Market Bosworth
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Market Bosworth | |
  Market Bosworth shown within Leicestershire |
|
| OS grid reference | |
|---|---|
| Parish | Market Bosworth |
| District | Hinckley and Bosworth |
| Shire county | Leicestershire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NUNEATON |
| Postcode district | CV13 |
| Police | Leicestershire |
| Fire | Leicestershire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| European Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | Bosworth |
| List of places: UK • England • Leicestershire | |
Market Bosworth is a small town in West Leicestershire, England and the 1988 winner of Britain in Bloom (though its postal town is Nuneaton in Warwickshire).
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 8 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.
The parish church is named after St. Peter.
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. St. Peter's (C of E aided) Primary School takes its name from the town church. It is located on Station Road. Originally the school was in Park Street however it moved to a new, purpose-built building in 1975. The original school house was turned into a private dwelling.
Market Bosworth previously held a large livestock market on Mondays in the area behind the Black Horse Pub. Sheep, pigs and cattle were sold there.
Contents |
[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 four restaurants in the town centre; Simla Peppers for Indian cuisine, Softley's à la carte restaurant, the newly-converted public house, The Black Horse Restaurant which serves gourmet cuisine, and La Piazza, an Italian restaurant within the Dixie Arms.
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
- Richard Dawes, classical scholar
- John Marney, naturalist and zoologist
- Wolstan Dixie, Lord Mayor of London in 1585
- Lady Florence Dixie, traveller and writer
- Andy Morrell, professional footballer
[edit] Towns/villages close to Market Bosworth
- Atherstone
- Barlestone
- Barton-in-the-Beans
- Carlton
- Dadlington
- Desford
- Ratcliffe Culey
- Hinckley
- Nuneaton
- Sheepy Magna
- Stapleton
- Sutton Cheney
- Twycross
- Witherley
- Bufton
- Far Coton
- Shenton
- Ibstock
- Newbold Heath
- Newbold Verdon
