Bescaby
Encyclopedia
Bescaby is a hamlet
and deserted medieval village
in Leicestershire
, England.
The hamlet of Bescaby lies close to, and can only be reached by public road from, neighbouring Waltham-on-the-Wolds. It was not always so. Bescaby was formerly an ex-parochial manor
, later constituted a civil parish belonging to the Dukes of Rutland
, and in 1871 had a population of 25 persons, living in 4 houses, on about 1200 acres (4.9 km²) of land. It was previously the demesne of Croxton Abbey
, near which stood some extensive buildings, surrounded by a moat.
Traces of these buildings are still to be seen near a place called Friars' Walk. William Furnival held the manor in 1382. The chief branch of the river Eye
has its source in the locality, near Bescaby Oaks.
It is a ‘fine spring of hard water which flows in front of Bescaby House, the residence of John Edward Bright’.
Bescaby was part of the Melton Mowbray
Union, which comprised 56 parishes. The union workhouse, built in 1836 was situated on the east side of Melton Mowbray and was capable of housing 250 inmates. The 1871 census shows 126 paupers in residence.
Hamlet (place)
A hamlet is usually a rural settlement which is too small to be considered a village, though sometimes the word is used for a different sort of community. Historically, when a hamlet became large enough to justify building a church, it was then classified as a village...
and deserted medieval village
Deserted medieval village
In the United Kingdom, a deserted medieval village is a former settlement which was abandoned during the Middle Ages, typically leaving no trace apart from earthworks or cropmarks. If there are fewer than three inhabited houses the convention is to regard the site as deserted; if there are more...
in Leicestershire
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.
The hamlet of Bescaby lies close to, and can only be reached by public road from, neighbouring Waltham-on-the-Wolds. It was not always so. Bescaby was formerly an ex-parochial manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
, later constituted a civil parish belonging to the Dukes of Rutland
Duke of Rutland
Earl of Rutland and Duke of Rutland are titles in the peerage of England, derived from Rutland, a county in the East Midlands of England. The Earl of Rutland was elevated to the status of Duke in 1703 and the titles were merged....
, and in 1871 had a population of 25 persons, living in 4 houses, on about 1200 acres (4.9 km²) of land. It was previously the demesne of Croxton Abbey
Croxton Abbey
Croxton Abbey, near Croxton Kerrial, Leicestershire, was a Premonstratensian monastery founded before 1160 by William, Count of Boulogne.Croxton was the mother house of the monasteries of Blanchland Abbey in County Durham and Cockersand Abbey in Lancashire....
, near which stood some extensive buildings, surrounded by a moat.
Traces of these buildings are still to be seen near a place called Friars' Walk. William Furnival held the manor in 1382. The chief branch of the river Eye
River Eye, Leicestershire
The River Eye is a river in north eastern Leicestershire which becomes the Wreake.The Eye rises at Bescaby about six miles north east of Melton Mowbray. It flows east towards Saltby, where it turns south and flows past Sproxton, Coston and Garthorpe. At Saxby it turns west and flows by Stapleford,...
has its source in the locality, near Bescaby Oaks.
It is a ‘fine spring of hard water which flows in front of Bescaby House, the residence of John Edward Bright’.
Bescaby was part of the Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray
Melton Mowbray is a town in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the northeast of Leicester, and southeast of Nottingham...
Union, which comprised 56 parishes. The union workhouse, built in 1836 was situated on the east side of Melton Mowbray and was capable of housing 250 inmates. The 1871 census shows 126 paupers in residence.