| Waltham on the Wolds | |
The parish church of St Mary Magdalene |
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Waltham on the Wolds
Waltham on the Wolds shown within Leicestershire |
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| OS grid reference | SK805255 |
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| Parish | Waltham and Thorpe Arnold |
| District | Melton |
| Shire county | Leicestershire |
| Region | East Midlands |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | MELTON MOWBRAY |
| Postcode district | LE14 |
| Dialling code | 01664 |
| Police | Leicestershire |
| Fire | Leicestershire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| List of places: UK • England • Leicestershire | |
Waltham on the Wolds is a village located in the civil parish of Waltham and Thorpe Arnold, in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England, about 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Melton Mowbray and 11 miles (17.7 km) south-west of Grantham on the A607 road.
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The parish had a population of about 967 as of the United Kingdom Census 2001, and is the site of the Waltham television transmitting station, which serves most of the East Midlands. Apart from the main village, the parish also includes the village of Thorpe Arnold, which is just to the northeast of Melton. To the southeast is Stonesby, which is nearer to the 1,033 ft (315 m) transmitter. The village is on a ridge which has an escarpment close to the north-west that dramatically overlooks the Vale of Belvoir.
One of the earliest mentions of this place is in the Domesday book where it is listed amongst the lands given to Hugh de Grandmesnil[1] by the King. There was 100 acres (0.40 km2) of meadow and land for 11 ploughs. It was valued at six pounds.
The village had a railway station one mile (1.6 km) north of the village which opened in 1883 as a branch line from Scalford, but was only used sparingly for special occasions such as events at Croxton Park. The line, owned by GNR, was used mainly for nearby iron ore works near Knipton, and the line's remains are still visible.
Waltham-on-the-Wolds is also known for its connection with Mars (previously Masterfoods UK), and the much-advertised Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition which carries out research into effect of diet on cats, dogs and horses (for Spillers).
The parish church, dedicated to St Mary Magdalene is built of a local, honey-coloured ironstone also used for several other churches in the district (e. g. at South Croxton). On February 27, 2008, the church spire was badly damaged by the 2008 Lincolnshire earthquake. The top 30 ft (9.1 m) of it had to be rebuilt, at an estimated cost of around £100,000. The work was completed in 2009.[2]
The Church of England primary school has a pre-school attached to it, which received the grade of outstanding in a 2011 inspection by Ofsted.[3]
Village pubs are the Marquis of Granby in the High Street and the Royal Horseshoes in Melton Road. The latter, refurbished in 2010, can boast Queen Victoria amongst its customers (hence "Royal"). At the turn of the 19th century there were twelve or more pubs in the village.[4] There is a small village shop with a post office, and a delicatessen.