Broughton Astley
Encyclopedia
Broughton Astley is a large village and civil parish
in the Harborough
district of Leicestershire
, England
. It is situated in the south west of Leicestershire, about 6 miles (10 km) east of Hinckley
and about 9 miles (14 km) from the centre of Leicester
.
Broughton Astley in turn is made up of two different villages that were previously separate. They were Primethorpe and Broughton. Until recently there were still signs in the old Primethorpe area that still said "Primethorpe" such as Primethorpe post office that was still trading with that name decades after the two villages merged..
Sutton-in-the-Elms,although part of the parish, is separated from Broughton Astley by the B581 Broughton Way bypass, and consequently retains its own separate identity.
The population census report of 1991 shows 6,487 residents. Its population is growing rapidly as a result of housing development, reaching around 10,000 at present.
Broughton is also home to Thomas Estley Community College. It hosts a wide range of night school classes and sporting activities. The community college is named after the man who first suggested combining Broughton and Primethorpe in the 18th century.
There is now a small estate for light industry, small manufacturing businesses.
The majority of employment is now found outside the village, for example, in the Coventry, Hinckley and Leicester town areas.
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...
in the Harborough
Harborough
Harborough is a local government district of Leicestershire, England, named after its main town, Market Harborough. Covering , the District is by far the largest of the eight district authorities in Leicestershire and covers almost a quarter of the County....
district 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...
. It is situated in the south west of Leicestershire, about 6 miles (10 km) east of Hinckley
Hinckley
Hinckley is a town in southwest Leicestershire, England. It has a population of 43,246 . It is administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council...
and about 9 miles (14 km) from the centre of Leicester
Leicester
Leicester is a city and unitary authority in the East Midlands of England, and the county town of Leicestershire. The city lies on the River Soar and at the edge of the National Forest...
.
History
The parish of Broughton Astley consists of the villages of Broughton Astley and Sutton-in-the-Elms.Broughton Astley in turn is made up of two different villages that were previously separate. They were Primethorpe and Broughton. Until recently there were still signs in the old Primethorpe area that still said "Primethorpe" such as Primethorpe post office that was still trading with that name decades after the two villages merged..
Sutton-in-the-Elms,although part of the parish, is separated from Broughton Astley by the B581 Broughton Way bypass, and consequently retains its own separate identity.
Residents
In 1086, the combined area had under 200 inhabitants. The exact number is not known but it is probably closer to 130 than to 200. By 1800 there were about 450 people and by 1900 about 1,200. The rapid expansion after 1800 follows the development of industry, mainly machine knitting on hand-operated frames.The population census report of 1991 shows 6,487 residents. Its population is growing rapidly as a result of housing development, reaching around 10,000 at present.
Education
Broughton Astley has three Primary Schools spread around the village. One is Orchard Primary School which is situatated in the old "Primethorpe" area. The second is Old Mill Primary School which is the link of the village. The last is Hallbrook Primary School which is a new school not more than 20 years old in the New "Hall Farm" part of the village.Broughton is also home to Thomas Estley Community College. It hosts a wide range of night school classes and sporting activities. The community college is named after the man who first suggested combining Broughton and Primethorpe in the 18th century.
Employment
For more than a thousand years the area was agricultural. Then came the knitting/hosiery industry, after about 1750. Later still there was some brickmaking, tailoring and shoemaking.There is now a small estate for light industry, small manufacturing businesses.
The majority of employment is now found outside the village, for example, in the Coventry, Hinckley and Leicester town areas.
Local magazines
- "Broughton Matters" is produced by Broughton Astley Parish Council to let people know about upcoming events.
- "An Advert To Offer" the preferred weekly produced publication. http://www.design2printing.co.uk/advert_to_offer_south.php
- The "Swift Flash" is a local weekly magazine.