Foxton....a history
The Parish of Foxton, Leicestershire dates back to settlements established 1,000 years ago.
The village has changed through the centuries and particularly with the advent of the canal system, Foxton Locks and Inclined Plane, and the start of the Industrial Revolution in the UK.
As we discover more about the settlement and its history, we add to this page.
Updates Feb - Apr 2020:
- A comprehensive history of the village, manors, economy, mills, Parish administration, nonconformity, schools & charities
- More on St Andrews Church
- More on Softwell Lane & water pump (nature reserve)
- More insight on the orchards which preceded much of the residential development in Foxton
Updates Spring & Summer 2020:
Local historian Carl Bedford kindly released much of the work he had previously carried out for varying projects and initiatives in the village. Thanks to Carl, we now have much more information about the origins of street names, notable properties, some of Foxton's respected families, fascinating insights into the canals and industry - and a good record of pubs and publicans!
Updates early Autumn 2020:
Further documents from Carl are added. The Foxton Heritage Project and related documents are added.
Updates November 2020:
Carl Bedford provides a comprehensive overview of the Baptist Chapel history from his own notes and adaptations of some of Derek Lewin's articles, along with listings of grave stones from the Chapel Cemetery.
Village history in depth
A comprehensive history of Foxton, Leicestershire (Word Document, 147 Kb)
Extensive documentation relating to the history of Foxton, Leicestershire, covering Manors, Economic History, Mills, Parish Administration, St Andrews Church, Nonconformity, Schools and Charities.
Guide to St Andrews Church, Foxton (PDF, 547 Kb)
With kind permission of the PCC, the guide book which is on sale in the church is also available for download on the Parish Council website. We are not charging for this, however, if you download a copy it would be great if you could make a small donation when you're next in the church.
The history of Foxton's street names (Word Document, 21 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Village-owned public spaces
The History of Foxton Baptist Chapel and its Cemetery (Word Document, 2.8 Mb)
Local historian Card Bedford reveals the history of this important village asset.
Softwell Lane historical record (PDF, 1.6 Mb)
From a soft water well used by villagers for centuries, to a piece of land bequeathed and transformed into a tranquil nature reserve for everyone to enjoy.
Softwell water pump (Word Document, 1.4 Mb)
Image of the Softwell water pump, taken in 1920.
Softwell pump & nature reserve (PDF, 664 Kb)
A guide to the history of Foxton Softwell and Pump
Historic maps of the village
Foxton Map from 1823 (PDF, 19.9 Mb)
Map of Foxton dated 1823
Foxton Map (1860) (PDF, 16.5 Mb)
Map of Foxton dated 1860
This fascinating plan from 1940 (courtesy of Carl Bedford) shows the sites of over 30 wells and pumps in Foxton at that time. In fact, it was noted that the streets in Foxton fairly closely follow the lines of spring water discovered by our ancestors. Some residents recall a time when natural spring water trickled down each of the three 'main streets' of Foxton around this time. Have you got a well or pump in your garden?!
Schools, education & pastimes
Early village education & 'Board School' origins (Word Document, 21 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Foxton Education Profile (Word Document, 21 Kb)
By local historian, Carl Bedford
Sports and pastimes in Foxton (Word Document, 13 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
The Canals
The Canal at Foxton (MS Word, 46 Kb)
Local history expert Carl Bedford kindly updated his piece on the canal at Foxton in May 2020. This is the full article, published with kind permission.
Debdale Toll Sidegate - and its connections with Foxton (Word Document, 20 Kb)
Toll gates and turnpikes - over 200 years ago...Eminent local historian, Carl Bedford, provides us with more insights on nearby village heritage.
The Canal at Foxton (Revised Spring 2020) (MS Word, 46 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Debdale Toll Gate, Debdale Wharf & Foxton Parish (Word Document, 16 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Foxton and the Canal (Word Document, 30 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Canal Company Properties and their Occupiers by Carl Bedford (Word Document, 36 Kb)
This document has been written by Foxton resident Carl Bedford with information from Censuses.
Early Foxton businesses
Early industry, business & occupations in Foxton (Word Document, 38 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Industry & employment in Foxton in the 19th Century (Word Document, 18 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
The Black Horse Inn (by Carl Bedford) - revised Oct 2020 (Word Document, 18 Kb)
Updated document covering the history of the Black Horse pub.
The Shoulder of Mutton - Carl Bedford (revised version Oct 2020) (Word Document, 18 Kb)
Updated history of The Shoulder of Mutton, by local historian Carl Bedford.
Early Foxton Pubs & Publicans (Word Document, 24 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Brickmaking in Foxton (MS Word, 46 Kb)
Local historian Carl Bedford provides fascinating insights.
The brickyard at Foxton, from around 1904.
Notable people & families of Foxton
Notable Families of Foxton (Word Document, 55 Kb)
Lewin, French, Sturgess, Maddock, Tebbutt, Smiths, Monk, Goodman, Bent, Stain, Dalby, Chapman, Pickering, Moore, Saddington. Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
The Vicarage and its occupants (Word Document, 16 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Notable properties in Foxton
Notable Foxton properties (Word Document, 51 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
The Foxton Windmill & Mill House (Word Document, 17 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Listed Buildings in Foxton (Word Document, 14 Kb)
Listed buildings in Foxton
History of the properties in Foxton (PDF, 62 Kb)
List of properties in Foxton from pre 1700 to post 2000
The history of The Old Vicarage (Word Document, 18 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
The Old Manse and its occupants (Word Document, 15 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Foxton Grange, The Chestnuts & Watson profile (Word Document, 17 Kb)
Foxton historian Carl Bedford provides some fascinating insights.
Foxton Heritage Project
Foxton Heritage Project 2 (PDF, 181 Kb)
Heritage
Foxton Heritage Project 1 (PDF, 441 Kb)
Heritage
Village economic & social structure
Foxton History Project - houses and population density (PDF, 429 Kb)
Notes on housing types and population density in Foxton from 1700
Bar chart of number and houses and population 1850 - 2000 (PDF, 116 Kb)
2 bar charts showing the change in population between 1850 and 2000
Social Structure in 1830 (PDF, 106 Kb)
List of numbers of men over 20 in each social group in 1831
Female Occupations 1881 (PDF, 165 Kb)
List and bar chart of women's occupations in 1881
Male Occupations 1881 (PDF, 401 Kb)
List of occupations of men in the village in 1881
Railways
Railway Routes 20th Century (PDF, 65 Kb)
Early 20th Century railway routes in the East Midlands
Railway sector plan of mainline railway stations around Foxton (PDF, 116 Kb)
Early 20th century. Sector plan showing the number of mainline railway stations that surrounded Foxton
Map of early 20th Century railway routes (PDF, 143 Kb)
Map of the early 20th Century East Midlands railway routes
Village orchards
Orchard plantations preceded much of the residential development in Foxton. This map from 1880 shows their locations.
Orchard plantations preceded much of the residential development in Foxton. This map from 1880 shows their 1880 locations, overlaid onto a modern aerial view of the village.