Market Bosworth

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Map sources for Market Bosworth at grid reference SK4003

Market Bosworth is a small town in Leicestershire, England and the 1988 winner of Britain in Bloom.

It is mainly known for giving its name to the nearby Battle of Bosworth Field, the concluding battle in the Wars of the Roses. A town charter, granting the right to the market was granted in 1285 by King Edward I.

The town saw some activity in the English Civil War. Troops from local garrisons descended upon the town seeking billets and fresh horses. A list of claims submitted by the constables of Market Bosworth to the Warwickshire county committee in June, 1646, reveals that Colonel Purefoy’s soldiers from the Coventry garrison availed themselves of "free quarter" worth £25.8.8 and stole £1.7.10 in “ready money” from Peter Storer. Two Coventry soldiers, identified as Lieutenant Beake (listed under Captain Flower in a 1645 garrison muster) and Capener, stole mares worth £5 apiece from Mr Pelsant and Mr Chancey. Captain Ottaway took a mare worth £2.19 from Woolstan Leaby, a servant, “leaving another in her roome”, and Captain Flower’s troops took a mare worth £2 from widow Siddon. On another occasion, Captain Smith's forces from the Tamworth garrison took a mare worth £4 from Richard Palmer. The town was also visited by soldiers under the command of the notorious "Tinker" Fox from Edgbaston Hall. On 8th September, 1644 Edward Raynor, "a soldier under Colonel Fox" allegedly took a mare worth £3.13.4 from Mr Chancey.

Michael Hudson of Market Bosworth was a royal chaplain and Scoutmaster-general of the Army in the North, killed at the capture of Woodcroft House in Northamptonshire in 1648.

There are three schools in the town: St. Peter's (C of E aided) Primary School, Market Bosworth High School, and the Dixie Grammar School.

1 Local Amenities
2 Places of interest
3 Notable Residents
4 Towns/villages close to Market Bosworth
5 External links

[edit] Local Amenities

Co-op supermarket
Post office
Mercury News shop
HSBC bank with cash machine
Good quality clothing and furniture shops
Many quirky antique and gift shops
Market every Wednesday
Regular Sunday Farmers Market and occasional French market

There are three pubs, the Dixie Arms Hotel, the King William IV (or the King Bill to locals) and the Red Lion. There are also three restaurants in the town centre, Simla Peppers for Indian cuisine, Softley's à la carte restaurant, and the newly-converted public house, The Black Horse Restaurant.

Around the market square there is a variety of shops selling high quality items and produce.

Michaelmas House - furniture, home accessories and gifts
Handbags and Gladrags
Peppercorn Cottage Delicatessen
Lampard's Family Butchers
Familytique - Ladies designer clothing
Ore Inspired - jewellers
The Clock Shop - antique and contemporary clocks and watches

Market Bosworth is also home to Bosworth Hall Hotel; part of the Britannia Hotel chain. It has 192 rooms and conference and banqueting facilities, as well as a bar, restaurants (à la carte and carvery), and Spindles Health Club.

[edit] Places of interest

Bosworth Water Trust for water sports and outdoor leisure activities (with campsite and caravan pitching available)
Twycross Zoo (5 miles approx)
Bosworth Battlefield Visitor Centre (3 miles approx)
The Ashby-de-la-Zouch Canal
The Battlefield Line heritage railway, which passes through the western end of the town, but can only be caught from either Shenton or Shackerstone at weekends.
A country park

A marina and golf course are currently under construction towards the west end of the town.

[edit] Notable Residents

Dr. Samuel Johnson, author of the first English dictionary, who taught at the Dixie Grammar School.
Thomas Simpson, mathematician
John Whiles, notable purveyor of dairy produce
Richard Dawes, classical scholar
Adam Walker,famous footballer for market bosworth jouniors 2000
John Marney, naturalist and zoologist
Wolstan Dixie, Lord Mayor of London in 1585.