Blackfordby is a small village about 2 miles (3.2 km) to the northwest of Ashby-de-la-Zouch in England. It is supposedly named after the Black Ford where water from the village spring crosses the main street over a coal outcrop. (There is no coal under Blackfordby as it lies on what is known as "The Boothorpe Fault".) On some early maps, such as the one dated AD 1587, the village is shown as "Blaugherby", hence the local name of "Blofferby".
The village is dominated by the Church of St. Margaret of Antioch. It is a fairly modern building erected in AD 1858 on the site of an earlier Anglican Chapel which was part of the Church of St. Helen at nearby Ashby-de-la-Zouch. It stands in an elevated position next to the village school and is built in the early English style.[1] It consists of a nave and chancel with the tower being surmounted by a broach spire and, for the greater part of the work, constructed from local sandstone which has become blackened due to the effects of air pollution.
Until recent years there were several 16th & 17th century thatched cottages in and around the village, but now only two remain; one on Main Street, and one behind the "Rec". Both are now protected buildings and of course much painted and photographed.
For many years the population stayed at about 500 persons, mainly agricultural workers, until the advent of the "Pits & Pipeworks". Sadly, the workers are now gone along with the old skills of the local craftsmen that are no longer required.
It is still a fairly quiet, rural village, set in pleasant countryside although the population has greatly expanded in recent years. Council houses were built in AD 1948 and AD 1950, but the biggest changes have been brought about by private development. The village school still survives and is presently being extended to allow children to continue their education there until they are eleven years old. There are two pubs catering for the thirst of the locals, but alas, no shops or Post Office.
Charles Abney Hastings of Willesley Hall died on 30 July AD 1858, aged 66. By a deed of settlement, executed about AD 1846, the Blackfordby and Packington estates of Sir Charles passed to the Marquis of Hastings, who was Henry Rawdon-Hastings.[2]
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