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Charnwood (borough)
Encyclopedia
Charnwood is a borough
of northern Leicestershire
, England
. It is named after Charnwood Forest
, which it contains. Loughborough
is the largest town in the district and serves as the borough's administrative and commercial centre.
of Charnwood was formed on 1 April 1974 as a merger of the municipal borough
of Loughborough
, the Shepshed
urban district
and the Barrow upon Soar Rural District
. It was then granted borough status on 15 May 1974.
The symbol of Charnwood Borough Council is the fox
, historically linked with Leicestershire, and this is also the symbol used by Leicestershire County Council. However Charnwood contains Quorn, which is believed to be the birthplace of fox-hunting.
, about 20 km away from Loughborough. There is a moderately urbanised A6 corridor between the towns and close to the River Soar
, including Quorn
, Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel
, Birstall
, Thurmaston
, Syston
and East Goscote. Shepshed
, to the west of Loughborough, is the other major town in the district.
constituencies covering the district. Charnwood
is represented by the Conservative
Stephen Dorrell
, the former National Heritage Secretary
(1994-5) and Health Secretary
(1995-7) during John Major
's government. Loughborough
is represented by the Conservative Party
's Nicky Morgan
.
Borough
A borough is an administrative division in various countries. In principle, the term borough designates a self-governing township although, in practice, official use of the term varies widely....
of northern 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 named after Charnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest
Charnwood Forest is an upland tract in north-western Leicestershire, England, bounded by Leicester, Loughborough, and Coalville. The area is undulating, rocky and picturesque, with barren areas. It also has some extensive tracts of woodland; its elevation is generally 600 ft and upwards, the area...
, which it contains. Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
is the largest town in the district and serves as the borough's administrative and commercial centre.
History
The districtNon-metropolitan district
Non-metropolitan districts, or colloquially shire districts, are a type of local government district in England. As created, they are sub-divisions of non-metropolitan counties in a so-called "two-tier" arrangement...
of Charnwood was formed on 1 April 1974 as a merger of the municipal borough
Municipal borough
Municipal boroughs were a type of local government district which existed in England and Wales between 1835 and 1974, in Northern Ireland from 1840 to 1973 and in the Republic of Ireland from 1840 to 2002...
of Loughborough
Loughborough
Loughborough is a town within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is the seat of Charnwood Borough Council and is home to Loughborough University...
, the Shepshed
Shepshed
Shepshed, often known until 1888 as Sheepshed, is a town in Leicestershire, England with a population of around 14,000 people...
urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
and the Barrow upon Soar Rural District
Barrow upon Soar Rural District
The rural district of Barrow upon Soar in Leicestershire, England, existed from 1894 to 1974.It was established under the Local Government Act 1894 as a successor to the Barrow Rural Sanitary District, and therefore was also based on the Barrow Poor Law Union....
. It was then granted borough status on 15 May 1974.
The symbol of Charnwood Borough Council is the fox
Fox
Fox is a common name for many species of omnivorous mammals belonging to the Canidae family. Foxes are small to medium-sized canids , characterized by possessing a long narrow snout, and a bushy tail .Members of about 37 species are referred to as foxes, of which only 12 species actually belong to...
, historically linked with Leicestershire, and this is also the symbol used by Leicestershire County Council. However Charnwood contains Quorn, which is believed to be the birthplace of fox-hunting.
Geography
To the south it borders the City of LeicesterLeicester
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...
, about 20 km away from Loughborough. There is a moderately urbanised A6 corridor between the towns and close to the River Soar
River Soar
The River Soar is a tributary of the River Trent in the English East Midlands.-Description:It rises near Hinckley in Leicestershire and is joined by the River Sence near Enderby before flowing through Leicester , Barrow-on-Soar, beside Loughborough and Kegworth, before joining the Trent near...
, including Quorn
Quorn, Leicestershire
Quorn is a village in Leicestershire, England, situated next to the university town of Loughborough. Quorn's name was shortened from Quorndon in 1889, to avoid postal difficulties owing to its similarity to the name of another village, Quarndon, a few miles away. Its original name is said to derive...
, Barrow-on-Soar, Mountsorrel
Mountsorrel
Mountsorrel is a village in Leicestershire on the River Soar, just south of Loughborough with a population in 2001 of 6,662 inhabitants.-Geography:...
, Birstall
Birstall, Leicestershire
Birstall is a large village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is three miles north of the Leicester city centre and is part of the wider Leicester Urban Area....
, Thurmaston
Thurmaston
Thurmaston is a village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. As of the 2001 census its population was 8,945...
, Syston
Syston
Syston is a town and civil parish in the district of Charnwood in Leicestershire, England. The population is 11,508 as of the 2001 Census.-Overview:...
and East Goscote. Shepshed
Shepshed
Shepshed, often known until 1888 as Sheepshed, is a town in Leicestershire, England with a population of around 14,000 people...
, to the west of Loughborough, is the other major town in the district.
Political representation
There are two ParliamentaryParliament of the United Kingdom
The Parliament of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland is the supreme legislative body in the United Kingdom, British Crown dependencies and British overseas territories, located in London...
constituencies covering the district. Charnwood
Charnwood (UK Parliament constituency)
Charnwood is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first past the post system of election....
is represented by the Conservative
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
Stephen Dorrell
Stephen Dorrell
Stephen James Dorrell is a British politician. A member of the Conservative Party, he served in the Cabinet of Prime Minister John Major as Secretary of State for National Heritage and Secretary of State for Health...
, the former National Heritage Secretary
Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport
The Secretary of State for Culture, Olympics, Media and Sport is a United Kingdom cabinet position with responsibility for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport. The role was created in 1992 by John Major as Secretary of State for National Heritage...
(1994-5) and Health Secretary
Secretary of State for Health
Secretary of State for Health is a UK cabinet position responsible for the Department of Health.The first Boards of Health were created by Orders in Council dated 21 June, 14 November, and 21 November 1831. In 1848 a General Board of Health was created with the First Commissioner of Woods and...
(1995-7) during John Major
John Major
Sir John Major, is a British Conservative politician, who served as Prime Minister of the United Kingdom and Leader of the Conservative Party from 1990–1997...
's government. Loughborough
Loughborough (UK Parliament constituency)
Loughborough is a county constituency represented in the House of Commons of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It elects one Member of Parliament by the first-past-the-post system of election.-Boundaries:...
is represented by the Conservative Party
Conservative Party (UK)
The Conservative Party, formally the Conservative and Unionist Party, is a centre-right political party in the United Kingdom that adheres to the philosophies of conservatism and British unionism. It is the largest political party in the UK, and is currently the largest single party in the House...
's Nicky Morgan
Nicky Morgan (politician)
Nicola Ann Morgan is a British Conservative Party politician and the Member of Parliament for Loughborough.-Background:...
.
Demographics
Charnwood is the largest borough by population in Leicestershire, and has the largest school population as well.Parishes
- AnsteyAnstey, LeicestershireAnstey is a large semi-industrialised village in Leicestershire, England, located north west of Leicester in the borough of Charnwood. Its population was about 6,000 at the 2001 census although this is likely to have increased...
- BarkbyBarkbyBarkby is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is situated on the Barkby Brook, north-east of Leicester, and only a short way from Leicester's urban sprawl in Thurmaston and Syston. Nearby villages are Beeby and Barkby Thorpe. The parish has a...
, Barkby ThorpeBarkby ThorpeBarkby Thorpe is a hamlet and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. The parish has a population of around 50, and is close to the Leicester urban sprawl in Thurmaston. It contains the abandoned village of Hamilton. Nearby villages are Barkby and Beeby....
, Barrow upon SoarBarrow upon SoarBarrow upon Soar is a large village in northern Leicestershire, in the Soar Valley between Leicester and Loughborough. It has a population of around 5,000 and is part of the Charnwood local government district....
, BeebyBeebyBeeby is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England, with a population of about 100. It is situated north-east of Leicester, nearer to the villages of Keyham and Hungarton in the neighbouring district of Harborough. The village lies on the Barkby Brook. The...
, BirstallBirstall, LeicestershireBirstall is a large village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is three miles north of the Leicester city centre and is part of the wider Leicester Urban Area....
, Burton on the WoldsBurton on the WoldsBurton on the Wolds is a village situated on the B676 road west of the A46 in Leicestershire and has a population of around 800. The Parish Council of Burton on the Wolds, Cotes and Prestwold serves the village and its two neighbouring hamlets... - CossingtonCossington, Leicestershirethumb|right|Cossington parish churchCossington is a village within the Soar Valley in Leicestershire. It lies between Sileby, Rothley, Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake and Syston....
, CotesCotes, LeicestershireCotes is a hamlet and very small civil parish near the town of Loughborough in Leicestershire, England, with a population of about 50.It lies on the River Soar, and Cotes Bridge provides the main bridging point in that area. The A60 Trunk Road goes over Cotes Bridge on its way out of Loughborough... - East Goscote
- HathernHathernHathern is a large village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. The village itself is located in the north of the district, and is just north of Loughborough. It is served by the A6. The parish has a population of about 1,800. Nearby places are Dishley, Long...
, HotonHotonHoton is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. The parish has a population of around 350. It is on the A60, north-east of Loughborough. The village is just south of the border with Nottinghamshire. Nearby places are Prestwold , Wymeswold , and... - MountsorrelMountsorrelMountsorrel is a village in Leicestershire on the River Soar, just south of Loughborough with a population in 2001 of 6,662 inhabitants.-Geography:...
- Newtown LinfordNewtown LinfordNewtown Linford is a linear village in Leicestershire, England.It is located in a valley in the Charnwood Forest area, and has four access roads. The first is from Anstey, then there are roads which lead to the A50 at Groby and at Markfield...
- PrestwoldPrestwoldthumb|right|Prestwold HallPrestwold is a hamlet and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. The parish has a population of around 60. Nearby places are Hoton, just to the north, and Burton on the Wolds, to the south-east....
- QueniboroughQueniboroughQueniborough is a village in the county of Leicestershire, United Kingdom just north of Syston and to the north of Leicester with 972 properties in the village and 1,878 registered electors . Due to its proximity to Leicester it forms part of the Leicester Urban Area...
, QuornQuorn, LeicestershireQuorn is a village in Leicestershire, England, situated next to the university town of Loughborough. Quorn's name was shortened from Quorndon in 1889, to avoid postal difficulties owing to its similarity to the name of another village, Quarndon, a few miles away. Its original name is said to derive... - Ratcliffe on the WreakeRatcliffe on the WreakeRatcliffe on the Wreake is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is just to the north of the River Wreake, opposite East Goscote....
, RearsbyRearsbyRearsby is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. The parish has a population of about 1,000. It is on the A607 road between Leicester and Melton Mowbray, and is just south of the River Wreake. Nearby places are East Goscote, Thrussington and Rotherby...
, RothleyRothley, LeicestershireRothley is a village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. Situated around west of the River Soar and north of the city of Leicester, it has a population of 3,612 inhabitants.... - SeagraveSeagraveSeagrave is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It has a population of around 500. It is north of Sileby and close to Thrussington and Barrow upon Soar....
, ShepshedShepshedShepshed, often known until 1888 as Sheepshed, is a town in Leicestershire, England with a population of around 14,000 people...
, SilebySilebySileby is a former industrial village and civil parish in the Soar Valley in Leicestershire, between Leicester and Loughborough. Nearby villages include Barrow upon Soar, Mountsorrel, Ratcliffe-on-the-Wreake, Seagrave and Cossington....
, South CroxtonSouth CroxtonSouth Croxton is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It has a population of around 250. Nearby places are Beeby, Barsby and Twyford.-Governance and facilities:...
, SwithlandSwithlandSwithland is a linear village in the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. It is in the old Charnwood Forest, between Cropston and Woodhouse and Woodhouse Eaves. Although small, it has a village hall, a parish church, and a pub. The village is known for the slate that was quarried in the...
, SystonSystonSyston is a town and civil parish in the district of Charnwood in Leicestershire, England. The population is 11,508 as of the 2001 Census.-Overview:... - ThrussingtonThrussingtonThrussington is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is on the River Wreake, near to Rearsby, Ratcliffe on the Wreake, Hoby and Brooksby, and not far from the path of the Fosse Way-Events:...
, Thurcaston and CropstonThurcaston and CropstonThurcaston and Cropston is a civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It consists of the villages of Thurcaston and Cropston. The parish had a population at the 2001 Census of 2,076, with around 1,200 in Cropston and 800 in Thurcaston....
, ThurmastonThurmastonThurmaston is a village and civil parish within the Charnwood borough of Leicestershire, England. As of the 2001 census its population was 8,945... - UlverscroftUlverscroftUlverscroft is a civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire. It has a population of about 100. There is no village by the name, but there was previously an Ulverscroft Priory....
- Walton on the WoldsWalton on the WoldsWalton on the Wolds is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It has a population of around 250. It is near to Burton on the Wolds and Barrow upon Soar. It was the location of one series of Boon, starring Neil Morrissey...
, WanlipWanlipWanlip is a small village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, with 68 properties and a population of about 150. It is a countryside village, north of Birstall, and west of Watermead Country Park and the River Soar. The A46 road runs directly past the village...
, WoodhouseWoodhouse (parish), LeicestershireWoodhouse is a civil parish in Leicestershire, England. It consists of the village of Woodhouse and the larger village of Woodhouse Eaves....
, WymeswoldWymeswoldWymeswold is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is in the north of Leicestershire, and north-east of Loughborough. It has a population of about 1,000...