Kilby History

The History of Kilby

Kilby is a small village of some 100 households situated in a valley off the A 5119, often refereed to as "The Turnpick" about seven miles south of Leicester.

In the 19th century much of the village was part of the Wistow estate although there were some private landowners. Many of the people worked on the land or were in domestic service, but almost as many worked in the knitting industry some on their own frames at home, but many travelling in factories in Fleckney and Wiston.

Electricity was brought to the village about 1937 and that perhaps more than anything else made life easier for the womenfolk, and a Women's Institute was formed. Earlier in 1934, the offer of a water supply was turned down because it would be too expensive and one of Kilby's oldest inhabitants said he could never remember the village pump being short. It was about ten years later after the war that the water supply finally arrived.

The Post Office and shop are gone but the Arriva Bus Company runs an hourly service through the day, which is a lifeline for those without cars.

Kilby, once so humble, is now a "Sought After Village".

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