Barrow upon Soar

Barrow upon Soar
Leicestershire
Bridge over the River Soar next to the Navigation
Location
Grid reference:	SK575175
Location:	52°45’7"N, 1°8’58"W
Data
Postcode:	LE12
Local Government
Council:	Charnwood
Parliamentary constituency:	Charnwood

Barrow upon Soar is a large village in northern Leicestershire, in the Soar Valley between Leicester and Loughborough. It has a population of around 5,000.

It lies on the east bank of the River Soar at its confluence with the Fishpool Brook, and is just opposite the A6 from Quorn, from which it is separated by the road, the river and the meadows beside the river. Barrow has its own railway station on the Midland Main Line. The Mountsorrel Railway, carrying granite from the Mountsorrel quarries, used to run here; the line from Mountsorrel is still followed by a mineral conveyor to Barrow, where quarry rock is sorted for distribution.

Barrow Upon Soar parish church

Parish church

Interior view of the church

The parish church is Holy Trinity, which stands in the centre of the village.

The church is largely a 12th century church and a Grade II listed, though with extensions form later centuries, not least a twenty-first century recent extension on the north side to provided enhanced community facilities.

The church supports and active congregation, a choir, bell ringers, a Mothers' Union and a Men's group. There is also an active Social Committee.

The "Barrow Kipper" plesiosaur

Plesiosaur

The village is famous for a plesiosaur excavated here in 1851, of the species Rhomaleosaurus megacephalus, nicknamed the "Barrow Kipper". The dinosaur was found in a lime pit outside the village, and a roundabout with a sign representing its skeleton lies at the centre of the village. The skeleton is on display at the New Walk Museum in Leicester, with a full-size replica on display at Charnwood Museum in Loughborough.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about upon Soar Barrow upon Soar)

• Barrow [-upon-Soar] in the Domesday Book
• Leicestershirevillages – Barrow upon Soar
• Barrow Voice
• Barrow Heritage
• Barrow Signpost