Kirby Bellars
| Kirby Bellars | |
  Kirby Bellars |
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| 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 |
| UK Parliament | Rutland and Melton |
|
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Coordinates: 52°45′02″N 0°56′25″W / 52.7506°N 0.9402°W
Kirby Bellars is a village and civil parish near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, England.
History
The village is recorded in the Domesday Book under the name of Chirchebi.[1]
The ancient Church of England parish church, dedicated to Saint Peter, is built of ironstone and has a tall spire. It is now a Grade I listed building.[2][3]
John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-1872) said of Kirby Bellars:
KIRBY-BELLARS, a parish, with a pleasant village, in Melton-Mowbray district, Leicester; on the river Wreak, and on the Syston and Peterborough railway, at Ashfordby r. station, 2¾ miles WSW of Melton-Mowbray. Post town, Melton-Mowbray. Acres, 2,590. Real property, £5,060. Pop., 243. Houses, 52. The manor belongs to the Rev. E. Manners. Kirby Park was a hunting seat of Sir Francis Burdett, Bart.; and is now occupied by a farmer. A college, for a warden and twelve priests, was founded in the parish, by Roger de Beler, in 1319; and was converted into an Augustinian priory, by Alice Beller, in 1359. Fossil bones of elephants and other animals were found in 1821. The parish is a meet for the Quorndon hounds. The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of Peterborough. Value, £88. Patron, Sir Robert Burdett, Bart. The church is handsome; and has a tower, with lofty spire.[4]
Present day
Part of the district of Melton, Kirby Bellars also has its own elected parish council.[5] The Village Hall in the Main Street, opposite to Hunters Rise, is used for many local purposes and can seat 150 people.[6]
The pub is called 'The Flying Childers'[7] after the undefeated 18th century racehorse.
In Gaddesby Lane are the kennels of the Quorn Hunt, which claims to be the most famous fox hunt in the United Kingdom.[8]
Near the village is a wetland area called Priory Lakes, where the Leicestershire Wildfowler's Association has its office.[9]
The 'Kirby Bellars Group of Artists' has existed since the 1980s and includes professional artists as well as amateurs.[10]
References
- ↑ Kirby Bellars at probertencyclopaedia.com
- ↑ Kirby Bellars St Peter at achurchnearyou.com
- ↑ SK7118 St Peter's Church, Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire at geograph.org.uk
- ↑ Kirby Bellars at visionofbritain.org.uk
- ↑ Kirby Bellars (Parish Council) at Leicestershire & Rutland Association of Local Councils web site
- ↑ Kirby Bellars Village Hall at ruralcc.org.uk
- ↑ The Flying Childers at pubsulike.co.uk
- ↑ Quorn Hunt Kennels at yell.com
- ↑ SK7118 Priory Lakes, near Kirby Bellars at geograph.org.uk
- ↑ Welcome to Kirby Bellars Group of Artists at kbga.org.uk
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Kirby Bellars. |
- Kirby Bellars at leicestershirevillages.com
- Kirby Bellars at meltononline.co.uk
- Kirby Bellars maps and photos at francisfrith.com