Barwell

Barwell is a civil parish and large village in Leicestershire, England, with a population of around 8,750 people, Increasing to 9,022 at the 2011 census, the name literally translates as "Stream of the Boar" and is said to originate from a boar that used to drink from the well near a brook in Barwell. It was originally known as Borewell, but later became "Barwell", the name in use today. The brook is now called the River Tweed, and is a tributary of the River Trent.

The village has two churches; Barwell Methodist Church in Chapel Street, and St. Mary's Parish Church in Church Lane. St. Mary's was built in 1220. A board inside the church lists all of the rectors up to the present day, beginning with William in 1209.

The village has successful football clubs Barwell FC and AFC Barwell as well cricket teams and a large indoor bowling complex.

The Queens Head is the oldest public house, and second oldest building in the village. In 1902 the pub was owned by one Sarah Ann Powers. It was later owned by the Haines family. In recent years, the old pub roof has naturally deformed so that it is no longer straight. In the 1980s the front of the building was completely restored and returned to its original style after years of Victorian style black and white.

History
It was on the lands of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, a rich and powerful magnate who had fought alongside Canute in his wars against Wessex. In old English, "wella" is the word for stream and "bar" the name for boar, and so this clearing in the woods was known in the Saxon tongue as Barwelle. In 1043, Earl Leofric and his wife, Godiva, established a Benedictine Abbey at Coventry and gave the Abbot and his twenty-four attendant monks, lands for their upkeep. Barwelle, along with nineteen other villages passed into the domains of the Abbot of Coventry.

Following the Norman Conquest, Barwelle was still held by the Abbey of Coventry. By 1086, there were 14 villagers with a priest, and 3 smallholders with 2 ploughs; a plough being a plot of land that can be cultivated by one team of oxen. There was a meadow 1 furlong by 1 furlong (201 by 201 m) in size and woodland 3 furlongs by 1 league (604 by 5556 m). The value of which was 30 shillings (£1.50).

The manor of Barwell which is described in Domesday Book as "ancient demesne", was later given to Hugh de Hastings, a steward and favourite of Henry I, and held in fee along with many other local manors from the priory of Coventry for the service of a single knight’s fee.

In 1564 there were 48 families living in Barwell, according to a church census.

John Nichols describes an interesting tale of a wych-elm called "The Spreading Tree" or "Captain Shenton's tree" (pg. 476). As recounted, Captain Shenton who served in the royalist army returned to his house at Barwell with several other officers after the battle of Worcester. Hearing that the parliamentarians were looking for him he sank his portmanteau and valuables in the moat which surrounded the house, and sought refuge in the tree. Despite being close enough to overhear his enemies discussing the price on his head the bold Captain Shenton escaped capture and kept his estate, passing it on through his daughters. The tree was apparently held sacred for many years by the Powers family for preserving their ancestor.

In June, 1646 the inhabitants of Barwell and surrounding villages made several submissions to the county committee for losses and free quarter from the local parliamentary garrisons. In June, 1646 Mr Gearey from Barwell claimed that Captain Ottaway from hellothe Coventry garrison took a gelding worth five founds and that William Capenkwist and Thomas Bacon, his servants, had taken a mare worth one pound (Exchequer SP 28/161).

After a long and confusing list of owners, the manor of Barwell was purchased in 1660 by a certain John Oneby. Barwell was well known for its market gardeners that traditionally supplied the Leicester market with fresh produce. Nichols provides an interesting illustration of the church and its adjoining parsonage house (p. 477) pulled down in 1746 and rebuilt.

Until recent times, Barwell, together with neighbouring Earl Shilton, was a centre for shoe production in the East Midlands. The area is also known for hosiery, especially in nearby Hinckley.

Barwell meteorite
Barwell and neighbouring Earl Shilton were the site of a meteor event when, on Christmas Eve 1965, the villages were showered with fragments, from an object about the size of a traditional Christmas turkey. No one was hurt, although some minor damage to buildings and property occurred.

One meteorite went though a front of a car, destroying the engine. When the owner of the car attempted to claim on his insurance company, they replied that it was an "Act of God" and would not pay. Outraged, the owner went to the priest of the local church and asked for the money, saying "If it was an Act of God, the Church should pay for his car." The owner never received any money to repair his car.

Professor Sylvester-Bradley, Geology Dept Leicester University, confirmed that the fragments were from a chondrite and appealed for further specimens. Locals were requested not to wash any pieces found, but to wrap them in newspaper and hand in at the local police station.

A piece of the meteorite is on display at the Herbert Museum, Coventry.

Community facilities
The local council launched a community house in 2009 to help tackle anti-social behaviour. As part of the scheme, the House hosts a number of events throughout the year.

Harvey House is a local care home with 40 places for elderly and disabled persons. Unfortunately as part of a larger package, [Leicestershire County Council] is trying to sell off the house, and if this falls through the care home may be closed. There is currently a lot of opposition locally to the closure which, it is feared, will result in vulnerable people being left with nowhere to live.

Sport
Barwell takes part in the longest continuous cricket fixture in the world, when they play Coventry and North Warwickshire in their annual match. The match traditionally took place in 'Wakes Week'. The fixture began when the pastor's of Coventry church and Barwell church arranged a game. The game was even played throughout the war, when representatives from each team would come and bowl an over at each other.

The village has a senior football team which is Barwell Football Club following the demise in 2013 of Hinckley United Football Club this is now the largest football side in the immediate area.

In addition to the side team, AFC Barwell is another football team which plays in the village. AFC Barwell has achieved community charter standard status and operates in the Earl Shilton and Hinckley area as well as Barwell. AFC Barwell offers football coaching and matches to around 300 children, both girls and boys, between the ages of 3 and 18 years old. AFC Barwell teams play in matches at weekends and train twice a week.

Since 2013, AFC Barwell's home has been s purpose-built Sports Complex located off Dovecot Way, Barwell. The £700,000 build cost was largely grant-aided by the Football Foundation with the support of Barwell Parish Council. The new club ground has one of the most modern and well equipped club houses and newly constructed playing fields which will provide some of the best playing surfaces found anywhere in Leicestershire. This new complex is a fantastic asset, allowing AFC Barwell to provide the highest standards possible.

Future expansion
There are currently plans to expand Barwell to the north and west with a Sustainable Urban Extension (SUE), which will see new infrastructure for the village including a new Primary School, upgraded or new Medical Centre, Highway Improvements, up to 2,500 new homes and 9.5 hectares of land allocated for industry. It is hoped that this will have a major impact in the area, with the aim to regenerate some of the more deprived areas of the village. On 31 May 2012 15 Barwell residents called for a Parish Poll to ask the question "Are you in favour of the Borough Council’s plans for 2,500 extra homes in Barwell?". Just over 1,600 residents, approximately 22% of residents eligible to vote in Barwell, expressed an opinion with 96% against the extra homes and only 4% in favour.

Famous inhabitants
The early American printer William Bradford was born here. Wigan Athletic and former Liverpool and Coventry City goalkeeper Chris Kirkland grew up in the village. Fiona Pilkington (suicide victim).

Industry
Between the 19th and late 20th centuries, Barwell was a busy industrial village consisting of numerous shoe, hosiery and knitwear factories. These once large factories have all ceased trading. Competitive pressure from abroad was partly to blame; other factors included the 1965 Credit Squeeze which affected shoe and hosiery firms.

Nevertheless Barwell still retains several industry estates, including Dawsons Lane, Stapleton Lane and the larger Moat Way, which ostensibly specialise in warehousing and distribution. Examples include the parcel company Crowfoots Carriers employing around 100 people, Bachmann Industries Europe who design products locally, but have them manufactured in China by their parent company, Kader Industries.

Some smaller and specialist manufacturers still remain, such as Labelsco, which produces labels for the pharmaceutical industry.