Waltham on the Wolds
Encyclopedia
Waltham on the Wolds is a village located in the civil parish
of Waltham and Thorpe Arnold, in the Melton borough of Leicestershire
, England
, about 5 miles (8 km) northeast of Melton Mowbray
and 11 miles (17.7 km) south-west of Grantham
on the A607 road.
, and is the site of the Waltham television transmitting station
, which serves most of the East Midlands
. Apart from the main village, the parish also includes the village of Thorpe Arnold
, which is just to the northeast of Melton. To the southeast is Stonesby
, which is nearer to the 1033 ft (314.9 m) transmitter. The village is on a ridge which has an escarpment close to the north-west that dramatically overlooks the Vale of Belvoir
.
where it is listed amongst the lands given to Hugh de Grandmesnil
by the King
. There was 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of meadow and land for 11 ploughs. It was valued at six pounds.
The village had a railway station
one mile (1.6 km) north of the village which opened in 1883 as a branch line from Scalford
, but was only used sparingly for special occasions such as events at Croxton Park
. The line, owned by GNR
, was used mainly for nearby iron ore works near Knipton
, and the line's remains are still visible.
(previously Masterfoods UK), and the much-advertised Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition which carries out research into effect of diet on cats, dogs and horses (for Spillers).
is built of a local, honey-coloured ironstone also used for several other churches in the district (e. g. at South Croxton
). On February 27 2008, the church spire was badly damaged by the 2008 Lincolnshire earthquake
. The top 30 ft (9.1 m) of it had to be rebuilt, at an estimated cost of around £100,000. The work was completed in 2009.
The Church of England
primary school has a pre-school attached to it, which received the grade of outstanding in a 2011 inspection by Ofsted
.
Village pubs are the Marquis of Granby in the High Street and the Royal Horseshoes in Melton Road. The latter, refurbished in 2010, can boast Queen Victoria amongst its customers (hence "Royal"). At the turn of the 19th century there were twelve or more pubs in the village. There is a small village shop with a post office, and a delicatessen.
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...
of Waltham and Thorpe Arnold, 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
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, about 5 miles (8 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...
and 11 miles (17.7 km) south-west 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...
on the A607 road.
Geography
The parish had a population of about 967 as of the United Kingdom Census 2001United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, and is the site of the Waltham television transmitting station
Waltham transmitting station
The Waltham transmitting station is a broadcasting and telecommunications facilityat Waltham-on-the-Wolds, 5 miles north-east of Melton Mowbray. It sits inside the Waltham civil parish near Stonesby, in the district of Melton, Leicestershire, UK. It has a guyed steel tubular mast...
, which serves most of the East Midlands
East Midlands
The East Midlands is one of the regions of England, consisting of most of the eastern half of the traditional region of the Midlands. It encompasses the combined area of Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Rutland, Northamptonshire and most of Lincolnshire...
. Apart from the main village, the parish also includes the village of Thorpe Arnold
Thorpe Arnold
Thorpe Arnold is a village in the English county of Leicestershire. Situated on the top of a hill close to the town of Melton Mowbray, Thorpe Arnold is a small farming village with roots going back to before its first recorded mention in the Domesday Book of 1086...
, which is just to the northeast of Melton. To the southeast is Stonesby
Stonesby
Stonesby is a small village within the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is northeast of Melton Mowbray, and southeast of Waltham on the Wolds....
, which is nearer to the 1033 ft (314.9 m) transmitter. The village is on a ridge which has an escarpment close to the north-west that dramatically overlooks the Vale of Belvoir
Vale of Belvoir
The Vale of Belvoir is an area of natural beauty on the borders of Leicestershire, Nottinghamshire and Lincolnshire in England. Indeed, the name itself derives from the Norman-French for beautiful view.-Extent and geology:...
.
History
One of the earliest mentions of this place is in the Domesday bookDomesday 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...
where it is listed amongst the lands given to 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...
by the King
William I of England
William I , also known as William the Conqueror , was the first Norman King of England from Christmas 1066 until his death. He was also Duke of Normandy from 3 July 1035 until his death, under the name William II...
. There was 100 acre (0.404686 km²) of meadow and land for 11 ploughs. It was valued at six pounds.
The village had a railway station
Waltham on the Wolds railway station
Waltham on the Wolds railway station was a railway station serving the village of Waltham on the Wolds, Leicestershire. The station was on a branch line built by the Great Northern Railway from the Great Northern and London and North Western Joint Railway at Scalford to exploit ironstone deposits...
one mile (1.6 km) north of the village which opened in 1883 as a branch line from Scalford
Scalford railway station
Scalford railway station was a railway station serving the village of Scalford, Leicestershire on the Great Northern and London and North Western Joint Railway. It opened in 1879 and closed to regular traffic in 1953. It was the junction for a branch line to Waltham on the Wolds which was built to...
, but was only used sparingly for special occasions such as events at Croxton Park
Croxton Kerrial
Croxton Kerrial is a village and civil parish in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England. It is to the southwest of Grantham and northeast of Melton Mowbray— west of Leicestershire's boundary with Lincolnshire...
. The line, owned by GNR
Great Northern Railway (Great Britain)
The Great Northern Railway was a British railway company established by the Great Northern Railway Act of 1846. On 1 January 1923 the company lost its identity as a constituent of the newly formed London and North Eastern Railway....
, was used mainly for nearby iron ore works near 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 the line's remains are still visible.
Waltham Centre
Waltham-on-the-Wolds is also known for its connection with MarsPedigree Petfoods
Pedigree Petfoods is a subsidiary of the american group Mars, Incorporated specializing in pet food, with factories in Great Britain at Melton Mowbray, Peterborough and Birstall, Leeds; and offices at Waltham-on-the-Wolds.-Manchester:...
(previously Masterfoods UK), and the much-advertised Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition which carries out research into effect of diet on cats, dogs and horses (for Spillers).
Amenities
The parish church, dedicated to St Mary MagdaleneMary Magdalene
Mary Magdalene was one of Jesus' most celebrated disciples, and the most important woman disciple in the movement of Jesus. Jesus cleansed her of "seven demons", conventionally interpreted as referring to complex illnesses...
is built of a local, honey-coloured ironstone also used for several other churches in the district (e. g. at 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:...
). On February 27 2008, the church spire was badly damaged by the 2008 Lincolnshire earthquake
2008 Lincolnshire earthquake
The 2008 Lincolnshire earthquake struck Lincolnshire, in the United Kingdom, on 27 February 2008 at 00:56:47.8s GMT. According to the British Geological Survey, the quake registered a reading of 5.2 on the Richter scale with the epicentre 2.5 miles north of Market Rasen and 15 miles ...
. The top 30 ft (9.1 m) of it had to be rebuilt, at an estimated cost of around £100,000. The work was completed in 2009.
The Church of England
Church 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 has a pre-school attached to it, which received the grade of outstanding in a 2011 inspection by Ofsted
Ofsted
The Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills is the non-ministerial government department of Her Majesty's Chief Inspector of Schools In England ....
.
Village pubs are the Marquis of Granby in the High Street and the Royal Horseshoes in Melton Road. The latter, refurbished in 2010, can boast Queen Victoria amongst its customers (hence "Royal"). At the turn of the 19th century there were twelve or more pubs in the village. There is a small village shop with a post office, and a delicatessen.