Cold Overton

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Cold Overton
Leicestershire
St John the Baptist Church - geograph.org.uk - 760864.jpg
St John the Baptist Church
Location
Grid reference: SK809100
Location: 52°40’56"N, 0°48’12"W
Data
Post town: Oakham
Postcode: LE15
Dialling code: 01664
Local Government
Council: Melton
Parliamentary
constituency:
Rutland and Melton

Cold Overton is a village in Leicestershire, close to the border with Rutland, and approximately three miles west from the latter's county town, Oakham, and a mile and a half south-west of the A606 road.

History

Cold Overton is listed in the Domesday Book as in the county's Framland Hundred, with 12 ploughlands, 17 households, 4 freemen, 8 villeins, 4 smallholders, and a priest. The settlement contained a meadow and woodland, both of 30 acres. Lordship in 1066 was held by Ulf Fenman, transferred to Fulco in 1086, with Drogo of la Beuvrière as Tenant-in-chief.[1]

In 1826 was founded an “Asylum for Female Orphans” which maintained and educated 20 girls. This orphanage had been discontinued by 1877, and in its place was established a free school for local boys and girls. Occupations in 1877 included eight graziers, four of whom were farmers, a further farmer and a market gardener. Also listed was a schoolmistress, the parish rector, and Frewen family occupants of Cold Overton Hall.[2]

In 1870, the area of the parish was 1,657 acres, in which were 19 houses and a population of 97.[3]

Parish church

The village church is dedicated to John the Baptist. Originating in the 13th century, there were additions during the following two centuries and a restoration in 1889.[4] The church is a Grade I listed building.[5]

Inside the Church the north and south arcades have notable Early English carved capitals, showing people, animals and motifs from nature.[6] There are mediæval paintings on the south and east walls; the images include St Catherine holding a wheel, the Assumption of the Virgin, the Nativity, the Funeral of the Virgin, complete with pall-bearers, and St John the Baptist.[7]

Cold Overton Hall

Main article: Cold Overton Hall

Cold Overton Hall

At the centre of the village is Cold Overton Hall, a country house of c. 1664 with early 19th-century additions, and a Grade I listed building.[8]

Outside links

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References

  1. opendomesday|SK8110|Cold Overton}}
  2. White, William (1877); History Gazetteer and Directory of the counties of Leicester and Rutland, pp. 191, 192
  3. Wilson, John Marius: Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (A. Fullerton & Co., 1870)
  4. St John the Baptist, Cold Overton
  5. National Heritage List 1075150: Church of St John the Baptist (Grade I listing)
  6. Cantor, Leonard (2000). The Historic Parish Churches of Leicestershire and Rutland. Kairos Press. p. 16. ISBN 9781871344257. 
  7. Rosewell, Roger (2008). Mediæval Wall Paintings. The Boydell Press. p. 264. ISBN 9781843833680. 
  8. National Heritage List 1075147: Cold Overton Hall and Adjoining Garden Walls, Main Street (Grade I listing)