Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/573

Rh LEICESTER. 565 LEICESTER. the 14th century Leicestershire was noted as being the centre from which the sect of the Wickliffites promul- gated their new doctrine. In 1485 the wars of the Roses were terminated by the victory of the Duke of Richmond over Richard III. between Market Bosworth and Dadlington. In the Civil War, the people of Leicestershire chiefly adopted tho side of the parlia- ment ; but the royalists were in possession of Belvoir Castle, and thence made several expeditions, with varying success. In May, 1645, Charles I. stormed Leicester, but it was soon after retaken; and in November of the same year both Belvoir and Ashby- de-la-Zouch were lost to the royal cause. Leicestershire is principally table land, and may bo divided into tho two vales of the Soar and Wreak. The surface is moderately hilly, but none of the hills attain to any great height. The highest is Bardon Hill, in Charn- wood Forest, which is 853 feet above the sea-level, but not more than 250 feet above the neighbouring country, which is very irregular and nigged. Beacon Hill is also in the forest, but on the eastern side, while Bardon is on the W. Other hills in the same district are Breedon and Cloud hills, and Ashby-on-the- Wolds. Another range passes through the portion of Derbyshire which enters Leicestershire, terminating in a folk, the extremities of which are at Orton and Twycross. In the S.W. the highest localities are Enderby, Hinckley, Croft, and Higham; and in the S., Saddington and Guinley. Blaby Hill also, on the Fosseway, is a considerable eminence. In the E. there are Whadborough and Tilton hills, which are almost united; and a little further N., Burrow Hill. In the N.E. portion of the County there is a straight range of hills, parallel to the Nottinghamshire border, which runs from near Long Clawson, past Stathern, terminating in the hill on which Belvoir Castle is erected. The largest rivers in Leices- tershire arn the Soar, tho Wroke, the Wclland, the Avon, the Swift, and the Anker. The Trent forms tho N.W. boundary of the county from Castle Donington to where it receives the Soar. This river rises in Warwickshire, though not more than half a mile from tho boundary, and flows in a north-westerly direction, receiving, near Blaby, Billcsdon brook and some other minor streams. It then passes Leicester, Wanlip, lit Sorrel, Barrow-upon-Soar, and Loughborough. At Stanford it divides tho county from Nottingham- shire, until it falls into the Trent. It is navigable from that point to Loughborough, whence a canal proceeds to Leicester. The length of the Soar is about 40 miles. The Wreke rises near Goadby Marwood, flows S. to Melton Mowbray, then westward past Asfordby, Frisby, ll'y, and Katchff, joining the Soar near Thurmaston. The river Eye, which rises in Rutlandshire, is more properly a continuation of the Wreke than the stream which it joins at Mowbray. Its channel is partly used as a canal. The total length is 25 miles. The Welland forms the S.W. boundary of the county from Husband's Bosworth to Rockingham, a distance of about 17 miles. It is there joined by tho Eye brook, which, divides slershire from Rutland. The Avon, a tributary of ^overn, also divides Leicestershire from Northamp- tonshire, from Vc.-lfnrd to Catthorpe, about 8 miles. The Swift, which rises near Gilmorton, and passes near Lutterworth, joins it after its entrance into Warwiek- . The Anker, a tributary of the Tame, divides the county from Warwickshire for a distance of 3 or 4 miles, . Mancetter to 1'inwall Grange. Its tributary, the Senco, formed by streams rising near Bosworth Field, Ibrtock, and Normanton Heath, joins the Anker near < line Culey. The Devon has two sources, at East- well and Croxton. It flows through Woolsthorpo, Huston, and Bottesford, to unite with the Trent at Tho Mease rises at Blackfordby, on tho sliby Vuulds, and, flowing through the portion of uire which protrudes into Leicestershire, leaves > ii' :ir Nether Seal. The Smite has sources at liiiiiiglitfm, Howes, and Long Clawson, and I *'' of Belvoir. It finally joins tho Devon i at Shilton, in Nottinghamshire. The climate of Lcices- TOL. II. tershire is mild, and not too moist, owing to the absence of large rivers, and of high hills to break and catch tho clouds. As to tho geological formation, Leicestershire may bo divided into two portions by a line from Clay- brook to Broughton. Of the eastern division the N. part is occupied by oolite, and the remainder by lias, but red sandstone, of which Belvoir Castle is built, occurs from Grimston to Ab Kettleby, Wymondham, and Edmundthorpe. The vale of tho Soar, and the western part of the county generally, is formed of red marl or sandstone, with the exception of Charnwood Forest, the hills of which consist of transition slate and syenite, affording valuable quarries at Swithland and other places. There are largo coal-fields on the N.E. and S.W. of Ashby-do-la-Zouch. At Osgathorpe there is an isolated quarry of limestone ; and tho rocks at Mount Sorrel and Qnorndon abound in felspar and quartz, as well as granite, which is used for the London pavements. Gypsum is quarried near Leicester, and limestone .for cement at Barrow- upon - Soar. The Whittle Hill, near Loughborough, supplies hones of a superior quality. There arc mineral springs at Moira and Ivanhoe, near Ashby, and at Dalby, Gumley, Ilinckley, Shearesby, Holt, and Burton Lazars. The soil is principally strong and stiff, and composed of clay and marl. Fully half of the county is permanently kept in pasture, but barley, oats, turnips, and especially beans, are grown to a considerable extent. Wheat is also cultivated in tho sandstone district. Woods and uncultivated ground occupy but a very small proportion of the area. Both the horned cattle and sheep of Leicester are deservedly famous, and owe much of their present excellence to tho perseverance of Mr. Bakcwell, of Dishley, who lived at the close of the last century. Tho long-horned cattle are of a red colour, short in tho leg, and fatten easily. Tho old short-horns arc, how- ever, still extensively bred. Tho sheep are large and long-woolled. In Charnwood Forest there is an inferior breed known as forest sheep. A larije number of horses are bred in the county, as well for the cart as hunters and carriage-horses. The western portion ef the county is celebrated as the chief hunting country in England. Dairy farms are numerous, especially about Melton Mowbray, Bosworth, and Hinckley; and tho eastern part of the county is famous for its cheese. The village of Withcote, near Melton, is the place where Stilton was first manufactured. Leicestershire is divided into North Leicestershire and South Leicestershire. Tho former division contains the hundreds of East Goscote, West Goscote, and Framland ; the latter those of Gartree, Guth- laxton, and Sparkenhoe. Four hundreds only are men- tioned in the Norman Survey. The county contains 207 parishes., with parts of 7 others, and 26 extra parochial places, and about 560 villages and hamlets. The market towns are Leicester, the county town, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Market Bosworth, Market Harborough, Hinckley, Loughborough, Lutterworth, Melton Mowbray, and Mount Sorrel. These towns, with the exception of Mount Sorrel, are new County Court districts ; and tho sumo places, with Bedworth, Barrow, Billesdon, and Blaby, arc the scats of registries and Poor-law Unions. Each division returns two members to the House of Commons. For the N. division Leicester is the election town, and Ashby-de-la-Zouch, Castle Donington, and Melton Mowbray, the polling places. For the S. division Lough- borough is tho election town, and tho polling places are fixed at Market Bosworth, Market Harborough, Hinckley, and Lutterworth. Two members are also returned for the borough of Leicester. The county is governed by a lord-lieutenant, tho Duke of Rutland, about 20 deputy-lieutenants, and 230 magistrates. It is included in the North-Eastern military district, and in the Midland circuit. The assizes and quarter sessions ara held at Leicester. The population in 1861 was 237,412. The county constitutes the archdeaconry of Leicester, in the diocese of Peterborough, province of Canter- bury, and is divided into the rural deaneries of Akeley, Frarnland, Gartree, Goscote, Guthlaxton, and Sparken- hoe. In the extent of its manufactures Leicestershire 4 c