Descriptive Gazetteer Entry for KIBWORTH-BEAUCHAMP

KIBWORTH-BEAUCHAMP, a village, a township, and a parish in Market-Harborough district, Leicester. The village stands near Kibworth r. station, and near the Union canal, 6 miles NW by N of Market-Harborough; and was once a market town. The township includes the village, and extends beyond it. Real property, £3, 581. Pop. in 1851, 733; in 1861, 868. Houses, 199. The parish contains also the townships of Kibworth-Harcourt and Smeeton-Westerby; the former of which has a post office‡ under Leicester. Acres, 3, 220. Real property, £10, 582. Pop. in 1851, 1, 752; in 1861, 1,867. Houses, 408. The manor of K. B. belongs to Sir Henry Halford, Bart.; that of K. H., to Merton College, Oxford; and that of Smeeton, to Henry H. H. Hungerford, Esq. A moated camp, 54 feet high and 366 feet in circuit, and a large barrow, are in K. H. Framework-knitting is carried on. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Peterborongh. Value, £850.* Patron, Merton College, Oxford. The church stands on a height; consists of nave, aisles, and chancel, with porches and an embattled tower; contains sedilia and a piscina; and was improved, at a cost of fully £1, 150, in 1862. The tower of the previous church had a lofty spire; and while under repair in 1826, fell suddenly to the ground. The p. curacy of Smeeton-Westerby is a separate benefice. There are chapels for Wesleyans and Free Methodists in K. B.; a chapel for Independents in K. H.; and a Baptist chapel in Smeeton. A free grammar school was founded by some person or persons unknown; was rebuilt in 1725; and has £285 a year from endowment. A lectureship in the parish church, for Thursday evenings, was founded in 1836, by the Rev. J. Goodman, then head master of the school. There are also a national school, and charities £12. Dr. John Aiken was a native; and Dr. Doddridge was minister of the Independent chapel here before going to Northampton.


(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))

Linked entities:
Feature Description: "a village, a township, and a parish"   (ADL Feature Type: "populated places")
Administrative units: Kibworth Beauchamp CP/AP       Market Harborough RegD/PLU       Leicestershire AncC
Place: Kibworth Beauchamp

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