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Lutterworth

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John BARTHOLOMEW's "Gazetteer of the British Isles, 1887" tells us:

Lutterworth, market town and par., Leicestershire, 3½ m. SE. of Ullesthorpe sta. and 7½ m. NE. of Rugby, 1,890 ac., pop. 1,965; P.O., T.O., 1 Bank. Market-day, Thursday. Lutterworth occupies a pleasant situation on a declivity near the river Swift. It is an ancient town, consists of regular and well-paved streets, and has a town hall, a market house, and 2 endowed schools. John Wycliffe (1324-1387), the reformer, resided and ministered at Lutterworth for many years, and the church, an ancient building, restored in 1740, contains the pulpit in which he preached. Besides the weekly market, Lutterworth has an important sheep market and cattle fairs.
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Archives & Libraries

Ian Rob has a photograph of the new Lutterworth Library in Coventry Road on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2014.

The Lutterworth Library on George Street is a branch of the Leicester County Council Library System. It is open 5 days each week (verify by phone if you are visiting) and has staff trained in Family History research.

You may want to visit the Lutterworth Museum on the Gilmorton Road.

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Cemeteries

Jonathan THACKER has a photograph of the Churchyard cemetery on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2017.

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Census

  • The parish was in the Lutterworth sub-district of the Lutterworth Registration District.
     
  • The 1851 Census for Leicestershire has been indexed by the Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society. The whole index is available on microfiche. The society has also published it in print.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1841H.O. 107 / 598
1861R.G. 9 / 2246 & 2247
1871R.G. 10 / 3222
1891R.G. 12 / 2490
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church is dedicated to Saint Mary the Virgin.
     
  • The church dates from the 14th or 15th century, but the precise date is unknown.
     
  • The church spire was blown down in 1703 and was subsequently replaced.
     
  • The church was rebuilt, with the exception of the chancel, in 1812.
     
  • The church was restored in 1867-69.
     
  • The church seats 750.
     
  • John SALMON has a photograph of St. Mary's Church on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2003.
     
  • Jonathan BILLINGER has a photograph of St. Mary's interior on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2008.
     
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1558 (some sources say only 1653).
     
  • The church is in the rural deanery of Guthlaxton (second portion).
     
  • The Society of Genealogists holds copies of Lutterworth parish records which can be studied at their library in London.
     
  • A Catholic Church, dedicated to Our Lady of Victories and Saint Alphonsus, was built on Bitteswell Road in 1881.
     
  • A Congregational Chapel was founded in 1689 on George Street and was restored in 1777 (see photo, below).
     
  • Ian ROB has a photograph of the United Reformed Church on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2008.
     
  • A Particular Baptist Chapel was built on Chapel Street in 1839.
     
  • A Wycliffe Memorial Wesleyan Methodist Chapel was built on Bitteswell Road in 1905.
     
  • Stephen McKAY has a photograph of the Methodist Chapel on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2007.
     
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Civil Registration

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Description & Travel

Lutterworth is a market town and a parish in Leicestershire, England, on the border of Northamptonshire and Warwickshire. The parish lies 7.5 miles north-east of Rugby and 90 miles north of the city of London. The River Swift runs through the parish. The parish, in 1881, covered 1,890 acres; today covers 2,614 acres and includes the highway intersection known as "Cross in Hand", which is right on the Warwickshire border.

If you are planning a visit:

  • By automobile, take the A426 trunk road north out of Rugby or south out of Leicester city.
     
  • Neil THEASBY has a photograph of the Village Sign on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2014.
     
You can see pictures of Lutterworth which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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History

  • Lutterworth was mentioned in the 1086 Domesday Book.
     
  • The Town Hall, in High Street, was built in 1836.
     
  • Frank WHITTLE, the inventor of the jet engine, developed some of his first prototypes in this parish during the 1930s and 1940s.
     
  • Magna Park, just west of the village and adjacent to Cross-in-Hand, is an industrial site. It is reputedly the largest logistics and warehousing park in Europe. It is on the site of former RAF Bitteswell and is still expanding.
     
  • M. J. RICHARDSON has an aerial photograph of Magna Park on Geo-graph, taken in July, 2013.
     
  • Mat FASCIONE has a photograph of the Wycliffe Memorial outside the Methodist church on Geo-graph, taken in November, 2007. Mat has mis-identified it as a war memorial. Wycliffe was a 14th century clergyman who is credited with translating the Bible into English for the first time.
     
  • Ian ROB has a photograph of the Red Arrow Public House on Geo-graph, taken in December, 2005.
     
  • Jonathan THACKER has a photograph of the Denbigh Arms Hotel on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2017.
     
  • Jonathan THACKER also has a photograph of The Shambles Pub. on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2017.
     
  • Stephen McKAY also has a photograph of The Cavalier Inn on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2007.
     
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Manors

  • The webpage author has found mention of both Lutterworth Hall and a Manor House, but no descriptions.
     
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Maps

  • See our Maps page for additional resources.
     

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SP545845 (Lat/Lon: 52.455742, -1.199399), Lutterworth which are provided by:

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Medical Records

The Fielding-Palmer Cottage Hospital was built in 1899 and was expanded in 1911. It stands, still open, on Gilmorton Road, today and has contact information on Facebook. This institution was not required to archive patient records.

Ian ROB has a photograph of the Lutterworth-Fielding Palmer Hospital on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2008.

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Military History

  • In 1912, Prince Albert's Own Leicestershire Yeomanry, D Squadron, drilled here. Major A. H. ROBINSON, commanding; Capt. Geoffrey STEWART, 2nd in command; Squad.-Srgt-Major James R. TAYLOR was the drill instructor.
     
  • John M. has a photograph of the former Drill Hall used by The Yeomanry on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2014. As he reports, it is now a carpet warehouse.
     
  • Stephen McKAY has a photograph of the War Memorial on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2007. The monument is a Red Hollington stone cross on a tall shaft surmounting a square plinth.
     
  • There are 8 Commonwealth War Graves in St. Mary's churchyard.
     
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Military Records

The eight Commonwealth War Graves in St. Mary's churchyard (data from the CWGC site) are for:

NameRankUnitDiedOther info.
Reginald Liddon ALDERSONmajorRoyal Air Force30 June 1918Age 38, son of the Rev. Canon F. C. ALDERSON of Peterborough
Bernard William DRAKEflying officerRoyal Air Force4 Mar. 1945Age 24, son of Percy and Fanny Louisa DRAKE
Reginald Alexander GRANGERdriver572 Field coy., Royal Engineers21 Aug. 1940Age 24, husband of Winifred May GRANGER
C. J. JENNINGSprivateDevonshire Regt.17 Mar. 1919- none -
F. LAUGHTONsapperRoyal Engineers1 Sept. 1919Age 40, son of John and Rebecca LAUGHTON
John Albert Frank ROSElance corporalLancashire Fusiliers12 Nov. 1918Age 20, son of Thomas Henry and Charlotte Lucy ROSE
Richard Tom SAMPSONcorporalRoyal Engineers16 Nov. 1918Age 28, husband of Florence E. SAMPSON
Reginald William C. SHARPprivateRoyal Defense Corps26 Jan. 1919Age 26, husband of Gertrude A. SHARP
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Periodicals

The Lutterworth Press, which is really in Cambridge, has an online catalog with both fiction and non-fiction available. The last time I checked this website (in January, 2020) the e-book download wasn't working but your milage may vary.

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Politics & Government

  • This place was an ancient parish in Leicestershire and became a modern Civil Parish when those were established.
     
  • The parish is in the ancient Guthlaxton Hundred in the southern division of the county.
     
  • In April, 1935, the parish boundary was set at Watling Street, and everything south of that line was deemed to be in Warwickshire. The parish lost 1 acre to Churchover Civil Parish and 9 acres to Monks Kirby Civil Parish, but gained 23 acres from Monks Kirby and 12 acres from Willey Civil Parishes.
     
  • John M. has a photograph of the Town Hall on Geo-graph, taken in October, 2014. The Town Hall opened in 1836.
     
  • You may contact the Town Council regarding civic or political matters, but they are NOT staffed to assist with family history searches.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Lutterworth petty session hearings every other Thursday at the police station.
     
  • As a result of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, this parish became the centre of of the Lutterworth Poorlaw Union.
     
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Population

 YearInhabitants
18011,652
18412,531
18712,080
18811,965
18911,800
19011,734
19111,896
19212,092
19312,395
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Schools

  • The children of this parish attended schools in Lutterworth (to the north) and Shawell (to the south).
     
  • The Grammar School was founded in 1630 and later became a Secondary School. In 1924 it had about 135 pupils.
     
  • The Public Elementary School was built on George Street in 1876 and was a mixed school.
     
  • Frank Whittle Studio School is a studio school that opened in 2015. It is situated alongside Lutterworth College, both of which make up The Lutterworth Academies Trust.
     
  • Stephen McKAY has a photograph of Lutterworth High School on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2012.