Anstey, Leicestershire

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Anstey is a semi-industrialised village in Leicestershire, England located northwest of Leicester in the borough of Charnwood. Its population is c.6000. The village is separated from Leicester by the Rothley Brook, Castle Hill Park and the A46, and it borders the villages of Glenfield, Groby, Newtown Linford, Cropston and Thurcaston. To the north-west lies Bradgate Park.

Anstey is known as the Gateway to Charnwood Forest. It is a combination of traditional English village (with its two village greens - the top green and bottom green) and an industrial town (with several 19th century hosiery factories, many of which are now being turned into apartments).

Contents

[edit] History

Anstey dates back to Angle origins, when it was known as Hanstige, meaning a narrow forest track.

Local industry included hosiery, boots and shoes, and box making, some of which survive to this day.

Whilst developing the site for the new Co-op in 2002 archaeologists were called in and found remains dating back to the 12th Century. These are the earliest discovered remains, although the village is recorded in the Doomsday book. A plaque recording this has been placed on the wall of the new shop.

Famous past Anstey residents include Ned Lud (machine-wrecker, whose name was appropriated by the Luddites), and Snooker player and commentator Willie Thorne.

[edit] Shopping

There is a new Co-op supermarket in on Cropston Road. The other supermarket, Alldays, closed down in 2004 after being taken over by the Co-op. Other shops, which are mostly centered on and around The Nook, include:

  • Hairdressers
    • Barrie Stephen Hair
    • Essential hair and Beauty (link road)
  • Bakers
    • Coombs
    • Paulas Pantry (Paulas is also a cafe)
  • Greengrocer - Johnsons
  • Butcher - Tills
  • DIY - Harris' DIY
  • Banking
    • HSBC
    • National Westminster
    • Nationwide
  • Pharmacy - Gordon Davis
  • Off Licence
    • Londis
    • The Local (formerly Threshers)
  • Others
    • Anstey Car Centre
    • Broughtons Ironmongery and Interiors
    • Deli in the nook (delicatessan shop)
    • Forget-me-not gifts
    • Potters Carpets and Kitchens
    • The Signal Box (railway models)
    • Travel Agent
    • Funeral service

There are also various other shops.

[edit] Pubs and Eating Out

Anstey has plenty of opportunities for take away or eat in food, ranging from Fish and Chips through Chinese and Indian to traditional English tearooms.

There are four pubs, which are all located within a quarter of a mile of each other, on Bradgate Road or in The Nook at the end of Bradgate Road. If you start from The Nook, and walk up Bradgate Road you will pass them in this order:-

  • The Coach and Horses (aka The Coach)
  • The Old Hare and Hounds (aka The Hare and Hounds, The Hare)
  • The Plough
  • The Crown

[edit] Religion

There are Church of England, United Reformed Church and Methodist churches. The parish church is on Bradgate Road.

St.Mary's parish church,Anstey
Enlarge
St.Mary's parish church,Anstey


Image:AnsteyMethodist.jpg The Methodist Church is situated in The Nook on Cropston Road, and is a medium sized church serving the community, being part of the Leicester West Circuit of the Oxford and Leicester Dictrict of the Methodist Church. Visit the web site.

[edit] Education

  • Latimer Primary School, Latimer Street
  • Woolden Hill Primary School
  • Anstey Martin High School, Link Road

College students go to Brookvale at Groby or Longslade Community College at Birstall.

[edit] The Village

The traditional English cottages and large houses of Bradgate Road change into terraced houses in the old industrial area, and then modern suburbia out towards Link Road, where the Anstey Martin school can be found. Just off the Nook is Latimer primary school, named after Bishop Latimer.

The Rothley Brook flows through the village on its way to the River Soar, and there are two ancient bridges (the Packhorse Bridge and King William's Bridge) and an old Water Mill.

[edit] Local Area

Nearby Glenfield is the home of Leicestershire County Council, and all the shops and facilities of the city can be found about 2 miles away in Leicester. Hotel accommodation can also be found in Glenfield, at the Gynsills Hotel and The Brant Inn.

Bradgate Park, childhood home of Lady Jane Grey stretches above the village, between the two neighbouring villages of Newtown Linford and Cropston. For transport, Anstey is served by regular bus services to Leicester, Loughborough, and the Beaumont Leys Shopping Centre (about a mile away) where there is a Tesco Hypermarket, as well as Smiths, Argos, Wilkinsons, Boots and many other big name shops. By road, Anstey is just off the A46 Leicester Western Bypass, which provides a fast link to the M1 Southbound to London, with the A50 providing access to the M1 North.

[edit] Sport

Anstey is home to Anstey Nomads F.C. who play in the Leicestershire Senior League.

[edit] The Supernatural

Anstey and surrounding area has been mentioned in several texts about Ley Lines. Anstey has a standing stone and a place called The Leys, which mark a path towards Bradgate Park's Old John.

[edit] See also

[edit] External links

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