Population 448 (2011) Civil parish Normanton on Soar Country England Local time Friday 10:58 AM District Rushcliffe UK parliament constituency Rushcliffe | OS grid reference SK520228 Region East Midlands Sovereign state United Kingdom Shire county Nottinghamshire Dialling code 01509 | |
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Weather 13°C, Wind S at 19 km/h, 75% Humidity | ||
Normanton on Soar (/ˈnɔːrməntən ən ˈsɔːr/), formerly known as Normanton-upon-Soar and known locally as Normanton, is a village and civil parish in the south of Nottinghamshire in England near the River Soar. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 448. Nearby villages include Zouch, Sutton Bonington, and Stanford on Soar.
Contents
Map of Normanton on Soar, Loughborough, UK
Description
The ancient parish of Normanton on Soar occupies 1,449 acres about 13 miles south-west of Nottingham. The post town for Normanton is Loughborough leading to the confusion of being in Nottinghamshire but with a Leicestershire post code.
The 1881 census reported that the village had 322 inhabitants. The village is now home to between 450 and 500 inhabitants.
The Lordship of the Manor of Normanton on Soar is currently held since 1995 by John and Enid Burnett as Lord and Lady of the Manor of Normanton on Soar. The Official History Project of everything to do with the Parish is conducted under the direction of the Lord and Lady and the High Steward Ivan J Manning QStJ Esq.
Heritage
Normanton on Soar appears several times in the Domesday survey of 1086 as Normantune and Normantun. The village has a Grade I Listed Church along with four other Grade II listed buildings, all on Main Street: The Old Post Office (75 Main Street), Dovecote at Rangraak, Home Farmhouse and Ivy Cottage.
The medieval Grade I Listed church, Church of St. James, was built in the 13th century. Located in the south of the village, on Main Street, it is situated on the east bank of the River Soar. The C.15th century timber roof was noted for being of “excellent design” in 1910. Also of note are the royal coat-of-arms of Charles II, dated 1683, which sit above the chancel arch. In April 2014 work was completed rebuilding and re-pointing the spire. Within the Church there is a bronze war memorial dedicated to the lives of villagers lost in World War One. The priest in charge also serves the neighbouring parish of Sutton Bonington. There are regular weekly services, with the village choir attending on the first Sunday of each month. The Church is kept open for the public during the day on Saturday and Sunday.
The Old Post Office, on Main Street, is a Grade II listed thatched cruck cottage dating from 1454. It is the oldest house in Normanton and the only lived in cruck building in Nottinghamshire.
The Chain Ferry is located in the south of the village and was mentioned earliest on a map from 1771. It is believed to be the only remaining ferry of its type. In 1981 responsibility for the maintenance of the Ferry was transferred from the Paget Estate to the Parish Council. Recently the Ferry has been advertised for limited crossings by appointment.
The old telephone box is now used to house a defribullator which can be accessed in case of an emergency.
In June 2012 a memorial plaque was unveiled on the playing fields remembering the crash of a Wellington Bomber in the village on 19 April 1944 during a training exercise. Four members of the Royal Air Force were killed.
Amenities
The Village Hall, built in 2007, is located south within the village and is available for hire. The community shop is run by volunteers and is located at the rear of the Village Hall. The shop is open Monday to Friday and Saturday morning. The Village Hall is surrounded by 5 acres of playing fields with an outdoor children’s play area. The village allotments are located behind the Village Hall.
Within the village there is a small primary school, located on Main Street, catering for children aged between three and eleven. In its most recent Ofsted report (2013) the school was rated as Good.
The Soar Boating Club is a private members club which was founded in the spring of 1953. In 1961 the club acquired its current position on Main Street. The club has a membership of around 100 boats and holds its main annual rally over the spring bank holiday.
The village has a pub, located on Main Street, called the Plough Inn. The pub is positioned along the river bank and offers free moorings. Next to the Plough Inn, but separate, Soar Lane offers access to a slipway for launching river craft.
The village is served by the Skylink bus service, operated by Trent Barton, which can be taken from the edge of the village on the A6006. The village is also served by the volunteer-run Soar Valley Bus service which can be taken from within the village. Both bus services provide regular journeys to Loughborough and Nottingham.