Knaptoft
Encyclopedia
Knaptoft is a civil parish
in the Harborough
district of Leicestershire
, England
, with a population of around 50. It is also a deserted village
in this parish. Knaptoft just off the A5199 near Husbands Bosworth
. Knaptoft House Farm nearby is bed and breakfast
accommodation and a stud farm
. The medieval fish ponds were restored from 1976 to 1982 and are now run commercially.
as Cnapetot. Cnape could refer to either a personal name, or derive from either the Old Norwegian
word Knappr meaning a hilltop or the Old English word Cnap meaning a young servant boy (Old Norse Knapi). Toft is believed to derive from the Old Scandinavian toft which means homestead.
In 1301 the village was known to comprise a manor
, a windmill
, 2 fish ponds and 20 tenants. By 1624 only the manor and 5 labourers remained. The depopulation was due to the enclosure
of the land for sheep pasture, which required less labour.
The present day farmhouse Knaptoft Hall Farm is thought to be on the site of the old manor
. The manor was held by the Horton family from 1279 to 1761. The first of this line was Henry de Horton who became a free tenant in 1279 and built the manor next to the church. The manor was demolished in 1761 and a new house built on the site.
The Church of Saint Nicholas
is now roofless but still contains headstones and the stone font
. It is thought to have been sacked and destroyed by Oliver Cromwell
's Roundhead
forces after the Battle of Naseby
in June 1645 whilst in pursuit of the fleeing defeated Royalist
army. Certainly a skirmish occurred here, confirmed by archaeological finds. The church is said to be haunted. Church services are still held at the church at 3pm on the third Sunday of June, July, August & September.
Nearby places are Shearsby
, Bruntingthorpe and Mowsley
.
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...
, with a population of around 50. It is also a deserted village
Deserted Village
The Feltville Historic District, located in the Watchung Reservation, Union County, New Jersey, is a historical part of this area which still stands to this day. It includes eight houses, a church, a carriage house and a general house. Over the years this "deserted village of Feltville" has become...
in this parish. Knaptoft just off the A5199 near Husbands Bosworth
Husbands Bosworth
Husbands Bosworth is a large crossroads village in South Leicestershire on the A5199 road from Leicester city to Northampton and the A4304 road from Junction 20 of the M1 motorway to Market Harborough....
. Knaptoft House Farm nearby is bed and breakfast
Bed and breakfast
A bed and breakfast is a small lodging establishment that offers overnight accommodation and breakfast, but usually does not offer other meals. Since the 1980s, the meaning of the term has also extended to include accommodations that are also known as "self-catering" establishments...
accommodation and a stud farm
Stud farm
A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry, is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock. The word "stud" comes from the Old English stod meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding" Historically, documentation of the breedings that occur on a stud farm leads to the...
. The medieval fish ponds were restored from 1976 to 1982 and are now run commercially.
History
The village was deserted in the 17th century, and the only visible remains are some farm buildings and a ruined parish church. It is recorded in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Cnapetot. Cnape could refer to either a personal name, or derive from either the Old Norwegian
Old Norwegian
Old Norwegian refers to a group of Old Norse dialects spoken and written in Norway in the Middle Ages. They bridged the dialect continuum from Old East Norse to Old West Norse.-Old Norwegian vs Common Norse:...
word Knappr meaning a hilltop or the Old English word Cnap meaning a young servant boy (Old Norse Knapi). Toft is believed to derive from the Old Scandinavian toft which means homestead.
In 1301 the village was known to comprise a manor
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
, a windmill
Windmill
A windmill is a machine which converts the energy of wind into rotational energy by means of vanes called sails or blades. Originally windmills were developed for milling grain for food production. In the course of history the windmill was adapted to many other industrial uses. An important...
, 2 fish ponds and 20 tenants. By 1624 only the manor and 5 labourers remained. The depopulation was due to the enclosure
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
of the land for sheep pasture, which required less labour.
The present day farmhouse Knaptoft Hall Farm is thought to be on the site of the old manor
Manorialism
Manorialism, an essential element of feudal society, was the organizing principle of rural economy that originated in the villa system of the Late Roman Empire, was widely practiced in medieval western and parts of central Europe, and was slowly replaced by the advent of a money-based market...
. The manor was held by the Horton family from 1279 to 1761. The first of this line was Henry de Horton who became a free tenant in 1279 and built the manor next to the church. The manor was demolished in 1761 and a new house built on the site.
The Church of Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas
Saint Nicholas , also called Nikolaos of Myra, was a historic 4th-century saint and Greek Bishop of Myra . Because of the many miracles attributed to his intercession, he is also known as Nikolaos the Wonderworker...
is now roofless but still contains headstones and the stone font
Baptismal font
A baptismal font is an article of church furniture or a fixture used for the baptism of children and adults.-Aspersion and affusion fonts:...
. It is thought to have been sacked and destroyed by Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell
Oliver Cromwell was an English military and political leader who overthrew the English monarchy and temporarily turned England into a republican Commonwealth, and served as Lord Protector of England, Scotland, and Ireland....
's Roundhead
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
forces after the Battle of Naseby
Battle of Naseby
The Battle of Naseby was the key battle of the first English Civil War. On 14 June 1645, the main army of King Charles I was destroyed by the Parliamentarian New Model Army commanded by Sir Thomas Fairfax and Oliver Cromwell.-The Campaign:...
in June 1645 whilst in pursuit of the fleeing defeated Royalist
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
army. Certainly a skirmish occurred here, confirmed by archaeological finds. The church is said to be haunted. Church services are still held at the church at 3pm on the third Sunday of June, July, August & September.
Nearby places are Shearsby
Shearsby
Shearsby is a rural village in the English county of Leicestershire.It is in the Harborough district around nine miles due south of Leicester and north east of Lutterworth....
, Bruntingthorpe and Mowsley
Mowsley
Mowsley, pronounced "mouseley" is a small village in the south part of Leicestershire. The modern village has just under 100 dwellings.-Entries in Domesday:...
.