factfile

Fact File

on Harby History

Dates and happenings

200 million years ago Fossils called "devil's toenails are found in the ground around Harby dating back to the Jurassic period. Click on the picture to read more.
ICE AGE HARBY We all know about global warming, how cutting down the trees, burning coal, oil and gas is causing the world to heat up. We may not know so well that over the last million years the world was in the ice ages. The temperature and climate around Harby varied from being under glaciers like Greenland today to being warm enough for the hippopotamus. The cause is uncertain; possible due to the earth getting nearer and then further away from the sun as it circled in space. In the early ice ages the glaciers covered north and central Britain down as far as the Thames. In the last ice age, from around 100,000 years ago, the ice came into north and east Lincolnshire from Scotland and Scandinavia (the North Sea was dry land then as so much water had turned into snow and ice and was lying on the land) and into north Nottinghamshire from the Lake District and the Pennines. Mammoth, reindeer and Neanderthal man lived around here, leaving evidence of their presence by their bones and distinctive stone tools. Then modern people, just like ourselves, came around 40,000 BC, living among other places at Creswell Crags in north Nottinghamshire where they left examples of art in the caves. The arctic conditions ended around 8,000 BC. What evidence for all this is there from Harby? The answer is the bits and pieces of flint and other foreign stone that we find in our flowerbeds. The glaciers brought these from miles away and left them here when they melted.
2,000 BC A flint arrowhead, probably lost in hunting by one of the first farmers in the Vale of Belvoir, has been found near Waltham Lane south of Harby. It is about 2 centimeters wide and fitted onto a wooden arrowshaft. It has a flat but very sharp cutting edge that caused the animal it hit to die by bleeding from the cut it made

About 50 to 400 AD During Roman times there was a small Roman settlement just to the northeast of Harby and another perhaps no more than a little farm, towards the old railway-line south of Harby. This is shown by Roman pottery found in the fields. A stone head of Roman date but from the practice of people before the Romans came has been found in the south-west of the village. Click on the picture to read the full story.

About 850 Harby is founded as a Danish settlement. The settlement is called a "by" or settlement in the Scandinavian language and "heorde" from the Scandinavian word meaning herdsman, the village of the herdsmen. There are now two places called Harby, us and Harby in Nottinghamshire. Going back in time there were two others, one in Derbyshire and a second in Nottinghamshire. It was once thought that the name came from Hjortr, the name of the leader of a Danish settlement band. But it seems too unusual to have so many places with the same leaders name. So the herdsmen name is now thought the more likely for all these settlements. You can read about it in the book by Barrie Cox, published in 2002 by the English Place-name Society at Nottingham University "The Place-names of Leicestershire, part two, Framland Hundred".

1086 Domesday Book is compiled for William the Conqueror. It is written in Latin and is the first record about Harby. When translated this is what it says.

In the Wapentake of Framland

Robert of Tosny owns 17 carucates of land at Harby. In the time of King Edward it was 14 ploughs. Three of these carucates are held directly by Robert with 8 slaves. 13 of the ploughs are leased to 24 freemen, 7 villagers and 3 smallholders. There are meadows measuring five furlongs long and 4 furlongs wide. This land now brings in £5 a year; it used to be worth £4.

Robert of Bucy owns1 carucate of land at Harby and leases it to Gerard. The land takes one plough to work it. Gerard sub-leases it to 2 freemen and 3 small holders. Its value is 5 shillings.

The Domesday Book tells us that Harby is spelled both Herdebi and Hertebi. It is in the county of Leicestershire and in the division called the wapentake of Framland. The land is owned by two French noblemen, Robert of Tosny and Robert of Bucy. There are 18 carucates of land which is about 2,160 acres. Robert of Tosny has 2,040 acres. In king Edward's time, before William the Conqueror took over England, it took 14 plough teams to work this land. A plough team was the plough and eight oxen to pull it. Robert has a central farmstead that he runs himself with eight men. The rest of the land is let out to 34 men. The meadows of the village measure five furlongs by four furlongs. The rent is now five pounds, it used to be four pounds. Robert of Bucy owns 120 acres and lets the land to Girard. Girard then sublets it to five men. There is one plough team working it. It has a rental value of five shillings. The people of Harby are put into four levels of social status, from highest to lowest, freeman, villagers, smallholders and slaves.

Putting all these people together it makes up 47 working men. We can estimate that each working man had a family of a wife and two children. That would make a total population of Harby in 1086 of about 150 men, women and children. There were nearly as many oxen. And King William could expect to get five pounds and five shillings a year from the village.

For more details of Robert of Tosny click here

About 1350 Present church began. The study of parish churches is a fascinating hobby and Harby St Mary the Virgin church offers hours of interest. There are the human heads to see on the carved corbel stones holding up the rafters for the roof. At the top of the tower is a frieze of carvings. Click to go to more details about these.

The nave

The tower

Hoodmould stops

As well as the corbel human heads inside there are human heads around the doors and windows all round the outside of the church. You can find this one wearing a mediaeval hat on the north side.

1617 The Reverend Thomas Daffy becomes Rector of Harby. He becomes famous for his restorative drink, Daffye's Elixir which he claims will cure everything. Click here for more of the story.
1622 A description of Harby by William Burton sets out who owns the land, describes the church and says that in old deeds it is called Herdeby.

1645 King Charles I at Belvoir Castle. Wiverton Hall just north of Harby was held by the kings' men from 1643 to 1645, controlling movement across this part of the Vale. The book "A Cavalier Stronghold - a romance of the Vale of Belvoir" written by Mrs Chaworth Musters in 1890 (who lived at Wiverton Hall) gives this picture of the old gateway.

1666 Rev Thomas Daffy is removed from the good living at Harby to Redmile which was less well off by the Countess of Rutland. She was a lady of puritan tastes and took a dislike to Daffy for some reason which has not been recorded. For the full story read the book listed below by Haycock and Wallis. 1669 The Society of Friends met in Harby according to Archbishop Sheldon's inquiry into the growth of Nonconformity; the Harby churchwardens provided a return which stated: "One conventicle of Quakers, about 20 in number . . . William Smith, a stranger, Eliza Hooton, a stranger, Leviston Patrick, a stranger, be their teachers. They usually meet at ye dwelling house of Chr. Levis, husbandman."

1700 Gravestones in the churchyard become more common after 1700. Click here for the churchyard survey.

1777 John Prior produces a map of Harby showing a windmill to the south

There is a most interesting map of Harby of this time, held in the Leicestershire Record Office, which shows exactly where the fields were and the direction in which they were ploughed called ridge and furrow. Other old maps show windmills in different places from the windmill that we can see today. This recently drawn plan summarizes all the information. It is reproduced from Hartley, Robert F 1987, The Mediaeval Earthworks of North-east Leicestershire. Copyright remains with Leicestershire Museums, Arts and Records Service.

1782 to 1785, George Crabbe was chaplain to the Duke of Rutland in Belvoir Castle. His poem "The Village" draws on his observations of life around Harby and in the Vale of Belvoir. Click here to read the poem:-

1790 The large open fields of Harby are enclosed and many hedges put up. This revolutionizes farming. The Wong field by the Church is an example of how the old land divisions were altered, click here to read about it.

1795 John Nichols publishes volume 1, part 1 of "The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicester". This includes an account of "The Natural History of the Vale of Belvoir" written by the Rev George Crabbe, the same man as wrote the poem "The Village" referred to above. In 1795 he was vicar at Muston and had been in the Vale of Belvoir since 1782, including a time at Stathern. He mentions Harby. Click here to read his account.

1798 Canal opened . Throsby wrote of Harby, The principal land owner of the lordship of Harby is . . . the Duke of Rutland. It is about to be inclosed and contains about 1800 acres of land, clayey, but tolerably fruitful. The village which stands about 4 1/2 miles from Belvoir and 8 from Melton Mowbray, contains 68 houses and the Rector's new building. The church is tolerably decent, but the sparrows find in it room to rest. It has a heavy tower, three aisles, 4 bells and an old font. The chancel is large. In it is a stone to the memory of John Major, rector 35 years, who died in 1739, aged 67. The register begins in 1700. In five years upon an average the baptisms are 40 and burials 38.

In 1815 John Nichols wrote this description of our village in his book "The History and Antiquities of the County of Leicestershire".

Harby, like many other villages in the Vale of Belvoir is destitute of woods and streams; no high road leads through or beside it. A heavy clay spreads over every acre in the parish and the uniform operations of husbandry give a sameness to the country, which a stranger might view with disgust; but cultivation has made it fruitful, and its inhabitants feel no envy at the variety of other soils, where the sterility of one part may balance the luxuriance of another. Industry here makes the prospect, and the produce alone is the beauty of the soil. There are about 1800 acres in the parish; and, whilst the field continued open, the method of tillage was, first year fallow; second, barley and wheat; third, beans and pease. The families of Harby are 60, its inhabitants 322, among whom are many small freeholders. There is no mansion or antient building in the village; but the present rector has lately built a neat and convenient house, the probable residence of his successors.

Click here to see the pages of the book on Harby. They take some time to download onto your screen so please be patient waiting for them to come. And also be patient because John Nichols wrote a lot in Latin!

Harby and the Vale of Belvoir about 1800

Harby village about 1800

Harby Church about 1800

Click on the picture for a larger version

1828 The windmill is built by the Grantham canal near Colston Bridge of brick with seven storeys.

1832 William Cobbet wrote that Harby had 457 inhabitants.

1836 The Granary is built which you can still see by the canal and mill.

1839 The Duke and Duchess of St Albans are married in Harby Church on May 24th.

1846 Click here for an account of the village in 1846. During the previous two years 49 of the parish had emigrated to Australia, & etc. There are three public house, the Nag's Head, White Hart and Marquis of Granby. The population is 629 souls.

1847 The Methodist chapel is built, now the Vale Christian Centre. Click here for further details. Click here for an account of the Methodists in Harby from 1769 to 1909.

1850 Click here for an account of Harby up to 1850 written by an inhabitant.

1854 Melville's directory gives an account of the village, click here.

1855 The Post Office directory gives a description of the village, click here. There are three public houses, the Nag's Head, White Hart and Marquis of Granby.

1860 The present Harby School is built at a cost of nearly £1000, raised by subscription and grants, to hold 120 children.

1861 Drake's directory gives an account of the village, click here. There are three public houses, the Nag's Head, White Hart and Marquis of Granby. William Watchorn runs the Marquis of Grandby and the census tells us that it was "near Stathern Road".

1863 William White directory says that there were 655 inhabitants, click here. There are three public houses, the Nag's Head, White Hart and Marquis of Granby.

1870 Harrod's directory gives an account of the village, click here. The population of the village is about 550. There are three public houses, the Nag's Head, White Hart and Marquis of Granby.

1871 the census of 1871 gave the population of the village as 539. Click here for details. The census tells us that the Marquis of Granby was run by William Medley and it was positioned on Stathern Road. People are entered as working producing lace, click here for more details.

1875 Barker's directory gives a description of the village, click here. It appears that the Marquis of Granby public house had closed at it is no longer mentioned here or in any later directories.

1876 the church underwent extensive restoration, click here for details. Click on the picture for a view after the restoration was finished.

1876 The Post Office directory gives a description of the village, click here.

1877 for a description of the village by White in 1877 click here see also the website at http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.com/~framland/Ag/maps/harby.htm.

1879 Railway opened

1880 Incline tramway opened bringing ironstone from the Eastwell quarry down Harby Hill.

1880 Wright's directory gives an account of the village, click here.

1881 Kelly's directory gives an account of the village, click here. The census records a population of 591 some of whom are employed on the railway.

1884 The Ordnance Survey map of Harby shows the village over 100 years ago with the three windmills and the Vale Brewery. Click here for the map and here for an account of mills at Harby.

1887 Wright's directory gives an account of the village, click here. The population is over 610.

1891 Kelly's directory gives and account of Harby, click here. The census records a population of 636 some working on the ironstone mining.

1892 Wright's directory gives an account of the village, click here.

1895 Kelly's directory gives and account of Harby, click here.

1897 The school was thriving and here is a photograph of the pupils and teachers. Click on the photo for the full size image, and please be patient while it opens.

And click on this thumbnail for all the pupils and teachers in front of the school around 1900. The average number of children attending school in 1899 was 118.

1899 Wright's directory gives and account of Harby, click here.

1891 The census records a population of 652

1900 Ironstone mining took place along Harby Hills at Eaton and Eastwell and to the south from 1882 to 1962. websites giving information are

http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/1/Ironstone_1.htm

http://www.irsociety.co.uk/Archives/60/Ironstone.htm

http://www.nottm-melton-railway.co.uk/c17/page254.htm

http://www.meltonmowbray.steamrailways.com/Harby%20-%20Stathern.htm

http://www.meltonmowbray.steamrailways.com/Iron%20ore%20lines.htm

1904 Harby St Mary’s Church, seen from the east. Click on the picture to see the full size image. From an old postcard kindly loaned by Neil Cunnington. The vestry extension on the left of the photograph was built the year before and a new organ installed at the same time. The postcard was sent to Netherfield in Nottingham at 5 pm on 26 June 1909.

1907 HARBY SCHOOL IN 1907. The School was built in 1860. The spire on the front of the building is gone now and there is an extension. This postcard was posted in Harby at 5.15 pm on 17 August 1910 to Nottingham . From a postcard in the collection of Neil Cunnington.

1908 Kelly's directory gives and account of Harby, click here.

1909 Click here for some details of the Methodist chapel in 1909.

1910 Click here for an account of life on the canal around this time.

1911 The census records a population of 605.

1912 Kelly's directory gives an account of Harby, click here.

1916 Kelly's directory gives an account of Harby, click here.

1920s Click here for the reminiscences of Harby in the 1920s recorded in the 1970s by Eli Coy. And here for recollections of an old shop.

1928 Kelly's Directory tells us there were 9 farmers, 9 graziers and only one of the farms was over 50 acres. There were 2 cheese manufacturers, 5 tradesmen, 2 publicans, 7 retailers and a carrier who had an omnibus and sold coal. Four people in the village had a car. The population was about 625 men, women and children.

After the first world war of 1914 - 1918 war the old cross was reused as a memorial to the 19 people from Harby who had given their lives. Click on the small picture for the full size view about 1920. Since this picture was taken the names of the two people from Harby who died in the second world war have been added. Houses have been built behind the cross.

1936 Canal closed

1938 Harby windmill goes out of use.

1942 Langar airfield built in the Second World War. Click here for an account.

1940 The sails top of Harby windmill removed as they were a danger to aircraft landing in the Langar airfield.

1944. Great activity was observed around June 6th on Langar airfield for D Day although nobody knew till later what was happening. Click here to read a poem written about it at the time.

1956 Mr Kemp is recorded talking about life in Harby http://www.collectbritain.co.uk/personalisation/object.cfm?uid=021SED00C908S56U00005C01.

1957 The Leicester Advertiser publishes an article on Harby. Click here

1960 Railway closed. Incline tramway bringing ironstone from the Eastwell quarry down Harby Hill closed.

1963 The New Rectory is built.

1973 An article is published in the Leicester Advertiser on Harby School. Click here.

1977 The St Ivel cheese factory in Harby opened. Click here for an account of Stilton cheese.

1979 There was talk of a coal mine at Harby but this was eventually put at Asfordby. Click here for an account of Harby then.