Coleorton Walks

Walking in Coleorton

Coleorton History Walks

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Previous History Walks

Thursday 14 September 2023

We met at Coleorton Wood carpark in pouring rain. Undaunted we walked across the fields at the back of the wood and over Coal Pit Close to old Ashby Road. From there to St Mary's where the new Rector Rev Canon Sue Field and Pat Stafford welcomed us with coffee / tea and biscuits. Very welcome while we dried out a bit and marvelled at the beautiful windows and the history of St Mary's. We poked our heads out the north door to peek at Coleorton Hall and talked about the Beaumont families, especially the 7th baronet Sir George who built the current Hall and was a notable patron of artists and poets and was a keen artist himself (as was his wife Margaret).

The rain had stopped by the time we returned along the old Ashby Road, saw the School and St John's Chapel. Then across the field and on to the Moor to look at the Communal Bakehouse. Much discussion about the ovens and how they were used, then back to the Wood.

Friday 22 September 2023

We'd been asked for a more gentle walk so we arranged a flattish route for those of us who aren't so nimble starting at The Kings Arms car park on The Moor. No stiles or muddy fields on this one!

Terry Ward led us around The Moor and The Rowlands relating the history of The Kings Arms, pointing out cottages, with stories of their residents, and some history of the Sherwin family who lived at the big house, The Firs, on The Moor and were great entrepreneurs in the hosiery business. On Moor Lane we looked at Bott Cottage, formerly Hartshorne Cottage, and heard about the rathe eccentric Bott family. Amazing stories and history in just a small area of Coleorton!

Coleorton Heritage Trail

In 2012 the Coleorton Heritage Group devised a Heritage Trail which takes in a number of historically interesting sites as well as providing an interesting and scenic route. The Trail takes 2-3 hours (depending on how long you spend stopping and looking) Coleorton parish is quite spread out with groups of houses and lots of fields in between. Although now considered rural/residential Coleorton has a history of mining and other industrial activity like frame-knitting and spar bauble-making, as well as some notable literary connections and interesting characters.The Trail will give you a flavour of life back then - as well as a gentle walk around our lovely parish.

More about the trail and a downloadable map >>.

Hello Heritage 2022

September walks started and finished at Peggs Green Recreation Ground opposite The New Inn on Zion Hill. We set off at 10.30.

We crossed over Zion Hill Recreation Ground which used to be part of California pit and brickyard. We then walked along the footpath parallel to the old Coleorton Railway which was built in 1833 to transport coal from mines in the Lount and Newbold area to Swannington for onward dispatch by the Leicester and Swannington Railway. Down onto the hump on Stoney lane where the railway track rose up and continued along an embankment behind Bank House, Aqueduct Cottage and over the, now broken, bridge on Aqueduct Road.

Turning left we continued up Stoney Lane and viewed the various cottages inc The Thatches and the cottages in Elverstones Yard, up Lower Moor Road seeing where The Blacksmith's Arms used to be, across the A512, quick stop at the Millennium Garden, along Prestons Lane, Moor Lane (formerly Workhouse Lane), up by Hough Mill, said hello to the alpacas, back across the A512 and down Tugby's Lane to Zion Hill.

When we returned to Peggs Green Rec The New Inn was open for a drink and a bite to eat and chatting continued.

2021

In September North West Leicestershire District Council held their annual "Hello Heritage" festival. As part of this event we hosted two Coleorton History Walks in early September and another on 9th October. They were very popular and we were very lucky with the weather.

The walk set off from the Kings Arms on The Moor. We learned about the history of the Kings Arms and the cottages at the side. Some very interesting tales of previous occupants bringing up large families in the tiny, low-ceilinged cottages.

We then walked down The Moor hearing about previous residents, including the Walker family at Rosine House and the Home Guard, the well-to-do Sherwins who lived in the big "Firs" and the brick tax which resulted for a few years in very large "gob" bricks being used until the taxmen realised the folly of charging per brick regardless of size. Then we walked down Pitt Lane learning about the Bug and Wink coal pit that used to be where Coleorton Wood is now, across the fields and Cartbrook to the back of Viscount Beaumont School and St John's Chapel. A brief visit to the graveyard and wondered why there are two headstones for the same lady and then back across the fields - full of ponies and young foals - and up to The Moor.

Up along the Moor we took a look at The Communal Bakehouse and the ovens which we hope to restore and then back to The Kings Arms for a well-earned drink.

If you have any questions about our walks email Sandra at enquiries@coleortonheritage.org.uk or phone 01530 440000.

The parish of Coleorton has an extensive network of public footpaths. Some say this is because workers at Coleorton Hall would walk the shortest distance across the fields from their outlying cottages. But looking at some of the footpaths on the map they seem much more random. We also have parts of The Ivanhoe Way which is a circular route around Leicestershire and the Mining Heritage Trail.

We often organise guided History Walks around Coleorton parish but you can also download the guide and follow our Heritage Trail at your own pace.

Walking through School Field towards St John's Chapel

Coleorton History Spring Walk
Sunday 28 April 2019

The weather was reasonable - no rain and a light wind. We started off from Coleorton Wood car park. Coleorton Wood is the site of Coleorton Colliery no 3 - or Bug & Wink as it was known later in its life. Terry Ward told us about mining in Coleorton and the dreadful conditions the miners - men and women and young children - had to endure to make a living. We heard about Terry's great uncle Jim Platts who had two pet foxes and the history of the previous Queens Head Inn on The Rowlands.

The Rowlands is actually in Swannington Parish and that was where the Baptist Chapel was built, because The Coleorton Beaumonts would not allow non-conformist churches within the Coleorton parish boundary. The chapel you can see now has been remodelled into a delightful family home. An earlier chapel stood in the field to the side, but is no longer visible.

Despite much new building there are still several cottages over 200 years old with interesting history. Some were used as "spar shops" for making baubles which tradesmen sold as ornaments and souvenirs at the increasingly popular seaside resorts like Weston-super-Mare.

We then walked along Prestons Lane, across The Moor to the Millennium Garden and along the old Ashby Road to Viscount Beaumont's School. From there across the fields back to The Moor to visit the Communal Bakehouse before returning to Coleorton Wood car park.

Walkers on the Spring Walk April 2019

Walkers on the History Walk September 2018

Footpaths in Coleorton

There are plenty of footpaths to explore in Coleorton and several local groups arrange guided walks and group walks. Coleorton footpaths >>