February 2016 Issue 301

NEW COUNTESTHORPE
HE ERALD
Village Newspaper 301
February 2016
CHANGING FACES
OF COUNTESTHORPE
Station Road, Beeching Close and The Railway Inn are the keys to the next article about Countesthorpe’s history. Our photo, taken around 1960, shows the site of the railway station and level crossing with the second Railway Inn in the background. The first inn was situated in what was, until recently, the Hinckley and Rugby Building Society.
The railway line, which ran from Leicester to Rugby, followed the route of the original Midland Counties Railway. Passengers travelling at the time could stop at the stations of Wigston South, Countesthorpe, Broughton Astley and Ullesthorpe & Lutterworth. The line was opened in 1840 but closed on 1st February 1962, courtesy of the government consultant, Dr. Beeching. As a result of his report on British Rail, around 2128 stations were closed and over 67,000 British Rail jobs were axed.
U3A APPRECIATING SPRING GARDENS
Listing the various closures of U3ASpecial Interest Groups over the Christmas and New Year period must have been quite a task for June, but now well settled into the usual busy lives membership brings. The next planned outings are to ‘Chess the Musical’ at Market Harborough theatre and the History Group will be going to the RAF Museum at Hendon
do look up the website or find
a Newsletter in the Rainbow
Shop for details! Check out the
programme of the newly formed
Garden Appreciation Group, with a variety of meetings and suitable outings. Thinking some, like me, might need exercise, why not try walking with either Short Walks and No Stiles, Nordic Walking
or ‘Country Rambles, Refreshments Essential’ or maybe carpet bowls, ten pin bowling, Kurling or Country Dancing?PatsyP
So how were residents of Countesthorpe involved with the railway?
The 1841 Census shows Bernard Barnes, age 30, as the Railroad Ticket Seller and Joseph Cox, age 45, as the Railway Police Constable. Isaac Starbuck, age 25, was a Railway Labourer. By 1851, Joseph Cox was the Railway Station Master and was living at the Railway Station with his
wife, Hannah, and family. Joseph Deacon,
www.countesthorpe-herald.org
IN THIS ISSUE OF YOUR COMMUNITY NEWSPAPER
PAGENew Pastime could provide
PAGE Bear Grylls gets to meet the
PAGE Lots of interest in a different kind of bank
6 a real buzz
11 Barber (Jack)
26 - food for thought
INSIDE YOUR HERALD, EVERY ISSUE • Local Events Diary • Parish Council News • Local Services Directory • The Very Best Local Gossip!
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