Category: Local History

A village is made by more than its houses, roads and shops. It is also made by the places where people meet, organise, celebrate, learn and spend time together.

Foxton Canal Museum was closed to the public all winter for financial reasons and staffing issues. We were very sad to lose our manager Penny and in order to survive, we focused on workshops for school groups and opening for event weekends during this time. Since June we have  reopened at weekends and are working to improve our position to ensure that we can offer a service to our local communities.

The Market Harborough Historical Society Presents:

In a quiet corner of Leicestershire stands a rather imposing epitaph to a young lady with an impressive family pedigree.

If you think arguments about new housing, traffic, parking and the changing shape of Kibworth are a modern phenomenon, the Chronicle's back catalogue might make you think again.

Kibworth Mill will once again be opening as part of Heritage Open Days. These give people an opportunity to visit buildings that are not normally open to the public. This is the oldest mill in Leicestershire and will be open on Saturday 19 September and Sunday 20 September. Volunteers will show visitors around inside and outside the mill. They will be able to see the inner workings and marks left by the millers over the last 400 years. You can see how it was extended in the years before the USA came into existence!

Street Names of Kibworth (Part 2)

A plaque for Kathie Layfield?

I came across your publication on the internet as I have researched who I believe was my 8th great grandfather, Colonel Thomas Horton, also known as Thomas Horton the Regicide (1603-1649).

One of the projects the members of the Kibworth & District Heritage Society is to research are the origins of some of Kibworth's street names. The plan is to publish the findings over the coming months/years. Let's begin with a question:

I read with interest the article that appeared in the March edition of the Kibworth & District Chronicle concerning the General Strike of 1926, and it prompted me to send in what I have been told is a rare piece of paperwork relating to this significant episode in Leicester's history.

We have almost drawn up a list of talks for the remainder of the year and look forward to some splendid presentations.

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. 

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