Waltham on the Wolds

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Coordinates: 52°49′16″N 0°48′16″W / 52.821129°N 0.804534°W / 52.821129; -0.804534

Waltham on the Wolds
Waltham.jpg
The parish church of St Mary Magdalene
Waltham on the Wolds is located in Leicestershire
Waltham on the Wolds

 Waltham on the Wolds shown within Leicestershire
OS grid reference SK805255
Parish Waltham and Thorpe Arnold
District Melton
Shire county Leicestershire
Region East Midlands
Country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town MELTON MOWBRAY
Postcode district LE14
Dialling code 01664
Police Leicestershire
Fire Leicestershire
Ambulance East Midlands
EU Parliament East Midlands
List of places: UK • England • Leicestershire

Waltham on the Wolds is a village located in the civil parish of Waltham and Thorpe Arnold, in the Melton borough of Leicestershire, England, about 5 miles (8.0 km) northeast of Melton Mowbray and 11 miles (17.7 km) south-west of Grantham on the A607 road.

Contents

[edit] Geography

The parish had a population of about 967 as of the United Kingdom Census 2001, and is the site of the Waltham television transmitting station, which serves most of the East Midlands. Apart from the main village, the parish also includes the village of Thorpe Arnold, which is just to the northeast of Melton. To the southeast is Stonesby, which is nearer to the 1,033 ft (315 m) transmitter. The village is on a ridge which has an escarpment close to the north-west that dramatically overlooks the Vale of Belvoir.

[edit] History

One of the earliest mentions of this place is in the Domesday book where it is listed amongst the lands given to Hugh de Grandmesnil[1] by the King. There was 100 acres (0.40 km2) of meadow and land for 11 ploughs. It was valued at six pounds.

The village had a railway station one mile (1.6 km) north of the village which opened in 1883 as a branch line from Scalford, but was only used sparingly for special occasions such as events at Croxton Park. The line, owned by GNR, was used mainly for nearby iron ore works near Knipton, and the line's remains are still visible.

[edit] Waltham Centre

Waltham-on-the-Wolds is also known for its connection with Mars (previously Masterfoods UK), and the much-advertised Waltham Centre for Pet Nutrition. Not everyone agrees with what they do, although it is mainly research into effect of diet on cats, dogs and horses (for Spillers).

[edit] Amenities

The parish church is dedicated to St Mary Magdalene. On February 27 2008, the church's spire was badly damaged by the 2008 Lincolnshire earthquake, and the top 30 ft (9.1 m) of the spire will have to be completely rebuilt at a cost of around £100,000.[2] Village pubs are the Marquis of Granby on High Street and the Royal Horseshoes on Melton Road. There is a small village shop with a post office, a delicatessen, and a primary school.

[edit] References

  1. ^ Domesday Book: A Complete Transliteration. London: Penguin, 2003. p. 653 ISBN 0-14-143994-7
  2. ^ "Scaffolding due this week". Save Our Spire!. 2008-03-10. http://saveourspire.org.uk/?p=9. Retrieved 2009-01-13. 

[edit] External links

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