Sheepy & District Local History Society

Don't miss our October meeting in Sheepy Memorial Hall at 7.30pm on Tuesday 8th October.
The speaker is Paul Thornber and he will be talking about the battlefields of the Somme and the poems he was inspired by them to write.
Paul will have books for sale - maybe an idea for some early Christmas shopping?
All are welcome, you don't need to be a member, just a contribution of £5 towards room hire and refreshments.

Join us at Sheepy Memorial Hall, 7.30pm, Tuesday 10th September for a fascinating talk by Tim Coltman about two British Army VC awards in one family. All welcome.

Cover photo circa 1960s Field adjoining Poplar Farm, Main Road showing Memorial Hall & Chapel Cottages in the background. Photo Courtesy of Marian Parkinson

1921 census statistics for Sheepy Magna, including Cross Hands, Orton Lane & Watery Lane.
Number of properties: 98 including 10 working farms, pub, butcher, cycle repair shop, post office, grocers, blacksmith, wheelwright & district nurse/midwife,
Largest property: Sheepy Lodge with 29 rooms. The Rectory had 17 & Sheepy Hall had 15. Note that the criteria for what constitutes a "room" is not stipulated
Population: 368. Male: 174. Female: 194 including 20 visiting.
97 aged under 15
Residents born in Sheepy Magna: 95. Sheepy Parva: 8. Pinwall: 3
59 residents working on farms. 13 at Sheepy Mill.
14 at coal mines: 2 at Baxterley & 12 at Pooley Hall, Polesworth

1921 census statistics for Pinwall i.e. former Heath Cottage situated after New Hall Farm & including Crow Lane, down to Fieldon Bridge & Mythe Farm through Pinwall crossroads to Highfields Farm, Grendon Road.
Number of properties: 19 including 7 working farms & 1 pub
Population: 107. Males: 53. Females: 54
Number of children under 15: 36
Main employers: Farms: 36

1921 census statistics for Sheepy Parva
Number of residential properties: 20 (including 4 working farms but does not include vacant properties)
Population: 79. Males: 43. Females: 36
Number of children under 15: 22
Number of residents born in Sheepy Parva: 10
Number of residents born in Sheepy Magna: 17
Main employers: 1) Farms - 22 & 2) C B Lowe (1920) Ltd at Sheepy Mill - 10
Sheepy Magna (incl Pinwall, Cross Hands etc) to follow in due course.
Lynne

2012 Diamond Jubilee Poster

In memory of Mr Williams

In 2017, I started compiling a book of some of the hundreds of photos in the History Society’s archives, and researching the history of the views and properties represented by those images. Lockdown enabled me to finally finish this mammoth project and the published result is entitled “Sheepy in Pictures, 1870s to 1990s”. It comprises 134 pages of images, maps etc, in colour and black/white, together with some historical facts. Funding was obtained from 4 local organisations: Sheepy Parish Council, Sheepy Bonfire Society/Neighbourhood Watch, Sheepy Memorial Hall and an amount from the History Society’s own account. There was unanimous agreement that every household within Sheepy Parish should receive a free copy and volunteers on behalf of the Parish Council will be distributing these over the coming weeks. Unfortunately due to the time constraint it will not be possible to distribute them all, if any, by Christmas. Local history is not of interest to everyone of course but I trust that you can appreciate this very generous gesture particularly after a very difficult time for us all, when many perhaps will have been able to spend more time discovering the area in which they have chosen to live. After the distribution throughout the parish has been completed, a limited stock will become available at £12.50 each or £15.00 to include UK postage and I will post another notification at that time. I hope that when you receive your copy, you will find the book interesting and informative. Wishing you all a happy and healthy Christmas. Lynne (Percival)

Sheepy Parva Chapel:
1220: "The chapel at Little Shepey was served once in a year". Courtesy Nichols History of Leicestershire.
1614: "Robert Manley by Deed Poll according to an Agreement with the Inhabitants of Little Sheepy had pulled down the Chappell there and taken away the Stone, timber and other things and in cons. (consideration) of 20 shillings and in lieu thereof had erected an house, gives the sd. (said) house to the use of the said town as for their Comon Officer to dwell upon Owing Suit to his Court and paying yearly 2s. and 4d: courtesy of Leicestershire Record Office. DocRef: 8D44/2
1798: Plan for the stopping up & divert roads and footpaths shows an enclosure called "Chapel Yard" situated adjoining the end of "The Green". It is crossed by a footpath which then connected Magna to Parva and ended at Sibson Road. Copyright Leicestershire Record Office. DocRef: QS48/1/26
The Green:
1769 Enclosure: Waste land. “whereas there are several cottages or Tenements standing upon the Waste or Common Land within the Manor of Little Sheepy aforesaid and several small pieces of Land adjoining thereto and used therewith by the several and Respective Tenants residing therein for which they have severally and respectively paid several and respective Rents or Acknowledgements to the said Edward Wilmot as Lord of the said Manor. Copyright. Leics Record Office. DocRef: QS47/1/28.
London Gazette item dated 1851 posted earlier on village page. All Saints Sheepy Magna with chapel of ease at Ratcliffe Culey was originally 2 medieties North & South each with their own Rector. This article is the act of parliament officially combining the 2 medieties although there had only been one Rector officiating since 1771.

It is with regret that I inform you that Maurice and I have decided that we will no longer take an active role in the running of the History Society.
With a bespoke, well stocked Heritage/Meeting Room in place, a page with hundreds of photos from our archives, a book of photos/historical facts close to completion/publication and the vast majority of documents which are publicly available, now in our archives, we feel that after 12 years, it is time to step down. We will, of course continue to be supportive of the Society in whatever direction it may take.
We appreciate that you may wish to discuss its future and the implications and practicalities of this decision, especially with regard to the use of the funds which many have generously contributed to over the years and a meeting has therefore been arranged on Tuesday, 12th October, at 7.30pm at Sheepy Memorial Hall. Any new acquisitions will be on display. Everyone welcome. Lynne

Courtesy of Matt Bird with thanks

Donated to the History Society by Bill Binfield (except where stated otherwise)

There are some photos of the lorries already on the page. These remaining few have now exhausted our supply!!