Thurcaston and Cropston Local History Society
About us
We are a friendly group of people who enjoy learning about the history of our two villages and the surrounding area. In the winter our meetings are indoor talks and in the summer visits to local places of interest.
We welcome new members or visitors to our meetings. The annual membership fee is £12. Visitors are asked to contribute £3 for each meeting they attend.
Programme
Our winter meetings are held at The Harrison Room at All Saints Church, Anstey Lane, Thurcaston (don't use the main Church door, follow the path from the churchyard gate round to the right of the Church). Unless otherwise stated, the meetings start at 7:30pm.
Date |
Subject |
|---|---|
Tue 17 Jan |
Horse-drawn railways of Leicestershire and South Derbyshire |
Tue 21 Feb |
Swithland Slate Gravestones |
Tue 20 Mar |
"What bard hath sung of thee?" |
April |
(No meeting) |
Tue 15 May |
Church Organs (in the church) |
Sat 23 Jun |
Stained Glass (in the church) |
Tue 17 Jul |
Birstall village walk |
Tue 14 Aug |
Visit to Shuttlewood Clarke Foundation, Ulverscroft |
Tue 18 Sep |
Life on a Tudor Manor |
Tue 16 Oct |
The Civil War in Leicestershire |
Tue 20 Nov |
(Short) AGM followed by People in the News |
December |
(No meeting) |
Publications
The Society's archivists have published the first five of a series of booklets about the history of the villages:
1. Dr Elias Travers DD, Rector of Thurcaston cum Cropston 1621-1641 by Margaret Greiff
The story of the first rector of the parish to be presented by Emmanuel College, Cambridge.
At the time, the living of Thurcaston (which included Anstey and Cropston) was one of the richest in the country.
2. Parish Affairs: The financial dealings of Thurcaston Parish from the distant past to the present by Brenda Hooper
How the Parish has provided local services by the collection of rates through the years. The booklet includes illustrations and reproductions of many original documents.
3. Grave Matters: In memory of a few of the occupants of All Saints' Churchyard, Thurcaston by Brenda Hooper
The book details the history of gravestones and masons and touches upon the wills, inventories, inquest and burial certificates of some of the residents of All Saints' graveyard.
4. The Story of John de Mershden, Rector of Thurcaston 1391-1425
by Margaret Greiff
This booklet relates the fascinating details so far discovered about the man whose body lies beneath the memorial brass in the chancel of All Saints Church, Thurcaston.
5. The Richard Hill School, 1715-2009 by Brenda Hooper
Describing the founding of the Richard Hill School in Thurcaston, this booklet uses documented evidence to follow its history from 1715 to the old building's final closure in 2009.
How to buy the booklets
The booklets are priced at £2.50 each plus 40p postage and packing. Cheques should be made payable to Thurcaston and Cropston Local History Society.
They are available from Falconer Press, 99 Leicester Road, Thurcaston, Leics LE7 7JH.
More about our villages' history
Information about the history of the parish can also be found by following the links below:
Contact details
If you would like to learn more about the society, please phone 0116 2367365.
