Croxton Kerrial
Encyclopedia
Croxton Kerrial is a village and civil parish
in the Melton borough of Leicestershire
, England. It is 6.6 miles (10.6 km) to the southwest of Grantham
and 7.9 miles (12.7 km) northeast of Melton Mowbray
—0.5 mile (0.80467 km) west of Leicestershire's boundary with Lincolnshire
. The civil parish of Croxton Kerrial, which includes the outlying hamlet of Branston, had a population of 490 in 2001.
, a Premonstratensian
house, lay within the locality.
of Leicestershire
and Lincolnshire
from a very early time, Croxton Kerrial once formed an ancient parish within the hundred
of Framland
.
From 1894 to 1935, Croxton Kerrial formed part of the Belvoir Rural District
, when it was amalgamated into Melton and Belvoir Rural District
, both of which were within the administrative county
of Leicestershire.
In 1974, as part of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972
, Croxton Kerrial was transferred into the newly-created non-metropolitan district
of Melton, though it remained within the county of Leicestershire.
, and has been used as farmland for centuries.
Nearby places are Knipton
and Harston
(both in Belvoir
parish), Belvoir Castle
, Hungerton (over the border in Lincolnshire
), Eaton
and Sproxton
. South Croxton
is a separate village and civil parish in the Charnwood borough
of Leicestershire, named with reference to its situation south of Croxton Kerrial.
Primary School.
A local landmark is the "Croxton Water Spout", part of an old water system sourced from a local spring which was refurbished in 2003 as part of the Millennium celebrations.
The local Anglican church - part of the Diocese of Leicester
- is dedicated to both Saint Botolph
and Saint John the Baptist
. A Methodist
chapel also exists within the locality.
Southwest of the village (beyond Croxton Park) at is the disused Croxton Park racecourse, a victim of the First World War, its last meeting was on 2 April 1914.
Perhaps the most important landmark of Croxton is that of the Wildcat Cricket Pavilion. Built in 1810, this building is a testament to time for it is noted that no renovations or repair work have ever been required, despite the crisis of 2009 when half the sofas were 'mysteriously' eaten.
As well as football, Croxton also has a Sunday cricket team, the Croxton Wildcats, who play in the GMCA Division 4. Formed in 1980, the current captain of the wildcats is Anthony Richardson and the vice captain Thomas Davey.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Melton borough of 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. It is 6.6 miles (10.6 km) to the southwest of Grantham
Grantham
Grantham is a market town within the South Kesteven district of Lincolnshire, England. It bestrides the East Coast Main Line railway , the historic A1 main north-south road, and the River Witham. Grantham is located approximately south of the city of Lincoln, and approximately east of Nottingham...
and 7.9 miles (12.7 km) northeast of 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...
—0.5 mile (0.80467 km) west of Leicestershire's boundary with Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
. The civil parish of Croxton Kerrial, which includes the outlying hamlet of Branston, had a population of 490 in 2001.
History
In medieval times, Croxton AbbeyCroxton 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....
, a Premonstratensian
Premonstratensian
The Order of Canons Regular of Prémontré, also known as the Premonstratensians, the Norbertines, or in Britain and Ireland as the White Canons , are a Catholic religious order of canons regular founded at Prémontré near Laon in 1120 by Saint Norbert, who later became Archbishop of Magdeburg...
house, lay within the locality.
Governance
Lying across the historic county boundariesHistoric counties of England
The historic counties of England are subdivisions of England established for administration by the Normans and in most cases based on earlier Anglo-Saxon kingdoms and shires...
of 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...
and Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
from a very early time, Croxton Kerrial once formed an ancient parish within the hundred
Hundred (division)
A hundred is a geographic division formerly used in England, Wales, Denmark, South Australia, some parts of the United States, Germany , Sweden, Finland and Norway, which historically was used to divide a larger region into smaller administrative divisions...
of Framland
Framland
Framland was a hundred in north-east Leicestershire, roughly corresponding to today's borough of Melton. It was recorded in the Domesday Book as one of Leicestershire's four wapentakes....
.
From 1894 to 1935, Croxton Kerrial formed part of the Belvoir Rural District
Belvoir Rural District
Belvoir was a rural district in Leicestershire, England from 1894 to 1935.It was formed under the Local Government Act 1894 from the part of the Grantham Rural Sanitary District that was in Leicestershire...
, when it was amalgamated into Melton and Belvoir Rural District
Melton and Belvoir Rural District
Melton and Belvoir Rural District was a rural district of Leicestershire, England, from 1935 to 1974.It was formed in 1935 from the merger of the Melton Mowbray Rural District and the Belvoir Rural District, with part going to Melton Mowbray urban district also.In 1974, under the Local Government...
, both of which were within the administrative county
Administrative counties of England
Administrative counties were a level of subnational division of England used for the purposes of local government from 1889 to 1974. They were created by the Local Government Act 1888 as the areas for which county councils were elected. Some large counties were divided into several administrative...
of Leicestershire.
In 1974, as part of the provisions of the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
, Croxton Kerrial was transferred into the newly-created non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
of Melton, though it remained within the county of Leicestershire.
Geography
Croxton Kerrial can be described as a hilly area, with the highest point within the locality being five hundred feet above sea level. Nearby Branston is much lower in height. Much of the land surrounding Croxton Kerrial is arableArable land
In geography and agriculture, arable land is land that can be used for growing crops. It includes all land under temporary crops , temporary meadows for mowing or pasture, land under market and kitchen gardens and land temporarily fallow...
, and has been used as farmland for centuries.
Nearby places are Knipton
Knipton
Knipton, is a small village in the English county of Leicestershire. It is located around six miles from the town of Grantham just off the A607, and ten miles from Melton Mowbray...
and Harston
Harston
Harston is a village to the south of Cambridge, England.-Harston House:Harston House is a historic private house in Harston. It was formerly known as Harston Hall....
(both in Belvoir
Belvoir, Leicestershire
Belvoir is a village and civil parish in the Melton district of Leicestershire, England. It is close to the county boundary, the nearest town being Grantham in Lincolnshire ....
parish), Belvoir Castle
Belvoir Castle
Belvoir Castle is a stately home in the English county of Leicestershire, overlooking the Vale of Belvoir . It is a Grade I listed building....
, Hungerton (over the border in Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire
Lincolnshire is a county in the east of England. It borders Norfolk to the south east, Cambridgeshire to the south, Rutland to the south west, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire to the west, South Yorkshire to the north west, and the East Riding of Yorkshire to the north. It also borders...
), Eaton
Eaton, Leicestershire
Eaton is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It is situated in the Vale of Belvoir and its current population is about 900 people. Eaton has a church, a village hall, a public house called "The Castle", a children's park and a new village shop...
and Sproxton
Sproxton, Leicestershire
Sproxton is a village and civil parish within the Borough of Melton in Leicestershire, England, close to the border with Lincolnshire. It has a population of 480....
. South Croxton
South Croxton
South Croxton is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It has a population of around 250. Nearby places are Beeby, Barsby and Twyford.-Governance and facilities:...
is a separate village and civil parish in the Charnwood borough
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:...
of Leicestershire, named with reference to its situation south of Croxton Kerrial.
Landmarks
Croxton Kerrial has its own primary school, Croxton Kerrial 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...
Primary School.
A local landmark is the "Croxton Water Spout", part of an old water system sourced from a local spring which was refurbished in 2003 as part of the Millennium celebrations.
The local Anglican church - part of the Diocese of Leicester
Diocese of Leicester
The Diocese of Leicester is a Church of England diocese based in Leicester and including the current county of Leicestershire. The cathedral is Leicester Cathedral, where the Bishop of Leicester has his seat....
- is dedicated to both Saint Botolph
Saint Botolph
Botwulf of Thorney was an English abbot and saint. He is the patron saint of travellers and the various aspects of farming...
and Saint John the Baptist
John the Baptist
John the Baptist was an itinerant preacher and a major religious figure mentioned in the Canonical gospels. He is described in the Gospel of Luke as a relative of Jesus, who led a movement of baptism at the Jordan River...
. A Methodist
Methodism
Methodism is a movement of Protestant Christianity represented by a number of denominations and organizations, claiming a total of approximately seventy million adherents worldwide. The movement traces its roots to John Wesley's evangelistic revival movement within Anglicanism. His younger brother...
chapel also exists within the locality.
Southwest of the village (beyond Croxton Park) at is the disused Croxton Park racecourse, a victim of the First World War, its last meeting was on 2 April 1914.
Perhaps the most important landmark of Croxton is that of the Wildcat Cricket Pavilion. Built in 1810, this building is a testament to time for it is noted that no renovations or repair work have ever been required, despite the crisis of 2009 when half the sofas were 'mysteriously' eaten.
Sport
Croxton Kerrial currently has one senior football team known as AFC Croxton as well as a youth team setup for under 16s sport. All Croxton Kerrial teams play in the Grantham and District Football Leagues or other local youth leagues.As well as football, Croxton also has a Sunday cricket team, the Croxton Wildcats, who play in the GMCA Division 4. Formed in 1980, the current captain of the wildcats is Anthony Richardson and the vice captain Thomas Davey.
External links
- Croxton Kerrial, GENUKI article.
- Croxton Kerrial, a Leicestershirevillages.com community forum.