Letter to the Editor – Jun ’25
Dear Editor
F P Woodford’s book
I was interested to read that the Kibworth and District Chronicle is now the owner of a first edition of F. P. Woodford’s book on Kibworth. F.P was a distant relative of mine.
I wonder how many Kibworth Chronicle readers know that he left another mark on Kibworth, in the form of etched graffiti on an external buttress at the east end of St Wilfrid’s? (see below). The etching has been altered through time so it can also read E. B. Woodford, who was probably Edward Woodford, another Kibworth resident.
Another Edward Woodford also helped to shape the character of Kibworth Beauchamp. The lovely lychgate in Kibworth Cemetery was built and gifted to the parish by Edward Woodford Mason. He was a descendant of the Woodford ‘dynasty’ on his mother’s side. His father was Kibworth builder John Mason who constructed the Villas. Edward later took over his father’s business and was responsible for the design and construction of the large houses on Smeeton Road, set back along the lay-by, the original route of Smeeton Lane. The land next to these houses was purchased from his heirs and is now the Smeeton Road Recreation Ground.
Good to keep up my connections with Kibworth.
Stephen Butt
Footnote: Stephen has since added that Francis published his book in 1916, so he was looking back to his childhood in the 1860s. Edward Woodford Mason’s mother was Sarah Woodford (1818-1842), daughter of Jonathan Woodford (1781-1848), landlord of the ‘Coach and Horses’.
Kibworth On Call crew member: Andy Smith
