which are intertwined , often with no clear border.
origins, when it was known as Hanstige (later Anstige), meaning a narrow forest track (specifically the meaning is either 'one-way' or 'steep road'). Anstey was positioned between Charnwood Forest
and Leicester Forest
.
Whilst developing the site for the new Co-op
store in 2002 archaeologists were called in and found remains dating back to the 12th century. A plaque recording this has been placed on the wall of the new shop.
The place-name of Anstey is first recorded in Domesday Book
when it was held by one of the county's largest landholders, Hugh de Grandmesnil
, castellan of Leicester. At the time it was a small farming community.
Anstey appears to have had its origins in two distinct settlement foci, each associated with a separate manor, one associated with Leicester Abbey
and one with the Ferrers of Groby
.
It is believed that Anstey once had a sizable military force - in 1431 William Porter "furnished XIX hommes and IX archers".
When Bonnie Prince Charlie's army moved south during the 1745 rebellion, although the main body of troops were turned back at Derby
, a foraging party reached the commons of Anstey.
Local industry included hosiery from the eighteenth to the nineteenth century, leading to a rise in population to around 600 by 1800. By 1845 there were 300 people employed as framework knitters in the village. A decline in the industry in the middle of the nineteenth century saw a fall in the village's population, although hosiery manufacture continued in the village until the mid-twentieth century. Boot and shoe manufacture became a more important part of the village's work between 1860 and 1900, and the first employer in Leicestershire described as a "boot and shoe manufacturer" appeared in Anstey in 1863. The village's population rose to over 2,500 by 1900, with a corresponding rise in house-building. Anstey became an independent parish in 1866, having previously been a chapelry of Thurcaston
. A number of related industries developed in the village, including tanning and box-making, the latter still present in the village. One of the largest companies in the village was the Anstey Wallpaper Company, which occupied a site east of Cropston Road now filled with houses and the new Co-op store. Nearly all the local factories have now either been demolished or converted into flats. By 1971, the population of the village had risen to almost 6,000. The village is still the home of Ulverscroft Large Print Books Ltd., known for their large-print editions of popular books, published since 1964.
The most notable family of Anstey was the Martin family, who lived in the village from the 13th century until 1892. Two members of the family held the position of Lord Lieutenant
of Leicestershire, and the local high school is named after them. They lived at Anstey Pastures (now demolished), before moving to The Brand in 1892.
Famous past Anstey residents include Ned Ludd
(Ludlam), the machine-wrecker whose name was appropriated by the Luddites - whose name was adopted in a recent household development in the village: Ned Ludd Close, and snooker
player and commentator Willie Thorne
, who started playing snooker at the village's Conservative club
. Footballer Derek Dougan
lived in the village during his time at Leicester City.
According to legend, the last wolf to be killed in England was shot in a forest "near Anstige in Wolfdale". Wolfdale was a nearby district towards Newtown Linford, and the name has survived in a slightly altered form with Wooldale Close, one of the streets in the village.
, United Reformed Church
and Methodist churches in the village.
The parish church
of St. Mary is on Bradgate Road, just out of The Nook, has the remains of a Saxon preaching cross from the 13th century and was previously part of the Parish of Thurcaston.
The United Reformed Church is further up Bradgate Road, as well as the church rooms which are now only used for storage.
The Methodist Church is situated near The Nook on Cropston Road, and is a medium-sized church serving the community, being part of the Leicester West Circuit of the Oxford and Leicester District of the Methodist Church. An earlier Methodist church was located on the opposite side of the road to the current church, until it was demolished in the 1980s.
College students go to Longslade Community College
at Birstall
. They may also go Brookvale in Groby
, or Rawlins Community College
in Quorn
(Out of catchment area).
.
The Rothley Brook
flows through the village on its way to the River Soar
, and there are two ancient bridges (the Packhorse Bridge
and King William's Bridge) and an old water mill. The packhorse bridge is on the route of the original road from Leicester. King William's Bridge is so named because when King William III
planned to visit the Grey family at Bradgate in 1696, the existing crossings of the Rothley Brook were found to be too narrow for the Royal coach, so a new bridge had to be constructed.
Anstey also has a GP surgery, dentist, funeral directors and opticians, and several fast food outlets and restaurants. Around The Nook there are a number of different shops, a post office, as well as pubs - The Coach and Horses, The Plough, The Crown and The Old Hare and Hounds as well as a Conservative club. The Working Mens Club closed in 2009.
In the past Anstey had two cinemas, the Savoy on Cropston Road which was later used as a petrol station/garage before being converted into a pub/restaurant and eventually a furnishings shop, and another on Ellis Street, which now sells baby clothing.
is the home of Leicestershire County Council
, and all the shops and facilities of the city can be found about two miles (3 km) away in Leicester.
Castle Hill Park lies to the East of the village, connecting Anstey to Beaumont Leys and with the A46
Leicester Western Bypass running through it.
Bradgate Park
, childhood home of Lady Jane Grey
, stretches above the village, between the two neighbouring villages of Newtown Linford
and Cropston
. For transport, Anstey is served by regular bus services to Leicester
and the Beaumont Shopping Centre
(about a mile away in Beaumont Leys
), and less regular services to Loughborough
. By road, Anstey is just off the A46 Leicester Western Bypass, which provides a fast link to the M1
southbound to London, with the A50
providing access to the M1 North.
who play in the East Midlands Counties League.
Prior to the Second World War there were two separate teams - the Methodist and St. Marys Parish Church football teams. However, following the War in 1947 the two were joined under one banner and became Anstey Nomads. The ground which is owned by the club is situated on Cropston Road, Anstey. In addition to the Anstey Nomads there is the youth football team - the Anstey Swifts. There also is the Anstey Town Football Team who were until recently (May 2009) based in nearby Thurcaston.
There are also Rugby Union
(Anstey RFC, formed 1980, who play on the Link Road playing fields) and Cricket
teams, who play in the local leagues. Anstey and Glenfield CC play in the Leicestershire Senior League at Gynsill Lane playing field on the Anstey/Glenfield border, they have three senior, one friendly and four junior teams as of 2009. Anstey Narborians play on the recreation ground at Stadon Road, in the Leicestershire League.
Anstey has three recreation grounds - the main park ("The Reccy") off Stadon Road which has facilities including floodlit multi play/tennis court area, swings, slides, football pitch and a small area for younger children. From May 2009 it has a kicking wall and shelter to the side of the Jubilee Hall (APC office) built by Anstey Parish council. There is a less well equipped one near Link Road which is occasionally used by the Anstey RFC. Millfield Close also has a small area with play equipment on, which is rented from Charnwood Borough Council.
and a place called The Leys, which marks the route of the Bradgate Ley, which runs between a notch in the hill near Old John in Bradgate Park
, and Oadby
.
service 74, Centrebus
Service 54, Thurmaston Bus
Service 123 and Roberts Tours Service 120 are the main operators for the village which run to Leicester
, Loughborough
, Rothley, Cropston
, and Quorn
. The nearest network railway station is at Leicester
. There is also a station at Rothley
, which is on the preserved Great Central Railway
line between Leicester and Loughborough.
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England, located north west of Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
in the borough of Charnwood
Charnwood (borough)
Charnwood is a borough of northern Leicestershire, England. It is named after Charnwood Forest, which it contains. Loughborough is the largest town in the district and serves as the borough's administrative and commercial centre.-History:...
. Its population was about 6,000 at the 2001 census although this is likely to have increased. The village is separated from Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
by the Rothley Brook
Rothley Brook
The Rothley Brook is a minor waterway in Leicestershire, England. It first becomes noticeable after Thornton Reservoir, near the village of Thornton in the National Forest...
, Castle Hill Park and the A46
A46 road
The A46 is an A road in England. It starts east of Bath, Somerset and ends in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, but it does not form a continuous route. Large portions of the old road have been lost, bypassed, or replaced by motorway development...
, and it borders the villages of Glenfield
Glenfield, Leicestershire
Glenfield is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It is part of the Blaby district, and has a population of about 10,000. Its location at the northwestern fringe of the city of Leicester effectively makes it a suburb, although it is politically and administratively separate...
, Groby
Groby
Groby is a large English village in the county of Leicestershire, to the north west of the city of Leicester. The population at the time of the 2001 census was 7,301.-Description:...
, Newtown Linford
Newtown Linford
Newtown Linford is a linear village in Leicestershire, England.It is located in a valley in the Charnwood Forest area, and has four access roads. The first is from Anstey, then there are roads which lead to the A50 at Groby and at Markfield...
, Cropston
Cropston
Cropston is a village within the civil parish of Thurcaston & Cropston, part of the Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, England. It is on the edge of Charnwood Forest, and lies close to Bradgate Park. The village itself is small, with the older properties close to the crossroads of Reservoir and...
and Thurcaston
Thurcaston
Thurcaston is a village in Leicestershire, England, in the parish of Thurcaston and Cropston. It is best known as the home to Bishop Hugh Latimer....
as well as the suburb of Beaumont Leys
Beaumont Leys
Beaumont Leys is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England, comprising the north-western Leicester suburb of Beaumont Leys.-Geography:...
and Anstey Heights. To the north-west lies Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park is a public park in Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire, England, just northwest of Leicester. It covers 850 acres . The park lies between the villages of Newtown Linford, Anstey, Cropston, Woodhouse Eaves and Swithland. The River Lin runs through the park, flowing into Cropston...
.
Anstey is known as the Gateway to Charnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest is an upland tract in north-western Leicestershire, England, bounded by Leicester, Loughborough, and Coalville. The area is undulating, rocky and picturesque, with barren areas. It also has some extensive tracts of woodland; its elevation is generally 600 ft and upwards, the area...
. It is a combination of traditional English village (with two village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
s - the top green and bottom green) and an industrial town (with several 19th-century hosiery
Hosiery
Hosiery, also referred to as legwear, describes garments worn directly on the feet and legs. The term originated as the collective term for products of which a maker or seller is termed a hosier; and those products are also known generically as hose...
factories, many of which are now being turned into apartments) which is made up mostly of a number of small estates, both council and private which are intertwined , often with no clear border.
History
Anstey dates back to AngleAngles
The Angles is a modern English term for a Germanic people who took their name from the ancestral cultural region of Angeln, a district located in Schleswig-Holstein, Germany...
origins, when it was known as Hanstige (later Anstige), meaning a narrow forest track (specifically the meaning is either 'one-way' or 'steep road'). Anstey was positioned between Charnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest is an upland tract in north-western Leicestershire, England, bounded by Leicester, Loughborough, and Coalville. The area is undulating, rocky and picturesque, with barren areas. It also has some extensive tracts of woodland; its elevation is generally 600 ft and upwards, the area...
and Leicester Forest
Leicester Forest
-Site and history:The forest occupied an area fourteen miles long and four miles wide between the River Soar and Rothley Brook, and covered 5,000 acres. It was described in Domesday Book as 'Hereswode'. Once owned by Hugh de Grandmesnil, ownership passed to successive Earls of Leicester...
.
Whilst developing the site for the new Co-op
The Co-operative Group
The Co-operative Group Ltd. is a United Kingdom consumer cooperative with a diverse range of business interests. It is co-operatively run and owned by its members. It is the largest organisation of this type in the world, with over 5.5 million members, who all have a say in how the business is...
store in 2002 archaeologists were called in and found remains dating back to the 12th century. A plaque recording this has been placed on the wall of the new shop.
The place-name of Anstey is first recorded in Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
when it was held by one of the county's largest landholders, Hugh de Grandmesnil
Hugh de Grandmesnil
Hugh de Grandmesnil , also known as Hugh or Hugo de Grentmesnil or Grentemesnil, is one of the very few proven Companions of William the Conqueror known to have fought at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. Subsequently he became a great landowner in England.He was the elder son of Robert of...
, castellan of Leicester. At the time it was a small farming community.
Anstey appears to have had its origins in two distinct settlement foci, each associated with a separate manor, one associated with Leicester Abbey
Leicester Abbey
Leicester Abbey, the Abbey of Saint Mary de Pratis , standing about a mile north of the city of Leicester in the riverside meadows on the west bank of the River Soar, was built under the patronage of Robert le Bossu, Earl of Leicester. It was founded as a community of Augustinian Canons, the...
and one with the Ferrers of Groby
Groby
Groby is a large English village in the county of Leicestershire, to the north west of the city of Leicester. The population at the time of the 2001 census was 7,301.-Description:...
.
It is believed that Anstey once had a sizable military force - in 1431 William Porter "furnished XIX hommes and IX archers".
When Bonnie Prince Charlie's army moved south during the 1745 rebellion, although the main body of troops were turned back at Derby
Derby
Derby , is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands region of England. It lies upon the banks of the River Derwent and is located in the south of the ceremonial county of Derbyshire. In the 2001 census, the population of the city was 233,700, whilst that of the Derby Urban Area was 229,407...
, a foraging party reached the commons of Anstey.
Local industry included hosiery from the eighteenth to the nineteenth century, leading to a rise in population to around 600 by 1800. By 1845 there were 300 people employed as framework knitters in the village. A decline in the industry in the middle of the nineteenth century saw a fall in the village's population, although hosiery manufacture continued in the village until the mid-twentieth century. Boot and shoe manufacture became a more important part of the village's work between 1860 and 1900, and the first employer in Leicestershire described as a "boot and shoe manufacturer" appeared in Anstey in 1863. The village's population rose to over 2,500 by 1900, with a corresponding rise in house-building. Anstey became an independent parish in 1866, having previously been a chapelry of Thurcaston
Thurcaston
Thurcaston is a village in Leicestershire, England, in the parish of Thurcaston and Cropston. It is best known as the home to Bishop Hugh Latimer....
. A number of related industries developed in the village, including tanning and box-making, the latter still present in the village. One of the largest companies in the village was the Anstey Wallpaper Company, which occupied a site east of Cropston Road now filled with houses and the new Co-op store. Nearly all the local factories have now either been demolished or converted into flats. By 1971, the population of the village had risen to almost 6,000. The village is still the home of Ulverscroft Large Print Books Ltd., known for their large-print editions of popular books, published since 1964.
The most notable family of Anstey was the Martin family, who lived in the village from the 13th century until 1892. Two members of the family held the position of Lord Lieutenant
Lord Lieutenant
The title Lord Lieutenant is given to the British monarch's personal representatives in the United Kingdom, usually in a county or similar circumscription, with varying tasks throughout history. Usually a retired local notable, senior military officer, peer or business person is given the post...
of Leicestershire, and the local high school is named after them. They lived at Anstey Pastures (now demolished), before moving to The Brand in 1892.
Famous past Anstey residents include Ned Ludd
Ned Ludd
Ned Ludd or Ned Lud, possibly born Ned Ludlam or Edward Ludlam, is the person from whom the Luddites took their name. His actions inspirated the folkloric character of Captain Ludd, also known as King Ludd or General Ludd, who became the Luddites' alleged leader and founder.It is believed that Ned...
(Ludlam), the machine-wrecker whose name was appropriated by the Luddites - whose name was adopted in a recent household development in the village: Ned Ludd Close, and snooker
Snooker
Snooker is a cue sport that is played on a green baize-covered table with pockets in each of the four corners and in the middle of each of the long side cushions. A regular table is . It is played using a cue and snooker balls: one white , 15 worth one point each, and six balls of different :...
player and commentator Willie Thorne
Willie Thorne
William Joseph "Willie" Thorne , is a former English professional snooker player and now a sports commentator.Thorne became national under-16 champion at both snooker and English billiards in 1970...
, who started playing snooker at the village's Conservative club
Association of Conservative Clubs
The Association of Conservative Clubs is an organisation associated with theConservative Party in the United Kingdom. It represents and provides support to the largest association of political clubs in the country estimated at 1,100....
. Footballer Derek Dougan
Derek Dougan
Alexander Derek Dougan was a former Northern Ireland international footballer who played for Wolverhampton Wanderers....
lived in the village during his time at Leicester City.
According to legend, the last wolf to be killed in England was shot in a forest "near Anstige in Wolfdale". Wolfdale was a nearby district towards Newtown Linford, and the name has survived in a slightly altered form with Wooldale Close, one of the streets in the village.
Religion
There are Church of EnglandChurch of England
The Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
, United Reformed Church
United Reformed Church
The United Reformed Church is a Christian church in the United Kingdom. It has approximately 68,000 members in 1,500 congregations with some 700 ministers.-Origins and history:...
and Methodist churches in the village.
The parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
of St. Mary is on Bradgate Road, just out of The Nook, has the remains of a Saxon preaching cross from the 13th century and was previously part of the Parish of Thurcaston.
The United Reformed Church is further up Bradgate Road, as well as the church rooms which are now only used for storage.
The Methodist Church is situated near The Nook on Cropston Road, and is a medium-sized church serving the community, being part of the Leicester West Circuit of the Oxford and Leicester District of the Methodist Church. An earlier Methodist church was located on the opposite side of the road to the current church, until it was demolished in the 1980s.
Education
There are three schools in Anstey:- Latimer Primary School, Latimer Street
- Woolden Hill Primary School, Netherfield Road
- The Anstey Martin High SchoolAnstey Martin High SchoolThe Martin High School is a community secondary school located in the village of Anstey, Leicestershire, on the outskirts of Leicester. The school serves about 600 students aged from 11 to 14, accepting students from nearby Beaumont Leys, Glenfield, Thurcaston and Cropston as well as some students...
, Link Road
College students go to Longslade Community College
Longslade Community College
Longslade Community College is a comprehensive school and Specialist Technology College in Birstall, a suburban village directly outside of Leicester city.-Admissions:...
at Birstall
Birstall, Leicestershire
Birstall is a large village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is three miles north of the Leicester city centre and is part of the wider Leicester Urban Area....
. They may also go Brookvale in Groby
Groby
Groby is a large English village in the county of Leicestershire, to the north west of the city of Leicester. The population at the time of the 2001 census was 7,301.-Description:...
, or Rawlins Community College
Rawlins Community College
Rawlins Community College is a secondary school of about 1500 students situated in Quorn, Leicestershire, England.-Admissions:Rawlins has Media Arts College status and is partnered with the Number 2 Middle School in Luzhou, China....
in Quorn
Quorn, Leicestershire
Quorn is a village in Leicestershire, England, situated next to the university town of Loughborough. Quorn's name was shortened from Quorndon in 1889, to avoid postal difficulties owing to its similarity to the name of another village, Quarndon, a few miles away. Its original name is said to derive...
(Out of catchment area).
The Martin High School
In March 2008, The Martin High was placed 10th best school in the country and 3rd best in the county for pupils' progress between the ages of 11 and 14. It is located at around the middle of Link Road, Anstey, Leicestershire.The Village
Anstey still retains some of the charm of a traditional village particularly on the area immediately north of the village centre, but due to its industrial background there are many small terraced houses as well as some pre-fabricated post war council houses in the 'Dutch barn' style. The large houses towards the top of Bradgate Road change into terraced houses in the old industrial area, and then modern suburbia out towards Link Road, where the Anstey Martin school can be found. Just off the Nook is Latimer primary school, named after Bishop LatimerHugh Latimer
Hugh Latimer was a Fellow of Clare College, Cambridge, Bishop of Worcester before the Reformation, and later Church of England chaplain to King Edward VI. In 1555, under Queen Mary, he was burnt at the stake, becoming one of the three Oxford Martyrs of Anglicanism.-Life:Latimer was born into a...
.
The Rothley Brook
Rothley Brook
The Rothley Brook is a minor waterway in Leicestershire, England. It first becomes noticeable after Thornton Reservoir, near the village of Thornton in the National Forest...
flows through the village on its way to the River Soar
River Soar
The River Soar is a tributary of the River Trent in the English East Midlands.-Description:It rises near Hinckley in Leicestershire and is joined by the River Sence near Enderby before flowing through Leicester , Barrow-on-Soar, beside Loughborough and Kegworth, before joining the Trent near...
, and there are two ancient bridges (the Packhorse Bridge
Packhorse bridge
A packhorse bridge is a bridge intended to carry packhorses across a river or stream. Typically a packhorse bridge consists of one or more narrow masonry arches, and has low parapets so as not to interfere with the horse's panniers.Packhorse bridges were often built on the trade routes that...
and King William's Bridge) and an old water mill. The packhorse bridge is on the route of the original road from Leicester. King William's Bridge is so named because when King William III
William III of England
William III & II was a sovereign Prince of Orange of the House of Orange-Nassau by birth. From 1672 he governed as Stadtholder William III of Orange over Holland, Zeeland, Utrecht, Guelders, and Overijssel of the Dutch Republic. From 1689 he reigned as William III over England and Ireland...
planned to visit the Grey family at Bradgate in 1696, the existing crossings of the Rothley Brook were found to be too narrow for the Royal coach, so a new bridge had to be constructed.
Anstey also has a GP surgery, dentist, funeral directors and opticians, and several fast food outlets and restaurants. Around The Nook there are a number of different shops, a post office, as well as pubs - The Coach and Horses, The Plough, The Crown and The Old Hare and Hounds as well as a Conservative club. The Working Mens Club closed in 2009.
In the past Anstey had two cinemas, the Savoy on Cropston Road which was later used as a petrol station/garage before being converted into a pub/restaurant and eventually a furnishings shop, and another on Ellis Street, which now sells baby clothing.
Local Newspaper
The village newspaper is the Anstey Scene which is a quarterly newspaper with news about local events and council meetings. Other than that there is the Anstey Directory which has advertisements for local businesses, including from the Birstall and Glenfield areas. Recently there has been the introduction of a new local newspaper - The Anstey Clarion which is published monthly and takes reader submitted articles.Local Area
Nearby GlenfieldGlenfield, Leicestershire
Glenfield is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It is part of the Blaby district, and has a population of about 10,000. Its location at the northwestern fringe of the city of Leicester effectively makes it a suburb, although it is politically and administratively separate...
is the home of Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council
Leicestershire County Council is the county council for the English non-metropolitan county of Leicestershire. It was originally formed in 1889 by the Local Government Act 1888. The county is divided into 52 electoral divisions, which return a total of 55 councillors. The council is controlled by...
, and all the shops and facilities of the city can be found about two miles (3 km) away in Leicester.
Castle Hill Park lies to the East of the village, connecting Anstey to Beaumont Leys and with the A46
A46 road
The A46 is an A road in England. It starts east of Bath, Somerset and ends in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, but it does not form a continuous route. Large portions of the old road have been lost, bypassed, or replaced by motorway development...
Leicester Western Bypass running through it.
Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park is a public park in Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire, England, just northwest of Leicester. It covers 850 acres . The park lies between the villages of Newtown Linford, Anstey, Cropston, Woodhouse Eaves and Swithland. The River Lin runs through the park, flowing into Cropston...
, childhood home of Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey
Lady Jane Grey , also known as The Nine Days' Queen, was an English noblewoman who was de facto monarch of England from 10 July until 19 July 1553 and was subsequently executed...
, stretches above the village, between the two neighbouring villages of Newtown Linford
Newtown Linford
Newtown Linford is a linear village in Leicestershire, England.It is located in a valley in the Charnwood Forest area, and has four access roads. The first is from Anstey, then there are roads which lead to the A50 at Groby and at Markfield...
and Cropston
Cropston
Cropston is a village within the civil parish of Thurcaston & Cropston, part of the Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, England. It is on the edge of Charnwood Forest, and lies close to Bradgate Park. The village itself is small, with the older properties close to the crossroads of Reservoir and...
. For transport, Anstey is served by regular bus services to Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
and the Beaumont Shopping Centre
Beaumont Shopping Centre
Beaumont Shopping Centre is located in Beaumont Leys, on the edge of Leicester. The shopping centre is owned by British Land and managed by GVA.-Facilities:There are three free car parks located within the main shopping area...
(about a mile away in Beaumont Leys
Beaumont Leys
Beaumont Leys is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England, comprising the north-western Leicester suburb of Beaumont Leys.-Geography:...
), and less regular services to Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
. By road, Anstey is just off the A46 Leicester Western Bypass, which provides a fast link to the M1
M1 motorway
The M1 is a north–south motorway in England primarily connecting London to Leeds, where it joins the A1 near Aberford. While the M1 is considered to be the first inter-urban motorway to be completed in the United Kingdom, the first road to be built to motorway standard in the country was the...
southbound to London, with the A50
A50 road
The A50 is a major trunk road in England. It runs from Warrington to Leicester; however, it was once a much longer route.-Current route:...
providing access to the M1 North.
Sport
Anstey is home to Anstey Nomads Football ClubAnstey Nomads F.C.
Anstey Nomads F.C. are a football club based in Anstey, near Leicester, Leicestershire, England.The Nomads were formed in 1947 and were champions of the Leicestershire Senior League in the seasons 1951-52 and 1953-54. The following season the Club recorded it’s highest ever attendance of 4,500...
who play in the East Midlands Counties League.
Prior to the Second World War there were two separate teams - the Methodist and St. Marys Parish Church football teams. However, following the War in 1947 the two were joined under one banner and became Anstey Nomads. The ground which is owned by the club is situated on Cropston Road, Anstey. In addition to the Anstey Nomads there is the youth football team - the Anstey Swifts. There also is the Anstey Town Football Team who were until recently (May 2009) based in nearby Thurcaston.
There are also Rugby Union
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
(Anstey RFC, formed 1980, who play on the Link Road playing fields) and Cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
teams, who play in the local leagues. Anstey and Glenfield CC play in the Leicestershire Senior League at Gynsill Lane playing field on the Anstey/Glenfield border, they have three senior, one friendly and four junior teams as of 2009. Anstey Narborians play on the recreation ground at Stadon Road, in the Leicestershire League.
Anstey has three recreation grounds - the main park ("The Reccy") off Stadon Road which has facilities including floodlit multi play/tennis court area, swings, slides, football pitch and a small area for younger children. From May 2009 it has a kicking wall and shelter to the side of the Jubilee Hall (APC office) built by Anstey Parish council. There is a less well equipped one near Link Road which is occasionally used by the Anstey RFC. Millfield Close also has a small area with play equipment on, which is rented from Charnwood Borough Council.
Ley lines
Anstey and surrounding area have been mentioned in several texts about ley lines. Anstey has a standing stoneStanding stone
Standing stones, orthostats, liths, or more commonly megaliths are solitary stones set vertically in the ground and come in many different varieties....
and a place called The Leys, which marks the route of the Bradgate Ley, which runs between a notch in the hill near Old John in Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park
Bradgate Park is a public park in Charnwood Forest, in Leicestershire, England, just northwest of Leicester. It covers 850 acres . The park lies between the villages of Newtown Linford, Anstey, Cropston, Woodhouse Eaves and Swithland. The River Lin runs through the park, flowing into Cropston...
, and Oadby
Oadby
Oadby is a town within the borough of Oadby and Wigston, in Leicestershire, England. It is to the east of Wigston Magna, and to the southeast of Leicester. Oadby forms part of the Leicester Urban Area, and is situated on the A6 road....
.
Shopping
Anstey has a variety of different shops and services, making it the commercial centre for the majority of local villages. The largest shops include Potters Carpets & Kitchens, who decided to remain in the village despite the arson attack on their old building, which remains to be a major source of income for the village, and a large Co-op store on Cropston Road. There were once several petrol stations in the village, although these have all now closed down. Two neighbouring petrol stations on Cropston Road are now occupied by Broughton's Interiors and a car dealer.Transport
First LeicesterFirst Leicester
First in Leicester is the trading name of Leicester Citybus Ltd., a bus company owned by the First Group. It runs buses in the city of Leicester, England...
service 74, Centrebus
Centrebus
Centrebus is a privately owned company that operate a number of services around Leicester and Leicestershire, Grantham, Hertfordshire and Bedfordshire, mainly in areas where Arriva has scaled down its bus operations. Centrebus also competes with Arriva on some routes in Leicester, Luton and Stevenage...
Service 54, Thurmaston Bus
Thurmaston Bus
Thurmaston Bus was an independent operator who operated a mixture of commercial and tendered bus services in Leicester. On Wednesday 10 August 2011 Thurmaston Bus were issued a winding up order...
Service 123 and Roberts Tours Service 120 are the main operators for the village which run to Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
, Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
, Rothley, Cropston
Cropston
Cropston is a village within the civil parish of Thurcaston & Cropston, part of the Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, England. It is on the edge of Charnwood Forest, and lies close to Bradgate Park. The village itself is small, with the older properties close to the crossroads of Reservoir and...
, and Quorn
Quorn, Leicestershire
Quorn is a village in Leicestershire, England, situated next to the university town of Loughborough. Quorn's name was shortened from Quorndon in 1889, to avoid postal difficulties owing to its similarity to the name of another village, Quarndon, a few miles away. Its original name is said to derive...
. The nearest network railway station is at Leicester
Leicester railway station
Leicester railway station serves the City of Leicester in Leicestershire, England.As of late 2009 Leicester is a Penalty fare station, a valid ticket or Permit to travel must be shown when requested.-Background:...
. There is also a station at Rothley
Rothley railway station
Rothley railway station is a heritage railway station on the preserved section of the Great Central Railway's London Extension. Built to the standard island platform pattern of country stations on the line, it originally opened on 15 March 1899 and has been restored to late Edwardian era...
, which is on the preserved Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
line between Leicester and Loughborough.
See also
- LeicesterLeicesterLeicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
- Glenfield, LeicestershireGlenfield, LeicestershireGlenfield is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It is part of the Blaby district, and has a population of about 10,000. Its location at the northwestern fringe of the city of Leicester effectively makes it a suburb, although it is politically and administratively separate...
- Newtown LinfordNewtown LinfordNewtown Linford is a linear village in Leicestershire, England.It is located in a valley in the Charnwood Forest area, and has four access roads. The first is from Anstey, then there are roads which lead to the A50 at Groby and at Markfield...
- GrobyGrobyGroby is a large English village in the county of Leicestershire, to the north west of the city of Leicester. The population at the time of the 2001 census was 7,301.-Description:...
- CropstonCropstonCropston is a village within the civil parish of Thurcaston & Cropston, part of the Charnwood Borough of Leicestershire, England. It is on the edge of Charnwood Forest, and lies close to Bradgate Park. The village itself is small, with the older properties close to the crossroads of Reservoir and...
- Beaumont LeysBeaumont LeysBeaumont Leys is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England, comprising the north-western Leicester suburb of Beaumont Leys.-Geography:...
External links
- Anstey at Leicestershirevillages.com
- Anstey Parish Council
- Ley lines - one of several Anstey references.
- The Anstey Methodist Church website