Thorpe Langton

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Thorpe Langton
Leicestershire
The Bakers Arms - geograph.org.uk - 571960.jpg
The Bakers Arms pub
Location
Grid reference: SP741925
Location: 52°31’32"N, 0°54’32"W
Data
Population: 200  (2011)
Post town: Thorpe Langton
Postcode: LE16
Dialling code: 01858
Local Government
Council: Harborough
Parliamentary
constituency:
Harborough

Thorpe Langton is a village in the south-east of Leicestershire, close by the border of Northamptonshire and about four miles north of Market Harborough. The parish had a population of 200 according to the 2011 census.

The village has a church, St Leonard's, and a pub, the Baker's Arms.

Parish church

St Leonard's Church

The Church of England parish church is St Leonard's, standing in the heart of the village. It is of mediæval origin, dating back to 13th to 15th centuries.[1]

The village was originally a chapelry, dependent on the church at Church Langton. It is mentioned in the Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales by John Marius Wilson:

'A church is here, as a chapel to Church-Langton; is a small old edifice, comprising nave, aisles, chancel, and S porch, with pinnacled-tower and octagonal spire.'[2]

In 1868 the church underwent a restoration by Joseph Goddard. In the late 19th century a burial ground was added with the first burial recorded in 1875.[3]

There are two war memorials in the church: brass ornaments on the communion table give thanks to the safe return from the Great War of Clement, Stanley and Gordon Kendall, the sons of George Edward Kendall the Lord of Thorpe Langton Manor. The other memorial is a Celtic cross memorial in memory of H. G. Palmer who died in 1917 during the First World War.[4]

History

Thorpe Langton is mentioned three times in the Domesday Book of 1086, with a population of 29 households and tax assessed at seven and a half geld units. Thorpe Langton's land was held by three separate tenants in chief; Robert of Vessey, Robert of Bucy and Hugh of Grandmesnil. Robert of Vessey's estate in 1086 contained seven villagers, three small holders and six slaves.[5]

The estate became Thorpe Langton manor when Sir William de Thorpe was assigned the land by Edward, Prince of Wales in 1366. The land eventually became part of the West Langton Hall estate when it was sold.

The second estate, held by Robert of Bucy contained two villagers, eight smallholders and one slave. The Peverel Family were the main tenants in the later 13th century, and the estate was held by Walter de Langton (who died 1321),[6] Bishop of Coventry and Lichfield and Treasurer of England, a member of the Peverel family. The land was declared forfeit numerous times before it was passed to the Duchy of Lancaster. The Roberts Family were the principal tenants for most of the 17th, 18th and 19th centuries..[6]

Outside links

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("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Thorpe Langton)

References

  1. Thorpe Langton: St Leonard's: A Church Near You
  2. Wilson, John Marius (1870–72). Gazetteer of England and Wales. Edinburgh: A. Fullarton & Co.. http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/place/10982. Retrieved 5 February 2014. 
  3. Jones, Chris. "St Leonard, Thorpe Langton". Leicestershire & Rutland Churches. http://www.rutlandchurches.co.uk/#/thorpe-langton-church-leiceste/4540658683. 
  4. "War Memorials Project". Leicestershire City Council. http://warmemorials.leics.gov.uk/ismart/WMP/pages/jsp/map.jsp#. 
  5. Langton Thorpe Langton in the Domesday Book
  6. 6.0 6.1 A History of the County of Leicester - Volume 5 pp 193-213: Thorrpe Langton: Gartree Hundred (Victoria County History)