69-514: The Charnwood Forest Railway was a branch line in Leicestershire constructed by the Charnwood Forest Company between 1881 and 1883. The branch line ran from Coalville (joined from the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway (ANJR)) to the town of Loughborough . It should not be confused with the much earlier railway that was part of the Charnwood Forest Canal . Stations on the Charnwood Forest Railway were located at Coalville East, Whitwick , Shepshed and Loughborough Derby Road . By 1885,
138-615: A side tank version of Webb's standard LNWR 17in Coal Engine , an 0-6-0 tender engine for slow freight trains. The design was introduced in 1881 by F.W. Webb and had the same cheaply produced cast iron wheels and H-section spokes as the tender engines. A trailing radial axle supporting the bunker was added also with two similarly cast iron wheels. Three hundred were built between 1881 and 1897. Four (LNWR nos. 178, 484, 1257, 69) were withdrawn in January–February 1920 and
207-614: A Digital Media Centre. Many creative and media businesses have thrived in the region. As part of a 2002 marketing campaign , the plant conservation charity Plantlife chose the foxglove as the county flower . Financial and business service companies with operations in Leicestershire include Alliance & Leicester , Cambridge & Counties Bank, Royal Bank of Scotland , State Bank of India , HSBC , and PricewaterhouseCoopers . Pension provision company Mattioli Woods employs 170 people at its Grove Park, Enderby, HQ and has
276-407: A dead-end at SK458186 and on towards Loughborough . The footpath along the trackbed leads all the way to Thorpe Hill where a community centre has been constructed over the trackbed. After the community centre the trackbed is followable again down to Loughborough Fire Station, which again has been built on the trackbed, from here the route of the line is difficult to follow, but the footpath follows
345-607: A fox under a cinquefoil – both symbols often associated with Leicestershire. The design was officiated in July 2021 and was England's last historic county to have a flag registered. The River Soar together with its tributaries and canalisations constitutes the principal river basin of the county, although the River Avon and River Welland through Harborough and along the county's southern boundaries are also significant. The Soar rises between Hinckley and Lutterworth , towards
414-852: A further four (LNWR nos. 142, 994, 782, 1012) in July and November 1922, so at the 1923 grouping , 292 passed to the London Midland and Scottish Railway (LMS). They were renumbered from the LNWR's random allocation based on vacant numbers, to a solid block sequence 7550–7841 , and given the power classification 1F. Many locomotives still in service in 1934 were renumbered by the addition of 20,000 to their number. Sixty-four locomotives passed into British Railways ownership in January 1948 and they were numbered 58880–58937 , but not all examples survived long enough to carry their BR numbers. One Coal Tank number BR 58926, ex-LMS 7799, originally LNWR 1054,
483-489: A number of ammunition dumps, the army ambulance train was kept at Loughborough, rubber was stored at Shepshed and the USA Post Office was based at Coalville East. After the war excursion trains ran on the line until 1951 and Loughborough goods yard closed on 31 October 1955. On 14 April 1957 "The Charnwood Forester" was the last train to run through to Loughborough. The last excursion on the line occurred in 1962 when
552-461: A passenger could leave Euston at 5:35, change at Nuneaton and Shackerstone and be in Whitwick at 8:32. The line was never successful and went into a decline after World War I . The LMS withdrew passenger services on 13 April 1931. During World War II the line enabled large amounts of road stone from quarries to be conveyed to new aerodromes throughout the country. Additionally, the line served
621-419: A population of 712,300. Leicester occupies the centre of the county and is by far the largest settlement, with a built-up area population of 357,000. The remainder of the county is largely rural, and the next-largest settlements are Loughborough (65,000), Hinckley (50,000), and Coalville (22,000). For local government purposes Leicestershire comprises a non-metropolitan county , with seven districts, and
690-531: A reputation for employing graduates directly from Leicestershire Universities. Companies that have their head office in the area include Next (clothing) , and British Gas Business. The European Association of Trade Mark Owners, and the Point of Purchase Advertising International (POPAI) are based in Leicestershire. Key stakeholders promoting economic development formed Leicester & Leicestershire Economic Partnership in 2011. Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce
759-571: A single-track railway from Nuneaton Junction near on the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway to Loughborough. The intention was to link it to the Midland Main Line , but this never happened and the terminus was at Loughborough Derby Road. A ceremony marking the beginning of work was held on a very rainy day, 31 August 1881. The first turf was cut by Lady Packe (wife of Hussey Packe) of Prestwold Hall . Squire de Lisle of Garendon Hall wheeled
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#1732779517987828-475: Is a ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Derbyshire , Nottinghamshire , and Lincolnshire to the north, Rutland to the east, Northamptonshire to the south-east, Warwickshire to the south-west, and Staffordshire to the west. The city of Leicester is the largest settlement and the county town . The county has an area of 2,156 km (832 sq mi) and
897-676: Is another good source for business advice. The Leicestershire Business Awards has categories including Investing in Leicestershire, Contribution to the Community, and Entrepreneur of the Year. Recent Leicestershire winners of the Queen's Award for Enterprise are listed on the Lord Lieutenant's website . This is a chart of trend of regional gross value added of the non-metropolitan county of Leicestershire and Rutland (it does not include
966-608: Is catered for by award-winning Indian restaurants – for instance the vegetable samosas approved by the Vegetarian Society sold at The Sharmilee on Belgrave Road in the Belgrave area of Leicester . The growing market for Indian food has afforded new opportunities to long-standing local companies, for example the Long Clawson dairy, a co-operative manufacturer of Stilton (cheese) now also makes Paneer cheese used in
1035-614: Is in Lutterworth. De Montfort University has, in the form of its Fashion and Contour Design course a leading design department for female underwear. It also has the only UK University courses in Footwear Design providing future designers for local shoemakers Shoefayre, Stead and Simpson, and Shoe Zone , who all have their headquarters in the county. Gola also originates from the county. University Hospitals Leicester NHS Trust employs around 11,000 at its three hospitals in
1104-533: Is located at the county's northernmost tip close to Bottesford where the River Devon flowing through the Vale of Belvoir leaves Leicestershire and enters Nottinghamshire. The population of Leicestershire (excluding Leicester Unitary Authority) is 609,578 people (2001 census). The county covers an area of 2,084 km (805 sq mi). Its largest population centre is the city of Leicester , followed by
1173-503: Is now under someone's garden, who has carried out many alterations. At the other side of the garden however, the trackbed still retains its original ballast and is in remarkably good condition for a short distance, passing through an area known as 'Happy Valley', until the growth of vegetation starts again. It is still clear where it went, but less easy to follow due to vegetation. The line still has ballast here. For reference, we are now passing under Whitwick's "Dumps Road" bridge. The trackbed
1242-495: Is still obvious here, yet it becomes less clear as we pass through Thringstone . Alterations to the surroundings make it hard to tell. The trackbed can be readily picked up near Grace Dieu Wood, which will take you across the aforementioned viaduct, and past Grace Dieu Priory to the edge of a missing bridge at the side of the A512. The bridge here was demolished in 1967. Across this gap, the trackbed continues on private land, where it
1311-657: Is the county's highest point. There are prehistoric earthworks in the county, and Leicester was a Roman settlement. The region was settled by the Angles in the sixth century and became part of the Kingdom of Mercia , and the county existed at the time of the Domesday Survey in the 1080s. The county has had a relatively settled existence, however it was the site of the Battle of Bosworth Field in 1485, which established
1380-457: Is used for farm access, though it is still an obvious railway trackbed. West of Shepshed the trackbed has been converted to a footpath, popular with dog walkers and boys practicing their skills on mountain bicycles . The footpath starts at Charnwood Road in Shepshed ( SK475187 ) and finishes in a dead-end about 2 km to the west ( SK454187 ). In places along the way, derelict remains of
1449-523: The British Asian community is made here – for example the shop Saree Mandir sells silk saree 's and salwar suits for women whose design patterns closely follow contemporary Indian trends. The Knitting Industries' Federation continues to be based in Leicestershire. On the creative side the design centre for next is headquartered in Enderby, and the design centre for George Clothing (Asda/Walmart)
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#17327795179871518-536: The Charnwood Forest Canal can be identified Through Shepshed the trackbed has been obliterated, but to the east it is distinguishable again and passes behind a lorry park before the M1 motorway cuts across the path of the line. After the motorway, the trackbed ran through the southern edge of Garendon Park , after which the line has again been converted to a footpath and cycleway near Old Ashby Road, with
1587-515: The City of Leicester ) at current basic prices published (pp. 240–253) by Office for National Statistics with figures in millions of British Pounds Sterling. For lieutenancy purposes, Leicestershire consists of the non-metropolitan county and the City of Leicester . LNWR Webb Coal Tank The London and North Western Railway (LNWR) Webb Coal Tank is a class of 0-6-2T steam locomotive. They were called "Coal Tanks" because they were
1656-546: The M1 in north-west Leicestershire, and is the second largest freight airport in the United Kingdom after London Heathrow. DHL Aviation have a large purpose-built facility at EMA, and courier companies UPS and TNT also use the airport as a base. Lufthansa Cargo is also a regular user of East Midlands, and the airport is a primary hub for Royal Mail . The M1 is Leicestershire's other important transport hub. The start of
1725-608: The M6 , and part of the A14 briefly intersect with the southern tip of Leicestershire. Many large retail companies have huge warehouses at the Magna Park complex near Lutterworth. The Widdowson Group make use of J21a of the M1 to provide warehousing, transportation, freight forwarding, garage services and LGV/HGV training. Pall-Ex of Ellistown provide automated palletised freight distribution services from their location off Junction 22 of
1794-778: The National Examination Board in Occupational Safety and Health (NEBOSH) have their head offices in Leicestershire. Pharmaceutical, biotechnology and medical instrument manufacturing companies include 3M , Bridgehead International in Melton, Fisher Scientific in Loughborough, and Ashfield Healthcare in Ashby-de-la-Zouch. Transportation links are good. East Midlands Airport is one mile (1.6 km) south of Castle Donington, next to
1863-781: The Tudor dynasty's position as monarchs of England. During the Industrial Revolution the Leicestershire coalfield in the north and west of the county was exploited. Leicester became known for shoemaking, and with Loughborough continues to be a manufacturing centre. In agriculture the county is known for Stilton cheese and Melton Mowbray pork pies . Leicestershire was recorded in the Domesday Book (1086) in four wapentakes : Guthlaxton , Framland , Goscote , and Gartree . These later became hundreds , with
1932-466: The county borough status of Leicester city and the county status of neighbouring Rutland , converting both to administrative districts of Leicestershire. These actions were reversed on 1 April 1997, when Rutland and the City of Leicester became unitary authorities. Rutland became a distinct Ceremonial County once again, although it continues to be policed by Leicestershire Constabulary . The symbol of
2001-506: The point where Derbyshire, Leicestershire, and Nottinghamshire meet. The geographical centre of England is in Leicestershire, near Fenny Drayton in the southwest of the county. In 2013, the Ordnance Survey calculated that the point was on land at Lindley Hall Farm. An alternative point at Meriden , around 10 miles (16 km) to the southwest, had been considered the traditional centre for more than 500 years. A large part of
2070-624: The unitary authority area of Leicester. Leicestershire is generally a lowland county, characterised by small, rolling hills. It is bisected by the River Soar , which rises near the Warwickshire border south of Hinckley and flows north through Leicester and Loughborough before reaching the Trent at the county boundary. To the west of the river is Charnwood Forest , an upland area which contains Bardon Hill, which at 278 m (912 ft)
2139-1676: The 1820s until 1986. Abbey Pumping Station houses four enormous steam powered beam engines built in Leicester in the 1890s in the Vulcan factory owned by Josiah Gimson, whose son Ernest Gimson was an influential furniture designer and architect of the English Arts and Crafts movement . Engineering companies today include sports car makers Noble Automotive Ltd in Barwell and Ultima Sports Ltd in Hinckley, Triumph Motorcycles in Hinckley , Jones & Shipman (machine tools), Caterpillar Redford (Plant machinery), Plant manufacturers Metalfacture Ltd (sheet metal work), Richards Engineering (foundry equipment), Transmon Engineering (materials handling equipment), Trelleborg Industrial AVS in Beaumont Leys (industrial suspension components), Parker Plant (quarrying equipment), Aggregate Industries UK (construction materials), Infotec in Ashby-de-la-Zouch (electronic information display boards), Alstec in Whetstone, Leicestershire (airport baggage handling systems), and Brush Traction (railway locomotives) in Loughborough . There are also consultancies (including Pick Everard ) in Leicestershire supporting engineering and
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2208-857: The 250th one built, has survived in preservation on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway , normally carrying its LNWR livery and number. The locomotive is owned by the National Trust and is maintained and run by the Bahamas Locomotive Society . In February 2024, the National Trust handed ownership of 1054 to the Bahamas Locomotive Society and will remain based at Ingrow West on the Keighley and Worth Valley Railway. Bachmann Branchline released
2277-604: The British Pantry (near Washington, D.C.). Leicester and Leicestershire has had a traditional industry of knitwear , hosiery and footwear , and the sheep on the county's coat of arms is recognition of this. The local manufacturing industry, which began with hand knitting in the Middle Ages, and was fully industrialised by the end of the 19th century, survived until the end of the 20th century through retailers buying UK sourced products, and government measures such as
2346-749: The Indian dish Mattar Paneer . Leicestershire food exported abroad includes cheese from the Long Clawson dairy, which is sold in supermarkets in Canada and the United States via a network of distributors coordinated by Taunton-based company Somerdale. Belvoir Fruit Farms cordials and pressé drinks are sold on the United States east coast in Wegmans Food Markets , World Market , Harris Teeter , Dean & DeLuca , and in specialised British food stores such as Myers of Keswick (New York City), and
2415-767: The M1. The Midland Main Line provides important connections to Yorkshire and London, and the Birmingham–Stansted Line is essentially Leicestershire's east–west connection from Hinckley to Melton. Ibstock -based developer Wilson Bowden was bought in 2007 by Barratt Developments plc in a £2.2 billion deal. Charles Street Buildings (Leicester) and Jelson Homes are two other successful Leicester-based property companies. Hamilton-based Sofidel Group manufactures more than 600 million toilet rolls and kitchen towel rolls per year in its Leicestershire factories. Toy car company Corgi have their European operation at
2484-480: The Manchester Railway Society ran a series of excursions. Pulled by loco '43728', the service ran from Charnwood Junction to Shepshed and back. The remaining goods services closed on 7 October 1963, except for Shepshed quarry traffic which lasted to 12 December 1963. The branch was very picturesque, passing through the north-western corner of Charnwood Forest , which was a mass of bluebells in
2553-548: The Meridian Business Park, although the toys are now manufactured in China and the company is owned by Margate-based Hornby . Leicestershire is twinned with Kilkenny , Ireland. Leicester's Cultural Quarter is an ambitious plan to drive the regeneration of a large run-down area of the city. It has delivered: a new venue for the performing arts, Curve; creative workspaces for artists and designers, LCB Depot; and
2622-542: The Vulcan Operating Company. Leicestershire has a long history of livestock farming which continues today. Robert Bakewell (1725–1795) of Dishley, near Loughborough, was a revolutionary in the field of selective breeding. Bakewell's Leicester Longwool sheep was much prized by farmers across the British Empire and is today a heritage breed admired. Commercial and rare breeds associated with
2691-531: The built environment. Local commitment to nurturing the upcoming cadre of British engineers includes apprenticeship schemes with local companies, and academic-industrial connections with the engineering departments at Leicester University , De Montfort University , and Loughborough University . The Systems Engineering Innovation Centre and Centre for Excellence for low carbon and fuel cell technologies are both based at Loughborough University . Private sector research and development organisations include PERA –
2760-521: The city and county includes popular British fish and chip shop pie Pukka Pies who are based in Syston. Walkers Midshire Foods, part of the Samworth Brothers group, makes sausages and pies in its Beaumont Leys factories. Samworth Brothers has operations in Leicestershire and Cornwall ( Ginsters ), making a range of products from sandwiches to desserts for UK retailers under their brands as well
2829-739: The city and county, the Glenfield , the General and the Royal Infirmary . Leicestershire Partnership NHS Trust employs over 5,500 staff providing mental health, learning disability and community health services in the city and county. These services are commissioned by the three Clinical Commissioning Groups, led by local GPs. The British Psychological Society , the Institution of Occupational Safety and Health (IOSH) based in Wigston, and
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2898-606: The coal into Leicester at West Bridge Wharf. Not to be deterred, the thwarted coal owners then promoted a Bill in 1829 which resulted in the construction of the Leicester and Swannington Railway , opened in 1832 — Leicestershire's first railway. Interest then came from London and North Western Railway as a way of getting a foothold in the coal mining area. It was authorised by the Charnwood Forest Railway Act 1874 ( 37 & 38 Vict. c. cxxvii) to lay
2967-597: The company had been placed in receivership; under this supervision, in 1907 three halts were opened, these being Thringstone Halt, Grace Dieu Halt and Snells Nook Halt. These were an attempt to improve the profitability of the line by increasing the customer base. The line was worked by the London and North Western Railway (LNWR) and was taken over by the London Midland & Scottish Railway (LMS) in 1923. Passenger services ceased to operate on 13 April 1931, with freight services ceasing to operate on 12 December 1963. The line
3036-809: The company's own portfolio of brands including Dickinson & Morris, producers of pork pies and Melton Hunt Cake. Walkers crisps are made in Beaumont Leys using Lincolnshire potatoes. United Biscuits have their distribution centre in Ashby-de-la-Zouch as well as a snacks factory and they also have a biscuit factory in Wigston. The Masterfoods UK factory at Melton Mowbray produces petfood. Hand made chocolates are produced by Chocolate Perfection in Ashby-de-la-Zouch . Some 15 major Indian food manufacturers are based in Leicester including Sara Foods, Mayur Foods, Cofresh Snack Foods Ltd, Farsan, Apni Roti, and Spice n Tice. The 'Mithai' Indian sweet market
3105-458: The county council, Leicestershire County Cricket Club and Leicester City FC , is the fox . Leicestershire is considered to be the birthplace of fox hunting as it is known today. Hugo Meynell , who lived in Quorn , is known as the father of fox hunting. Melton Mowbray and Market Harborough have associations with fox hunting, as has neighbouring Rutland. The flag of Leicestershire features
3174-495: The county's legal name was "Leicester" rather than "Leicestershire", although the latter form was in common usage. In legal contexts the county was usually referred to as the "County of Leicester" where necessary to distinguish between the city and the county. In 1969 the government formally changed the county's name to Leicestershire at the county council's request. In 1974, the Local Government Act 1972 abolished
3243-691: The county, Long Clawson and the Leicestershire Handmade Cheese Company. All-natural non-alcoholic fruit cordials and pressed drinks are made by Belvoir Fruit Farms and sold in supermarkets across Britain. Swithland Spring Water is sourced from the Charnwood hills. Breweries in Leicestershire and Rutland are listed on the Leicester CAMRA website. The county's largest beer brewer is Everards , and there are several microbreweries. Various markets are held across
3312-426: The county. Leicester Market is the largest outdoor covered marketplace in Europe and among the products on sale are fruit and vegetables sold by market stallholders, and fresh fish and meat in the Indoor Market. The annual East Midlands Food & Drink Festival held in Melton Mowbray had over 200 exhibitors and 20,000 visitors attending in 2007 making it the largest British regional food festival. Food processing in
3381-433: The course of the line closely. A care home and industrial estate have been built upon the rest of the former trackbed to Loughborough Derby Road station. The Station Hotel, now converted to a funeral home, is the only remaining structure of the small terminus constructed at this location. Leicestershire Leicestershire ( / ˈ l ɛ s t ər ʃ ɪər , - ʃ ər / LEST -ər-sheer, -shər )
3450-401: The descendants of Bakewell's sheep include the English Leicester , Border Leicester , Bluefaced Leicester, Scotch mule, and Welsh halfbred. The Leicestershire County Show is held on the first Bank Holiday in May each year and includes animal showings, trade exhibitions, and show jumping. Melton Mowbray Market is an important regional livestock market. Field sports remain an important part of
3519-494: The division of Goscote into West Goscote and East Goscote , and the addition of Sparkenhoe hundred. In 1087, the first recorded use of the name was as Lægrecastrescir . Leicestershire's external boundaries have changed little since the Domesday Survey. The Measham - Donisthorpe exclave of Derbyshire has been exchanged for the Netherseal area, and the urban expansion of Market Harborough has caused Little Bowden , previously in Northamptonshire to be annexed. Until 1969,
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#17327795179873588-421: The edge of the Hermitage Lake (a former clay quarry), past the modern leisure centre and then under the South Street bridge before passing the Whitwick station building and platform (although unfortunately the platform is unkempt and overgrown). This footpath along the trackbed ends at a T-junction just after Whitwick station, while the line went straight on over another bridge. The trackbed is less clear here, as it
3657-421: The first barrow load of soil over a plank, but due to the rain he slipped and spilled it all, causing great amusement. The line was 10.25 miles (16.5 km) long with four stations serving Coalville (East), Whitwick, Shepshed and Loughborough (Derby Road). There was a rock face of 20 yards (18 m) through which to go at Thringstone and in order to swing the curve at Grace Dieu a cant of 6 inches (150 mm)
3726-416: The halt itself was removed completely when the A512 was realigned and the CFR 3 arched bridge over the old road was demolished. The trackbed remains remarkably intact, although some is now on private land. The most convenient place to start is near Coalville's Morrisons outlet (at grid reference SK428152 ) where the trackbed into Whitwick has been made a public right of way. This footpath meanders along
3795-418: The halts paid on the train but when the huts were provided the guard issued the tickets from the huts. It was also the guard's duty to tend the oil lamps at the platforms. Route of the Charnwood Forest Line continuing from the Ashby and Nuneaton Joint Railway (ANJR): There are very few buildings still in existence which were once used by the railway. However, one still exists in Whitwick , and now serves as
3864-446: The hands of the receiver in 1909 it remained a separate company until the LMS absorbed it in the 1923 grouping . Passengers trains were operated by an LNWR steam railmotor , though 2-4-2 tanks. 0-6-0 freight and 0-6-2 Coal Tanks also worked passenger services as well as freights. The LNWR ran nine passenger trains from Derby Road station in Loughborough with most going through to Shackerstone and two continuing to Nuneaton. In 1922
3933-413: The home of the "Whitwick Historical Group". This is in the old station building near the market place. The goods shed at Loughborough Derby Road stood until 2018, albeit in use with the rest of an industrial estate, when it was demolished to make way for a supermarket. The only other buildings still standing (and this is a tenuous link) are the numerous bridges still carrying road traffic dotted amongst
4002-427: The local countryside. One of the best still remains intact within Thringstone woods, near Grace Dieu Priory ruins. This is the Grace Dieu Viaduct, a grand and imposing structure for such a small line. The station buildings at Coalville East have been built upon (housing estate). The same has happened in Shepshed (industrial estate) and Loughborough. There is still a post near the site of Grace Dieu halt. The site of
4071-727: The most rapidly expanding villages is Anstey , which has recently seen many development schemes. Engineering has long been an important part of the economy of Leicestershire. John Taylor Bellfounders continues a history of bellfounding in Loughborough since the 14th century. In 1881 John Taylors cast the largest bell in Britain, "Great Paul", for St Paul's Cathedral in London. Norman & Underwood have been making sand cast sheet lead roofing and stained glass since 1825 working on many of England's major cathedrals and historic buildings, including Salisbury Cathedral, Windsor Castle, Westminster Abbey, Hampton Court Palace, and Chatsworth House. There were three coal mines that operated in Coalville from
4140-477: The north-west of the county, around Coalville , forms part of the new National Forest area extending into Derbyshire and Staffordshire. The highest point of the county is Bardon Hill at 278 m (912 ft), which is also a Marilyn ; with other hilly/upland areas of c. 150–200 metres (490–660 ft) and above in nearby Charnwood Forest and also to the east of the county around Launde Abbey . The lowest point, at an altitude of about 20 metres (66 ft),
4209-502: The protection of the Multi Fibre Arrangement which ended in 2004. Cheaper global competition, coupled with the 1999 slump in the UK fashion retail sector, led to the end of much of the cheaper clothing manufacturing industry. Today Leicestershire companies focus on high quality clothing and speciality textiles. Other local companies manufacture knitwear such as Commando Knitwear of Wigston, and others specialise in technical textiles for industrial or medical purposes. Clothing and fabric for
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#17327795179874278-548: The rural economy of Leicestershire, with stables, kennels, and gunsmiths based in the county. Stilton and Red Leicester cheeses and the pork pie are the three most famous contributions to English cuisine from Leicestershire. Leicestershire food producers include Claybrooke mill, one of the very few commercially working watermills left in Britain producing a range of over 40 flours; meat from rare and minority breeds from Brockleby's; and Christmas turkey and goose from Seldom Seen Farm. Two dairies produce Red Leicester cheese in
4347-414: The south of the county near the Warwickshire border, and flows northwards, bisecting the county along its north–south axis, through 'Greater' Leicester and then to the east of Loughborough where its course within the county comes to an end. It continues north marking the boundary with Nottinghamshire in the Borough of Rushcliffe for some 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) before joining the River Trent at
4416-569: The spring resulting in the epithet "The Bluebell Line" in passengers days, although it was not the only line to be so termed. It was also known as the 'Bread and Herring Line' by the drivers and firemen. The halts, opened in 1907, at Thringstone, Grace Dieu and Snells Nook were an attempt to attract passengers and enable effective competition with new omnibus services. All of the halts were merely platforms six feet wide, thirty-three inches high and sixty feet long, and made up of old sleepers. Waiting huts were added later. Originally, passengers boarding at
4485-431: The technology based consultancy in Melton Mowbray, and MIRA – the automotive research and development centre based on the outskirts of Hinckley. Automotive and aerospace engineers use the test facilities at Mallory Park , and Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome and proving ground. On 18 October 2007, the last airworthy Avro Vulcan was flown from Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome after 10 years of restoration there by aerospace engineers of
4554-477: The town of Loughborough . Other large towns include Ashby-de-la-Zouch , Coalville, Hinckley , Lutterworth , Market Harborough , Melton Mowbray , Oadby , Shepshed and Wigston . Some of the larger of villages are: Burbage (population estimated around 16,500 in 2014), Birstall (population 11,400 in 2004), Broughton Astley , Castle Donington , Kibworth Beauchamp (along with Kibworth Harcourt), Great Glen , Ibstock , Countesthorpe and Kegworth . One of
4623-402: Was a move to join up with the Great Central Railway at Loughborough but nothing came of it and the terminus remained at Loughborough's Derby Road. The Company then came up with two initiatives designed to improve profitability; Cheap-to-run railmotor services, which were introduced between Loughborough and Shackerstone , and on 2 April 1907 three halts were opened for use with them. On leaving
4692-468: Was known as the ' Bluebell Line' due to the flower growing along much of the length of the line during the spring. According to Hadfield, in 1828 the owners of the disused Charnwood Forest Canal turned down an approach by Leicestershire coal owners for permission to lay rails along the now dry canal bed. The idea was to bring coal by this rail route from Whitwick and Swannington to Loughborough where it could then be transferred on to boats which would bring
4761-427: Was required. The line also had a steep gradient of 1 in 66 between Whitwick and Coalville East. The line opened on 16 April 1883 and was worked by the LNWR which had subscribed a third of the capital in exchange for 50% of the gross receipts. As a result of being unable to pay the interest on debenture stocks and partly due to financial malfeasance by the Secretary, the line went into bankruptcy in 1885. In 1906 there
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