Category: Local History

The Hallaton Museum is getting a new permanent display for 2026. It's at Hallaton Castle, thanks to a grant from the Leicestershire Archaeological and Historical Society’s Public Heritage Fund.

After a record dry summer, we had a record wet winter. So the reservoirs are full again and canal levels well up - sometimes too well up. However, that was the case this time last year, so we hope that the same scenario does not play out. It is good to see boats through the locks again and activity that has been sadly lacking since they closed due to water shortage last August. Some unseasonably warm weather also brought the visitors out now that there is something for them to see. Unfortunately the wet weather has not been kind to the towpaths and footpaths. The all-encompassing mud is a bit of a hazard. 

After a brief spell on the sidelines the Stonton Wyville church bell is reinvigorated and back in action.

On Thursday 12 February 2026, the planning committee of Harborough District Council unanimously refused the application (25/00793/OUT) to build an estate of 28 houses in the field just to the south of Kibworth Medical Centre.

On 3rd May 1926, Britain’s miners went on strike, and workers from other industries joined them in solidarity. This was the first general strike in Britain, with 1.5 million strikers by 4th May.

Following on from my recent article concerning Skeffington Hall and some of its residents. I was surprised to learn that in the Fox & Hounds public house that once stood on the side of the A47 in Skeffington, the licensee had two very interesting pictures that adorned one of the walls in the bar area. They record the extraordinary images of the racehorse who won the Grand National at Aintree. He won on two separate occasions during 1935 and 1936. It belonged to Major Noel Charles Bell Furlong of Skeffington Hall.

Tom Ingall will be talking about his involvement in the Great Central Railway

Our plea for Kibworth & District Chronicle deliverers for East Langton has been successful with three people stepping forward. Thank you to those who have volunteered.

I have in my possession an interesting newspaper article from the 1960s that shows a picture of Skeffington Hall, which is situated in the village of Skeffington, Leics., adjacent to the Church of St. Thomas A Beckett. According to my records the hall was originally constructed in 1450 and was the birthplace of Thomas Skeffington, Bishop of Bangor and Sir William Skeffington, Lord Deputy of Ireland. It was later owned by a William Farrell whose son, Sir William Farrell-Skeffington 1^st Bt., adopted the Skeffington surname and later sold the hall to the Tailby family in 1815. William Ward Tailby (1825-1914) was a keen huntsman and formed the Fernie Hunt in 1856 and Sir Richard Sutton 2^nd Bt., who was Master of the Quorn Hunt also resided at Skeffington Hall at one time.

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