Syston
Encyclopedia
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.
as Sitestone. The Roman road known as the Fosse Way
passes through Syston, which is now largely a commuter town for the city of Leicester
. Only the village of Thurmaston
to the south separates it from Leicester.
The Midland Main Line
runs through the town. Syston railway station
currently has one platform on what remains of the former goods line, served by local Leicester
to Lincoln
via Nottingham and Newark services on the Ivanhoe Line.
The 'Syston white plum' is well known in the Syston locality and has been grown there for well over 100 years. It is yellow, oval in shape, thin skinned and a good sized dessert plum. It normally crops in September and is emblazoned on the Syston Town welcoming signs.
Syston is the location of the headquarters of Pukka Pies
, which is one of the largest employers in the town, employing 250 people.
The River Soar
runs past the western edge of the town, shortly after passing under the A46 road
which underwent significant improvements early in 2006 at the Hobby Horse Roundabout, a popular meeting place on the Leicester Western Bypass.
Syston is home to two monthly, village publications: The Syston Town News and The Syston Directory.
The Air Training Corps (ATC) is a military based youth organisation for 13–20 year olds. 1181 Syston Squadron is based in the grounds of Wreake Valley Community College. They have around 30 cadets. The current Officer in Charge is Flying Officer Andrew Kenyon RAFVR(T), who took over command of the Squadron on 4 October 2010 from Plt Off Andy Houghton RAFVR(T), who had been in command since May 2010.
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 district of Charnwood
Charnwood (borough)
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.-History:...
in Leicestershire, England. The population is 11,508 as of the 2001 Census.
Overview
There has been a settlement on the site for over 1000 years, the earliest records being 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 Sitestone. The Roman road known as the Fosse Way
Fosse Way
The Fosse Way was a Roman road in England that linked Exeter in South West England to Lincoln in Lincolnshire, via Ilchester , Bath , Cirencester and Leicester .It joined Akeman Street and Ermin Way at Cirencester, crossed Watling Street at Venonis south...
passes through Syston, which is now largely a commuter town for the city 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...
. Only the village of 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...
to the south separates it from Leicester.
The Midland Main Line
Midland Main Line
The Midland Main Line is a major railway route in the United Kingdom, part of the British railway system.The present-day line links London St...
runs through the town. Syston railway station
Syston railway station
Syston railway station is a railway station serving the town of Syston in Leicestershire, England. The station is located on the Midland Main Line between Leicester to Loughborough, 103¾ miles from London St Pancras....
currently has one platform on what remains of the former goods line, served by local 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...
to Lincoln
Lincoln, Lincolnshire
Lincoln is a cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England.The non-metropolitan district of Lincoln has a population of 85,595; the 2001 census gave the entire area of Lincoln a population of 120,779....
via Nottingham and Newark services on the Ivanhoe Line.
The 'Syston white plum' is well known in the Syston locality and has been grown there for well over 100 years. It is yellow, oval in shape, thin skinned and a good sized dessert plum. It normally crops in September and is emblazoned on the Syston Town welcoming signs.
Syston is the location of the headquarters of Pukka Pies
Pukka Pies
Pukka Pies is a manufacturer of pies that is headquartered in Leicestershire, United Kingdom. A family company founded in 1963 by Trevor Storer, it is currently run by his sons Tim and Andrew. It employs 262 people at its factory in Syston, producing 180,000 pies and pasties per day...
, which is one of the largest employers in the town, employing 250 people.
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...
runs past the western edge of the town, shortly after passing under the A46 road
A46 road
The A46 is an A road in England. It starts east of Bath, Somerset and ends in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, but it does not form a continuous route. Large portions of the old road have been lost, bypassed, or replaced by motorway development...
which underwent significant improvements early in 2006 at the Hobby Horse Roundabout, a popular meeting place on the Leicester Western Bypass.
Syston is home to two monthly, village publications: The Syston Town News and The Syston Directory.
Notable residents
- Actress Terri DwyerTerri DwyerTeresa "Terri" Dwyer is an English actress. She is best known for her role in the in the British soap opera, Hollyoaks as Ruth Osborne.-Career:...
- Singer Dave Bartram from ShowaddywaddyShowaddywaddyShowaddywaddy are a 1970s pop group from Leicester, England. They specialised in revivals of hit songs from the 1950s and early 1960s, and dressed as Teddy Boys.-History:...
- Speedway racer Fred WilkinsonFred WilkinsonFred Wilkinson was a footballer who played in the Football League for Blackpool, Watford and Stoke. He made three appearances for Stoke.-Blackpool:...
raced for England v.s Australia - Megan LoweMegan LoweMegan Lowe was an international cricketer. She played four Test Matches for England in 1949, making her debut against Australia at Adelaide in January. She played her last Test on the same tour, against New Zealand, at Auckland in March of the same year. She scored a total of 77 runs, with a...
, Test cricketer
Local organisations
1181 Syston Squadron ATC1181 Syston Squadron ATC
1181 Syston Squadron ATC is the local Air Training Corps Squadron based in the grounds of Wreake Valley Community College, Syston. The Squadron has been at this location since 1990 moving from the village hall in East Goscote, changing its name from East Goscote Squadron in the process.The Squadron...
The Air Training Corps (ATC) is a military based youth organisation for 13–20 year olds. 1181 Syston Squadron is based in the grounds of Wreake Valley Community College. They have around 30 cadets. The current Officer in Charge is Flying Officer Andrew Kenyon RAFVR(T), who took over command of the Squadron on 4 October 2010 from Plt Off Andy Houghton RAFVR(T), who had been in command since May 2010.