Coleorton Parish

Coleorton Parish in Leicestershire includes the villages of Coleorton, Coleorton Moor, Church Town and Farm Town
as well as parts of Peggs Green, Griffydam and Lount

Heritage Wardens’ Progress Report

March 2010

Coleorton Heritage Group

The group continues to interview local residents and this is proving a useful way of accumulating local knowledge on what the village was like fifty or so years ago. If there are villagers who feel they have something to offer in this way, or they know someone who they believe might have, then they should contact the group through the Heritage Wardens.
We are still planning to collect specific detail on the history and development of the Lower Moor area, so if you feel you can help with this do please contact the heritage wardens.
The group’s main focus it to produce a leaflet on the heritage of Coleorton. We have a list of locations or buildings which will feature on the leaflet, but if there are specific buildings or locations that you believe should be included do let us know.
The next meeting of this group is on Thursday 15th April, starting at 8.00p.m., at the Rectory, Ashby Road. If you would like to attend please let the heritage wardens know.

Progress on Coleorton Wood

The Parish Council has now agreed the purchase of Coleorton Wood with LCC, and whilst the final details do need to be sorted this is tremendous news for the village. We will be reporting what plans the Parish Council have for the wood, so watch this space!
New Lount Reserve. We are waiting to find out if the County Council sell or retain this site. Once this is established we would like to work with the ongoing owners to see how we can protect the rich heritage of this site.

Collecting and collating Census information for Coleorton

I am afraid this is progressing very slowly as there are many other matters to attend to. I would be very interested in hearing from anyone who could assist with this task. I am still working on the 1871 census. See 1841,1851 and 1861 already transcribed >>

Working with Ashby Museum on John Crocker material and research into the history of Coleorton.

We have now started to catalogue this material and whilst it will take a very long time to complete it all, those interested in researching the material should contact the museum. There is a great deal of information on Coleorton, Coleorton Hall Estate and the Beaumonts, so if these are areas of interest you should contact Ashby Museum.

“Coleorton and The Beaumonts” Exhibition at Ashby Museum

This temporary exhibition will end on 5th April 2010; it has been very well attended and created a lot of interest. Please consult the museum website for details of times, etc.
Further details >>

War Memorial Project

I have now completed 23 out of 24 for WW1 biographies and there are 5 from WW2 to do. If anyone has information, photographs, etc relating to those mentioned on the war memorial please contact the heritage wardens. I would also be interested to hear from anyone who has any information on:-

Private David Walker of 14th Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). He was killed in action on 7th August 1918 (aged 27). He was born in Montrose in Scotland, his parents lived in Dundee, but he enlisted in Coalville. He is one of those listed on the war memorial; does anyone know what his connection with Coleorton was?

WW2 Names:-

*Rank*	*Initials*	*Surname*	*Regiment*	*Date of death*
*Stoker*	*K W*	*Bettison*	*HMS Submarine Triad*	*16/10/1940*
*PTE*	L	*Granger*	*Army Catering Corps*	*06/10/1945*
*FUS*	*E P*	*Robinson*	*2 Royal Enniskillen Fusiliers*	*15/10/1943*
*PTE*	P	*Topham*	*Pioneer Corps*	*16/03/1943*
*PTE*	*G H*	*Turner*	*2/3 Leicestershire Reg.*	*22/02/1942*

As these are more recent I am hoping that some relatives will have details and perhaps photographs of these individuals.

I have now completed my investigation into the surrounding village’s war memorials and would like to thank Alan & Brian Webster for their help with a photograph of the memorial plaque that was in the old Baptist Chapel in The Rowlands.

Repairs to War Memorial

The Parish Council has managed to secure additional funding to allow repairs to the war memorial to be carried out. This work, which will include cleaning and repairing the memorial will be carried out over the next few weeks, once the frosty weather has ceased.

John Macdonald (March 2010)

Any questions about the work of the heritage wardens or if you have something about Coleorton to share
email the Heritage Wardens >>

Download report as a pdf >>

Heritage Wardens’ reports index