Glen Parva
Encyclopedia
Glen Parva is a civil parish
in Leicestershire
with a population of over 5,000. To the north it runs into Aylestone
, and to the east Eyres Monsell
and South Wigston
. To the south and west it is not immediately surrounded by development.
It is a largely residential area with no main shopping or leisure centres, although it is situated next to Fosse Shopping Park, which is one of Britain's largest out-of-town shopping parks. There are a few small shops located in Glen Parva itself, mainly being located at 'Carvers Corner'. Here there is a Newsagent, Off Licence, Post Office, Chemist, Barbers, Cob
Shop and Accountant. In the surrounding area there is a beautician and another off licence as well as a Working Mens Club which is for members only.
; previously it was included in the Aylestone Ecclesiastical Parish. The original settlement was undoubtedly near The Ford by the River Sence, which is known locally as Glen Ford; and there is strong evidence of the existence of a medieval village in this area. Glen Parva ("little Glen") is called so to distinguish it from Great Glen
(rarely Glen Magna).
Glen Parva was made famous by the discovery of the Glen Parva Lady, a rich female Anglo-Saxon
who is now located at the Jewry Wall Museum
, Leicester
.
Carver's Corner is named after the Carver family, specifically Stephen James Harold Carver & his eldest son Stephen Graham Carver, who owned the row and ran the Post Office & newsagent until the late 1980s.
pitch with a football goal and basketball hoop, a library and a recently extended and modernised memorial hall. The hall can now host parties, wedding receptions and other events with its improved facilities. There is also a Scout hut located around the back of the hall which is home to the local 62nd Leicester Scout group.
The village has two nurseries and Glen Hill Primary School, which was once split into two campuses: One based at Cork Lane and the other on Featherby Drive, but it was decided that they would be combined on the Featherby site, and Cork Lane's was sold off for housing development.
The village has a young offenders' institute, HMYOI Glen Parva
. Although this falls within the boundaries of Glen Parva in Blaby district
it is separated from the main village by the Birmingham to Peterborough Railway Line
and can only be accessed from Tigers Road South Wigston
in the borough of Oadby and Wigston
. The Knightsbridge Road estate was built as accommodation for the prison officers working at HMYOI Glen Parva
. It now has nothing to do with the young offenders' institute and the houses are all privately owned. There is still a footbridge over the railway
which can be accessed via an overgrown footpath behind the houses at the end of Knightsbridge Road. This bridge was used to access the young offenders institute from the estate but it is no longer in use and has a locked security gate halfway across preventing access to the prison's perimeter fence.
and the River Sence
both pass to the south of the village. To the west is the River Soar
. The Great Central Railway
used to pass through Glen Parva. The route has now been made into a paved walkway which leads directly into Leicester's city centre, which is popular for walking and cycling along.
To the east of the village there is a Local Nature Reserve
.
who wrote the Adrian Mole
books grew up here. It is speculated that many of the locations and characters in her books were based on local places and people.
Snooker player Tom Ford
, was born in Glen Parva.
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 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...
with a population of over 5,000. To the north it runs into Aylestone
Aylestone
Aylestone is a suburb of Leicester, England at . It is south-west of the city centre, but to the east of the River Soar.It was formerly a separate village, but the growth of the city has meant that it is now part of the urban area, largely surrounded by 20th century housing. However, the area...
, and to the east Eyres Monsell
Eyres Monsell
Eyres Monsell is an electoral ward and administrative division of the city of Leicester, England, comprising the southern Leicester suburb of Eyres Monsell.-Geography:Eyres Monsell is bounded to the north by the wards of Aylestone, Freemen and Knighton...
and South Wigston
South Wigston
South Wigston is a suburb of Leicester, England. It is outside the city boundary, forming part of the Oadby and Wigston district of Leicestershire.-Geography and administration:...
. To the south and west it is not immediately surrounded by development.
It is a largely residential area with no main shopping or leisure centres, although it is situated next to Fosse Shopping Park, which is one of Britain's largest out-of-town shopping parks. There are a few small shops located in Glen Parva itself, mainly being located at 'Carvers Corner'. Here there is a Newsagent, Off Licence, Post Office, Chemist, Barbers, Cob
Bread roll
A bread roll is a piece of bread, usually small and round and is commonly considered a side dish. Bread rolls are often used in the same way as sandwiches are—cut transversely, with fillings placed between the two halves.-Various forms:...
Shop and Accountant. In the surrounding area there is a beautician and another off licence as well as a Working Mens Club which is for members only.
History
Under the Local Government Act 1894, Glen Parva became a civil parish within the rural District of BlabyBlaby (district)
Blaby is a local government district in Leicestershire, England.The district is named after the village of Blaby. It covers the civil parish of Blaby and 23 others. Among these are Cosby, Countesthorpe, Enderby, Huncote, Narborough , Sapcote, Stoney Stanton, and Wigston Parva...
; previously it was included in the Aylestone Ecclesiastical Parish. The original settlement was undoubtedly near The Ford by the River Sence, which is known locally as Glen Ford; and there is strong evidence of the existence of a medieval village in this area. Glen Parva ("little Glen") is called so to distinguish it from Great Glen
Great Glen, Leicestershire
Great Glen , also known as Glen Magna, is a village and civil parish in Leicestershire, England, about seven miles south-east of Leicester. Its name comes from the original Iron Age settlers who used the Celtic word glennos meaning valley, and comes from the fact that Great Glen lies in part of the...
(rarely Glen Magna).
Glen Parva was made famous by the discovery of the Glen Parva Lady, a rich female Anglo-Saxon
Anglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
who is now located at the Jewry Wall Museum
Jewry Wall Museum
The Jewry Wall Museum is a museum in Leicester. It faces the Jewry Wall ruins, and houses artifacts from iron age, Roman, and medieval Leicester....
, 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...
.
Carver's Corner is named after the Carver family, specifically Stephen James Harold Carver & his eldest son Stephen Graham Carver, who owned the row and ran the Post Office & newsagent until the late 1980s.
Amenities
On the local park there are several facilities including recreational equipment, an astroturfAstroTurf
AstroTurf is a brand of artificial turf. Although the term is a registered trademark, it is sometimes used as a generic description of any kind of artificial turf. The original AstroTurf product was a short pile synthetic turf while the current products incorporate modern features such as...
pitch with a football goal and basketball hoop, a library and a recently extended and modernised memorial hall. The hall can now host parties, wedding receptions and other events with its improved facilities. There is also a Scout hut located around the back of the hall which is home to the local 62nd Leicester Scout group.
The village has two nurseries and Glen Hill Primary School, which was once split into two campuses: One based at Cork Lane and the other on Featherby Drive, but it was decided that they would be combined on the Featherby site, and Cork Lane's was sold off for housing development.
The village has a young offenders' institute, HMYOI Glen Parva
Glen Parva (HM Prison)
HM Prison Glen Parva is a male juvenile's prison and Young Offenders Institution, located in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. Glen Parva is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
. Although this falls within the boundaries of Glen Parva in Blaby district
Blaby (district)
Blaby is a local government district in Leicestershire, England.The district is named after the village of Blaby. It covers the civil parish of Blaby and 23 others. Among these are Cosby, Countesthorpe, Enderby, Huncote, Narborough , Sapcote, Stoney Stanton, and Wigston Parva...
it is separated from the main village by the Birmingham to Peterborough Railway Line
Birmingham to Peterborough Line
The Birmingham to Peterborough Line is a cross-country railway line in the United Kingdom, linking Birmingham to Peterborough, via Nuneaton and Leicester....
and can only be accessed from Tigers Road South Wigston
South Wigston
South Wigston is a suburb of Leicester, England. It is outside the city boundary, forming part of the Oadby and Wigston district of Leicestershire.-Geography and administration:...
in the borough of Oadby and Wigston
Oadby and Wigston
Oadby and Wigston is a local government district and borough in the English county of Leicestershire.-Geography:It is composed of the areas of Oadby, Wigston Magna and South Wigston. It is predominantly urban, and runs directly into Leicester, to the north-west...
. The Knightsbridge Road estate was built as accommodation for the prison officers working at HMYOI Glen Parva
Glen Parva (HM Prison)
HM Prison Glen Parva is a male juvenile's prison and Young Offenders Institution, located in Leicester, Leicestershire, England. Glen Parva is operated by Her Majesty's Prison Service.-History:...
. It now has nothing to do with the young offenders' institute and the houses are all privately owned. There is still a footbridge over the railway
Birmingham to Peterborough Line
The Birmingham to Peterborough Line is a cross-country railway line in the United Kingdom, linking Birmingham to Peterborough, via Nuneaton and Leicester....
which can be accessed via an overgrown footpath behind the houses at the end of Knightsbridge Road. This bridge was used to access the young offenders institute from the estate but it is no longer in use and has a locked security gate halfway across preventing access to the prison's perimeter fence.
Landmarks
The Grand Union CanalGrand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
and the River Sence
River Sence
The River Sence is a river in Leicestershire, England. The tributaries of the Sence including the Saint and Tweed fan out over much of western Leicestershire from Charnwood Forest and Coalville in the north-east to Hinckley and almost to Watling Street in the south and south-west...
both pass to the south of the village. To the west is 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...
. The Great Central Railway
Great Central Railway
The Great Central Railway was a railway company in England which came into being when the Manchester, Sheffield and Lincolnshire Railway changed its name in 1897 in anticipation of the opening in 1899 of its London Extension . On 1 January 1923, it was grouped into the London and North Eastern...
used to pass through Glen Parva. The route has now been made into a paved walkway which leads directly into Leicester's city centre, which is popular for walking and cycling along.
To the east of the village there is a Local Nature Reserve
Local Nature Reserve
Local nature reserve or LNR is a designation for nature reserves in the United Kingdom. The designation has its origin in the recommendations of the Wild Life Conservation Special Committee which established the framework for nature conservation in the United Kingdom and suggested a national suite...
.
Well-known residents
Sue TownsendSue Townsend
-Adrian Mole series:* The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole, Aged 13¾ , her best selling book, and the best-selling new British fiction book of the 1980s.* The Growing Pains of Adrian Mole * The True Confessions of Adrian Albert Mole...
who wrote the Adrian Mole
Adrian Mole
Adrian Albert Mole is the fictional protagonist in a series of books by English author Sue Townsend. The character first appeared in a BBC Radio 4 play in 1982. The books are written in the form of a diary, with some additional content such as correspondence...
books grew up here. It is speculated that many of the locations and characters in her books were based on local places and people.
Snooker player Tom Ford
Tom Ford (snooker player)
-External links:*...
, was born in Glen Parva.