Effects of 2 World Wars

Until the Second World War Kilby was self-sufficient, having its own butcher, baker, carpenter, blacksmith, post office, shop and two public houses. There was also regular transport to Wigston and Leicester , provided by Bromleys.

Kilby is now a prosperous village. The ex-service generation have all now died - some of them remaining in Kilby until the end of their lives. Several of the Farmhouses were sold but the land, still owned by the County Council, has been divided between the new generation of farmers who now have larger herds of cows and all kinds of machinery available to the modern farmer of today.

Although these working farms give it an agricultural feel the majority of the community consists of a complete cross-section of society, including retired people, businessman, teachers, and employees in all trades and professions, who commute to the surrounding area.

The greatest change in the village took place during the First World when Lord Cottesloe of Wigston Hall sold land to Leicestershire County Council, to provide 50 acre smallholdings for ex-service men. There were 16 of these and life at the time was still fairly primitive. Each farmer had a few cows, which he milked twice daily, and to eke out a meagre living he also kept a flock of sheep, a few cattle, hens and two pigs, to keep the family in bacon and ham. He grow corn to sell and mangolds to feed the animals during the winter. All cultivation was done by horse power.