Britannia Fields
Encyclopedia
The Britannia Fields are a public open space
at in Britannia Road, Burbage, Leicestershire
.
The Fields land was once part of the ancient three field system which operated in Burbage during Medieval times
. The hedge row at the western hedge of the field represented one boundary and is one of the oldest hedges in Burbage at least 600 years.
By 1838 on the tithe map of the village, number 651, the land was owned by Joseph Freeman, who gave his name to Freeman’s lane. This was pasture land known as Home Close which measured 2 acres 3 rods 22 poles (2.89 acres (11,695.4 m²)) and was let to Thomas Dowell. 18 shillings and 1d (£0.90) was paid in tithes to the church.
In the 1930s the area was used as playing fields for various local football teams.
Britannia Buildings was originally a hosiery factory of Moore, Eady Murcott & Goode built on the edge of the land c1890s.
At the start of World War II
the building was requisitioned and was home to a number of squadrons including a medical corps. Later a tank battalion which practised battle exercises on the playing fields. The most significant guests were the 307 Airborne Engineers of the U.S.A. 82 Airborne Division who were housed and trained here from Feb to June 1944 prior to the D Day landings. They often trained and played baseball on the field. Some of the survivors’ visited the site in June 2004 for the 60th D Day Anniversary.
A number of temporary wood huts were erected as barracks for the troops which after the war were used as temporary housing up to early 1950s when they were finally demolished.
In 1951 these buildings were converted to a territorial barracks for D squadron Prince Albert’s own Leicestershire Yeomanry
which used the area for training.
By the 1970s the barracks had become Britannia Buildings and houses a number of small businesses.
Currently the area is used mainly for community events such as carnivals, fireworks, rugby, scouting and young children's play. The yearly summer carnival which is held on the Britannia fields, is organised by the Burbage carnival committee, whose purpose is to raise funds to donate to local good causes. This has been a very popular community event and has caused in over 1/2 million pounds for good causes. The carnival committee also runs the Burbage bonfire and fireworks display held on Britannia fields - all to support local charities.
Public open space
Public Open Space is often referred to by urban planners and landscape architects by the acronym 'POS'. It has a meaning similar to public park, but varied interpretations of the term are possible.'Public' can mean:...
at in Britannia Road, Burbage, Leicestershire
Burbage, Leicestershire
Burbage is a civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It is a southern suburb of the town of Hinckley. According to the United Kingdom Census 2001 the parish had a population of 14,324.-History:...
.
The Fields land was once part of the ancient three field system which operated in Burbage during Medieval times
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
. The hedge row at the western hedge of the field represented one boundary and is one of the oldest hedges in Burbage at least 600 years.
By 1838 on the tithe map of the village, number 651, the land was owned by Joseph Freeman, who gave his name to Freeman’s lane. This was pasture land known as Home Close which measured 2 acres 3 rods 22 poles (2.89 acres (11,695.4 m²)) and was let to Thomas Dowell. 18 shillings and 1d (£0.90) was paid in tithes to the church.
In the 1930s the area was used as playing fields for various local football teams.
Britannia Buildings was originally a hosiery factory of Moore, Eady Murcott & Goode built on the edge of the land c1890s.
At the start of World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
the building was requisitioned and was home to a number of squadrons including a medical corps. Later a tank battalion which practised battle exercises on the playing fields. The most significant guests were the 307 Airborne Engineers of the U.S.A. 82 Airborne Division who were housed and trained here from Feb to June 1944 prior to the D Day landings. They often trained and played baseball on the field. Some of the survivors’ visited the site in June 2004 for the 60th D Day Anniversary.
A number of temporary wood huts were erected as barracks for the troops which after the war were used as temporary housing up to early 1950s when they were finally demolished.
In 1951 these buildings were converted to a territorial barracks for D squadron Prince Albert’s own Leicestershire Yeomanry
Leicestershire Yeomanry
The Leicestershire Yeomanry was a yeomanry regiment of the British Army, first raised in 1794 and again in 1803, which provided cavalry and mounted infantry in the South African War and First World War and provided two field artillery regiments of the Royal Artillery in the Second World War,...
which used the area for training.
By the 1970s the barracks had become Britannia Buildings and houses a number of small businesses.
Currently the area is used mainly for community events such as carnivals, fireworks, rugby, scouting and young children's play. The yearly summer carnival which is held on the Britannia fields, is organised by the Burbage carnival committee, whose purpose is to raise funds to donate to local good causes. This has been a very popular community event and has caused in over 1/2 million pounds for good causes. The carnival committee also runs the Burbage bonfire and fireworks display held on Britannia fields - all to support local charities.