Wymeswold is a village (Calor Best Village in Leicestershire & Rutland 2008) and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is in the north of Leicestershire, and north-east of Loughborough. It has a population of about 1,000. It is close to Prestwold and Burton on the Wolds in Leicestershire, and the Nottinghamshire villages of Rempstone and Willoughby on the Wolds. Now it is a commuter village to the town of Loughborough, and cities of Leicester, Nottingham and Derby, with the services to suit.
There used to be a school in the village run by Thomas Potter in the nineteenth century on Elm Street.[1] The school was moved to a site to the south of the village when it expanded in the 1970s. The village was formerly the site of RAF Wymeswold, a tribute to which can now be seen on the wall of Wymeswold pharmacy. The Wymeswold airstrip remains, and is used as a track for performance car 'experience' days, although there is some local opposition to this because of the noise. The former airfield is also the home for Airbossworld Kitepark.
The village has a greengrocer and general store, specialised pine furniture and gift shop, two pubs (The Three Crowns and The Windmill) and an award-winning restaurant (Hammer and Pincers), which was also featured favourably in The Times. The Three Crowns was CAMRA Loughborough and North Leicestershire 2010 Village Pub of the Year.[2] There are many clubs and societies within the village, including WHO (Wymeswold Historical Organisation), Guide and Scout groups, dancing, aerobics and karate classes, and bowls, cricket, cycling, and football clubs. The village holds two very successful fund raising events in the summer—the Wymeswold Duck Race (mid May) and the Wymeswold Open Gardens (mid June). Wymeswold Running Club organises the 'Waddle', a 5 mile road race on closed roads, to take place on the same day as the Duck Race. The post office was closed in May 2008, as part of the Royal Mail's restructuring. An outreach service has been opened in The Three Crowns. At the southern edge of the village, the 'Washdyke' recreational area contains play equipment, a BMX track, football pitch, and a community orchard.
St Mary's church was restored in 1844 by A. W. N. Pugin. It contains the Leeke memorial to Judge William Leeke who was Lord of the Manor of Wymeswold in the mid-17th century. His widow presented the church with a silver flagon and paten that are now in the Charnwood museum. The remarkable windows were the work of John Hardman Studios, Birmingham.[3]
Henry Alford was the Vicar of Wymeswold from 1835 to 1853 and wrote a lot of his hymns here. The band the Wave Pictures are from the village.
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