Hallaton is a village and

civil parish In England, a civil parish is a type of administrative parish used for local government. It is a territorial designation which is the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties, or their combined form, the unitary authorit ...

in the

Harborough Market Harborough is a market town in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England, in the far southeast of the county, forming part of the border with Northamptonshire. Market Harborough's population was 25,143 in 2020. It is the ad ...

district of Leicestershire, England. According to the 2001 census the parish had a population of 523, which had increased to 594 at the 2011 census.

History and description

The village's name means 'farm/settlement on a nook of land'. Hallaton Hall and its lands were owned by Calverley and Amelia Jane Bewicke in 1845. Their daughter was the writer and campaigner

Alicia Little Alicia Little or Mrs Archibald Little (1845 – 31 July 1926) was a British writer and a campaigner for women's rights and later against foot binding in China. Life Little was born as Alicia Ellen Neve BewickeIn many of her books ''Neve'' appe ...

.Sybil Oldfield, 'Little , Alicia Ellen Neve (1845–1926)', ''Oxford Dictionary of National Biography'', Oxford University Press, 2004; online edn, May 200
accessed 9 Nov 2016
As the site of two markets Hallaton was despite its size regarded as a town, even if one of little significance. Hallaton church

The

parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...

is dedicated to

St Michael Michael (; he, מִיכָאֵל, lit=Who is like El od, translit=Mīḵāʾēl; el, Μιχαήλ, translit=Mikhaḗl; la, Michahel; ar, ميخائيل ، مِيكَالَ ، ميكائيل, translit=Mīkāʾīl, Mīkāl, Mīkhāʾīl), also ...

and is mainly of the 13th century: the aisles were added a century later. The church is sited on rising ground and has a dignified tower with a fine broach spire (one of the best in the county); the nave and chancel and aisles have nobility and beauty. The sculptured stonework of the north aisle contrasts with the plain battlemented south aisle. A former rector is commemorated by a handsome monument attached to one of the corners. Firth, J. B. (2026) ''Highways and Byways in Leicestershire''. London: Macmillan; p. 227 The village has a famous bottle kicking ritual and "Hare Pie Scramble", which take place usually on Easter Monday. There is a small village museum, offering history of the area. The

Hallaton Treasure The Hallaton Treasure, the largest hoard of British Iron Age coins, was discovered in 2000 near Hallaton in southeast Leicestershire, England, by volunteers from the Hallaton Fieldwork Group. The initial find was made by Ken Wallace on 19 N ...

, a late

Iron Age The Iron Age is the final epoch of the three-age division of the prehistory and protohistory of humanity. It was preceded by the Stone Age ( Paleolithic, Mesolithic, Neolithic) and the Bronze Age ( Chalcolithic). The concept has been mostl ...

hoard of more than 5,000 silver and gold coins was found at a site near Hallaton in 2000. In 1736 smallpox affected the town when George Fenwick was the rector.Fenwick, George (1736) "Our souls more worth than all the world-with the use of that consideration.": A sermon preached in the parish church of Hallaton, October 31, 1736. On occasion of the small-pox breaking out there. London: printed for Caleb Ratten, bookseller in Harborough; sold by Tho. Longman As of 2019, Hallaton has two

pubs A pub (short for public house) is a kind of drinking establishment which is licensed to serve alcoholic drinks for consumption on the premises. The term ''public house'' first appeared in the United Kingdom in late 17th century, and was ...

, The Bewicke Arms on Eastgate, and The Fox, on North End. Hallaton railway station was on the line between

Market Harborough Market Harborough is a market town in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England, in the far southeast of the county, forming part of the border with Northamptonshire. Market Harborough's population was 25,143 in 2020. It is the adm ...

and

Nottingham Nottingham ( , locally ) is a city and unitary authority area in Nottinghamshire, East Midlands, England. It is located north-west of London, south-east of Sheffield and north-east of Birmingham. Nottingham has links to the legend of Robi ...

but closed in 1953.

References

External links

Hallaton Parish Walks A good walk: Hallaton and Medbourne, Leicestershire The Times 4 April 2009
Villages in Leicestershire Civil parishes in Harborough District {{Leicestershire-geo-stub

History and description

See also

References

External links