Supriya Ghosh (Editor)

Countesthorpe

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Population
  
6,377 (2011)

Region
  
East Midlands

Sovereign state
  
United Kingdom

Local time
  
Tuesday 9:00 AM

District
  
Blaby District

UK parliament constituency
  
Blaby

OS grid reference
  
SP585954

Country
  
England

Post town
  
Leicester

Shire county
  
Leicestershire

Dialling code
  
0116

Countesthorpe

Weather
  
5°C, Wind W at 13 km/h, 87% Humidity

Countesthorpe and surrounding area


Countesthorpe is a large village and civil parish in the Leicestershire district of Blaby, with a population of 6,393 (2001 census, falling slightly to 6,377 at the 2011 census. It lies to the south of Leicester, and is about six miles from the city centre, but only two miles south of the suburb of South Wigston. Nearby places are Blaby and South Wigston to the north, Kilby to the east, Peatling Magna and Willoughby Waterleys to the south, and Broughton Astley, Cosby and Whetstone to the west. According to the 1066 census it had a population of 6.

Contents

Map of Countesthorpe, Leicester, UK

The name Countesthorpe originates from the 11th century when the area was part of the marriage dowry of the Countess Judith niece of William the Conqueror. The 'thorpe' part of the name is a variant of the Middle English word thorp, meaning hamlet or small village.

The parish church of St. Andrew was started in 1220 by the family of Lord William of Ludbrook. It was restored in 1840 and again in 1907. The 14th century tower still remains.

The village has three public houses:

  • The Axe and Square
  • The Bull's Head and
  • The Railway,
  • Another public house, the King William IV was turned into a Tesco Express in 2013.

    It also has an award winning Indian Restaurant "Dine India", which was mentioned in the national press by patrons Kasabian.

    The village is twinned with the town of Mennecy in France.

    Aerial photos of countesthorpe community college


    Education

    Countesthorpe has a primary school called Greenfield Primary, a high school named Leysland High School, and a college called Countesthorpe Community College which was attended by the popular music group Kasabian. Leysland High School and Countesthorpe Community College are part of the same multi-academy trust and are in the process of becoming a single 11-19 school in September 2016 under the name Countesthorpe Leysland Community College.

    Notable residents

  • Harvey Barnes - Professional footballer
  • William Buckingham, VC, First World War soldier.
  • Rosemary Conley – author and broadcaster on exercise and health.
  • Maurice Tompkin – first class cricketer and professional footballer.
  • References

    Countesthorpe Wikipedia