KELLY’S TRADE DIRECTORY 1881
BILLESDON is a small union town and parish situated in a fertile and pleasant
valley on the road from Leicester to Uppingham. 4miles south-west from Tilton
Station on the great northern and London and north western joint railways. 9miles east
from Leicester station and 10miles west from Uppingham on the turnpike road from
the former to the latter town in the southern division of the county, Gartree hundred
Billesdon Union, Leicester county court district of Leicester, rural deanery of Gartree
(third portion) archdeaconry and diocese of Leicester.
There are three springs which have their sources in this parish, known as the
Billesdon Brooks, two of which join near Port Bridge, about 1half miles on the road
to Leicester.
THE CHURCH of St John The Baptist is an ancient building of stone in the early
English style consisting of chancel, nave aisles, south porch and a western tower, with
lofty spire containing four bells. The building was restored in the year 1865. A
memorial window to Jane Eliz. Schofield was erected in 1871 by the parishioners.
There is a stained west window. There is a tablet in the chancel to Edward Thomas
46years Vicar of this parish who died Dec. 1836 also to Katherine, his wife,
d.Dec.1843.
The REGISTER dates from year 1579. The living is a vicarage with the chapelries of
Goadby and Rolleston The living is a vicarage, with the chapelries of Goadby and
Rolleston. Joint yearly value£420 including 156 acres of glebe and in the gift of the
late Henry Green and held by the Rev. Wm Greville Hazlerigge of Pembroke College
Oxford.
A cemetery was formed in 1870 under the control of the Burial Board and consists of
one acre. Here are chapels for General and Particular Baptists and Wesleyans. The
charities amount to about £70 yearly. The church feast is on the Sunday after 21
June. There are almshouses for four poor widows who receive £5 each annually.
Brick making is carried on here. In the open space in the town stands an ancient
market cross.The market and the two old fairs are obsolete. There is a fair for cattle
held here on the first Monday in October. There is a public hall erected for and used
as a place of meeting for the Ancient Order of Foresters and public entertainments. It
will hold 400 people.
Near the village is an ancient Roman mound and encampment covering several acres.
The Coplow (on the south side of which is the noted fox cover) is a splendid seat
belonging to Major Charles Thomas Freer J.P. It stands about one mile north of the
village on a height, commanding an extensive prospect over a delightful country; and
is surrounded by handsome grounds and plantations, sheltered from the north by a
wood known as “Coplow Hill.”
Sir Frederick Thomas Fowke of Lowesby Hall and Major Charles Thomas Freer of
The Coplow are joint LORDS OF THE MANOR. The principal landowners are
Major C.T.Freer, Osmond Hunt and the trustees of Thomas Stokes.
The soil is stiff, heavy clay and loan, subsoil clay.
The acreage including Goadby and Rolleston is 4,430 rateable value £4,693.3s.2d.
The population in 1881 was 839 in the township and 1,010 in the parish.
PARISH CLERK: Wm Lewin.
POST: Money Order: LETTERS ARRIVE through Leicester at 6.20a.m. delivered
at 7am and despatched 7.40pm. Letters delivered in morning are delivered at the
following villages: Old Frisby, Gaulby, Norton, Illston, Rolleston, Cold Newton,
Lowesby, Tilton, Hallstead, Marfield.
INSURANCE AGENT: Prudential: George Brown.
National School: James Neville, master. Mrs. James Neville, Mistress.
Clerk to the Burial Board: for Billesdon & Rolleston: W. Lewin.
Cemetery Keeper: Wm. Lewin.
BILLESDON UNION.
The Billesdon Union comprises the following parishes. Alexton. Billesdon. Burton
Overy. Bushby. Carlton Curlieu. Cold Newton. East Norton. Evington. Frisby.
Gaulby. Glen Magna. Goadby. Great Stretton. Halstead. Houghton/Hill.
Humberstone. Hungarton. Illston/Hill. Keyham. Kings Norton. Little Stretton.
Loddington. Lowesby. Marefield. Newton Harcourt. Nosely. Owston. Rolleston.
Scraptoft. Skeffington. Stoughton. Thurnby. Tilton. Tugby. Whatborough. Wistow.
Wilthcote. Cross estimated rental £110,830. Rateable value £104.832. The union
house is situated on the north side of the town. It is a well arranged red brick building
which holds 100 inmates.
BOARD DAY: Alternative Mondays.
Clerk to Guardians: Thomas Ingram, Leicester.
Assistant Overseers: Thom.Taylor.
James Bathgate Robertson – Humberstone.
Returning Officer:Thomas Kerr Hamby, Billesdon.
Vet Officer: George Harrison, Thurnby.
Medical Officers: Wm. Francis Franks.
John Merryman Fowkes, Great Glen.
Robert Samuel Mutch, Leicester.
Superintendent Registrar: Thomas Ingram.
Registrar of Births, d/m: George Harrison.
Workhouse: W.F.Franks, Master.
Surgeon: Rev. Wm Greville Hazlerigg. – chaplain.
Mrs. Eliz Horspool – matron.
RURAL SANITARY AUTHORITY
Clerk: Thomas Ingram, Leicester.
Medical Officer – Charles ArthurMoore.
Inspec. Of Nuisances – George Harrison, Thurnby.
CARRIERS TO LEICESTER: Christopher Granger.
M.W.F.S. Several passing through.
PRIVATE RESIDENTS
Rev.James Benjamin Raynard (curate)
Wm Francis Franks
Major Charles Thomas Freer.
Rev. Wm.Greville Hazlerigge. (Vicar)
Jeffrey, George.
The Hon.Alan Joseph Pennington, The White Hall.
Mrs. Porter
Mrs. Pratt.
Mrs. Tomlin, The Lodge.
Edward Williams.
COMMERCIAL
Henry Allen, farmer & grazier.
Mrs. Eliza Ballard, The Mount.
Wm. Barnes, builder & contractor.
John Bent, bricklayer.
James Frederick Beresford – draper, clothier, boot & shoe dealer &
Agent for W.Gilbey, wine merchants.
Mrs. Eliz Bishop – The White Hart
George Brown, agent to Prudential.
Thomas Bryan, cattle dealer.
Edmund Collins – boot maker.
Miss Sarah Cox – dress maker.
John Eales – grazier.
Edwin Ellis – saddle & harness maker.
Fielding – Farmer & grazier.
Franks & Williams – surgeons
THOMAS GOODWIN – NEW GREYHOUND INN
Christopher Granger – carrier.
Wm Granger – cab proprieter.
Mrs. Eleanor Hamby – young ladies boarding & day school.
Thomas Hamby – relieving officer.
John Hawley – baker & grocer.
Lionel Humphrey – grocer, ironmonger, general dealer &
Rare collector & post office.
Samuel Ireland – butcher.
Charles Joseph Y. Lee – carpenter & wheelwright.
Wm Lewin – plumber & grazier.
Wm Loseby – bricklayer.
Mayfield & Son – builders & contractors.
Joseph Miles – grazier &overseer.
Thomas Edward Miles – butcher.
Joseph Webster Ogden – farmer & grazier.
Harry Oldham – plumber.
Thos. Payne – blacksmith & shoeing smith.
John Pick – boot & shoe & shopkeeper.
THOMAS PLUMB – QUEEN’S HEAD INN
Thomas Hutton Potter – cooper & animal & bird preserver.
Chas.Albert Sharpe – grocer.
Sharpe & Ward – brick & tile makers.
Charles Skinner – grazier.
Wm Slawson – tailor.
James Smith – grazier.
Wm Smith – grazier.
Francis Stafford – Grazier & overseerer.
Thomas Stableford – carpenter.
George Stephen Sturgess – farrier.
John Swift – Tailor.
Benjamin Taylor – boot & shoe maker.
TOM TAYLOR – OLD GREYHOUND INN
Wm Toon – nurseryman
John Wakerly – grazier
Richard Watchorn – grazier.
John Watkins – blacksmith
Joseph Watts – grazier.
Fredk Widdowson – sergeant of POLICE.
Wigginton John & Co – timber merchants.
Woodcock, John Valentine – boot & shoe.
John Wright – butcher.
(ALISON KEAY/
June 2007)