Newton Harcourt - A Short History

In the itinerary of 1280, Newton, Fleckney, Wistow and Sadington answered collectively as one village.

In 1483, William lord Hastings died seized of the manor and lordship of Newton Harcourt; also of two messuages, two virgates of land, two acres of meadow, four acres of pasture and 4s rent in Newton Harcourt, and from him it descended to the earls of Huntingdon.

The freeholders here who polled in 1630 were Francis Chamberlaine, William Bright, John Gilbert and William Dawes.

In 1719 and 1722, five freeholders polled; and six in 1775.
John Chamberlaine was lord of this manor in 1642.

The earl of Denbigh (in right of his lady) is lord of the manor and the principle land owner. Mr Woodruffe, of Burton, has also a good estate here; and there are some other smaller proprietors.

The chapel and one large old house stand very near, and on the south side of the Navigation, called The Union Canal; the other part of the village is on the North side the canal, to which there is a communication by a modern bridge of brick. The chapel and house before mentioned are situated between the navigation and the little river Sense, at a very small distance from each.

The above data was taken from John Nichols Book – ‘The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester’ Vol II
Published 1798

Newton Harcourt – In a valley stand its oldest neighbours, an attractive Elizabethan manor house and a church which was given a new lease of life last century and has lost most of its ancient aspects and possessions. In the shady churchyard is a striking modern monument in the form of a miniature church with spire, porch, windows, and battlements, set up in memory of a boy of eight, a little shrine not unlike a toy building he himself might have tried to fashion with a big box of bricks. We have come upon no other like it in any of our country churchyards.
Taken from
Arthur Mee ‘The King’s England’ – Leicestershire and Rutland – Newton Harcourt
Published Sept 1948.