Leicestershire is a landlocked county, bang in the middle of England (there are debates between here and Derbyshire, as to which village is furthest from the sea). It used to also house Rutland, before that county became England’s smallest independent county. This is home to many castles and stately homes, and bordered by several other counties.
One local we all know about is George Fox, a villager who did not like the traditional and sometimes hypocritical dogma of the Christian faith, and started the Quakers, a movement credited with doing great work for environment, animals and social justice. Another tragic local was Lady Jane Grey, who reigned as queen for just 9 days, before being executed, just 16 years old (as he placed her head on the block, she recited from the book of Luke: ‘Lord, into thy hands I commend my spirit’. Leicestershire is also responsible for the English language.
- The Little Book of Leicestershire is a compendium of information of entertaining facts about local people, literature, art, sport, transport and ghostly appearances. Dip in to find quirky facts.
- 50 Gems of Leicestershire and Rutland covers the countryside, market towns and historic buildings with Normal castle ruins, parish churches, canals and steam railways. Enjoy a slice of middle England in this illustrated insight into two landlocked counties.