Barwell
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Barwell is a village in Leicestershire, England, known as the Stream of the Boar. Barwell is a small village with a population of 6000. The name Barwell came from a boar that used to drink from the well near the brook in Barwell, soon it was Boarwell, then later in time it became 'Barwell' the common name.
The village boasts about its 13th century parish church, called Saint Marys Church of England, with a successful soccer and cricket team. Also a large popular indoor bowling complex.
The Queens Head is the oldest public house and oldest building in Barwell, in 1902 the pub was owned by a lady named 'Sarah Ann Powers.' In recent years, the old pub roof has naturatualy deformed so it's no longer straight.
History
It was on the lands of Leofric, Earl of Mercia, a rich and powerful magnate who had fought alongside Canute in his wars against Wessex. In old English, wella is the word for stream and bar the name for boar, and so this clearing in the woods was known in the Saxon tongue as Barwelle. In 1043, Earl Leofric and his wife, Godiva, established a Benedictine Abbey at Coventry and gave the Abbot and his twenty-four attendant monks, lands for their upkeep. Barwelle, along with nineteen other villages passed into the domains of the Abbot of Coventry.
Following the Norman Conquest, Barwelle was still held by the Abbey of Coventry. By 1086, there were 14 villagers with a priest, and 3 smallholders with 2 ploughs; a plough being a plot of land that can be cultivated by one team of oxen. There was a meadow 1 furlong by 1 furlong (201 by 201 m) in size and woodland 3 furlongs by 1 league (604 by 5556 m). The value of which was 30 shillings (£1.50).
Until recent times, Barwell, together with neighbouring Earl Shilton, was a centre for shoe production in the East Midlands. The area is also known for hosiery, especially in nearby Hinckley.
The War Memorial was moved near the church, St Marys, from the 'round about' in Top Town, along the road from Queens Head. Some people think the War Memorial was moved because of the old fashioned cars bumping into it which caused complaints. Other people think it was moved because they wouldnt want all the memories flooding back to them when they went shopping in Top Town, this caused upset. If you are not sure about this strange War Memorial, ask your Reverend in Barwell, he or she will sure know much about it.
Barwell was the site of a major meteor impact in the UK. On Christmas Eve 1965, the village was showered with fragments, that when combined, were about the size of a traditional Christmas turkey. Fortunately, no one was hurt, although some minor damage to buildings and property occurred.