Bradgate Park in Leicestershire, England is known for its natural beauty, historic sites, and landmarks. Spanning 830 acres, the park features tranquil landscapes, ancient oaks, and the notable ruins.
Old John, an 18th-century folly perched on the park’s highest point, is known as ‘The Beer Jug’ or the ‘Icon of Leicestershire’ as it is one of the County’s most famous and recognisable landmarks.
Standing on the hill not far from Old John is the Leicestershire Yeomanry War Memorial which was erected in 1924 and commemorates the men of the Leicestershire Yeomanry that fell in the Boer War, the Great War of 1914 – 1918 and the Second World War.
As you head down the park towards the River Lin, you will find Bradgate House, one of the earliest brick-built houses in England and the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, Queen of England for nine days in 1553 makes it ideal for history buffs, nature enthusiasts, or anyone seeking a peaceful escape.
Red and Fallow deer can be found throughout this area. The herd consists of an estimated 550 individuals, with approximately three-quarters being Fallow deer. Records indicate that deer have been present at Bradgate Park since at least 1241, predating Bradgate House.
Bradgate Park was the site of military activity on 20th and 21st June 1942, when it was used for exercises simulating a “German” invasion.
To continue reading the full blog about Bradgate Park during wartime, click here to acces mu substack article.
The RAF Ingham Heritage Centre highlights the history of the former RAF airfield, the Polish Bomber Squadron, and No 199 Squadron based there. Located 15 miles north of Lincoln, the airfield opened in 1940 as a relief landing ground for RAF Hemswell.
In May 1942, No 300 (Masovian) Polish Squadron arrived at the airfield, which was subsequently designated RAF Ingham. In early February 1943, No. 199 Squadron was stationed there after No 300 Squadron returned to Hemswell.
No 199 Squadron moved to RAF Lakenheath in June 1943, and was succeeded by No 300 Sqn from RAF Hemswell. Additionally, No 305 (Ziemia Wielkopolska) Polish Squadron also arrived from RAF Hemswell. The latter only staying until Sep 1943, when they moved to RAF Swanton Morley. No 300 Squadron stayed as the only unit until relocating to RAF Faldingworth in March 1944.
At RAF Ingham, all three squadrons operated Vickers Wellington Mk III, IV, and X aircraft on bombing and mine-laying missions.
Once No. 300 Sqn had moved out the airfield was occupied by various training units including the Polish Resettlement Corps.
Following prolonged confusion with supplies being sent to the village of Ingham in Suffolk, the Air Ministry renamed the Station as RAF Cammeringham in Nov 1944.
In 1946, the airfield was closed, and the land handed back to the landowners, for agriculture.
Personal accounts about Polish Airmen bring the stories of their role to life with a different story/person for each of the crew positions on the Wellington bomber.
The heritage ecntre also brings to life what it was like living in a Nissen hut as part of the Polish community when many set up their family homes under the Polish Resettlemnt scheme.
The heritage centre is manned by a team of friendly volunteers and you can spend an excellent couple of hours gaining a better understanding of the Polish Bomber Squadrons involvment World War Two.
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Following John Wesley’s visit to Mr Ellis in the little village of Markfield on the edge of Charnwood Forest in June 1741, Methodism arrived in Leicestershire. This was a favourite stopping place for Wesley preaching here on fifteen occasions.
Dr Ford, the Vicar of St Mary’s in Melton was a lifelong friend and convert of Wesley. Therefore, although Wesley preached across the county of Leicestershire on at least twenty-four other occasions, he never came to Melton Mowbray to preach.
We know that a Methodist Society existed in Melton from around 1779 and two of its members were James and Ann Brown. Their grandson and his wife, John and Mary Miles were buried in the grounds of Sage Cross Church.
The first Methodist Chapel to be erected in Melton, was on the same site as where Sage Cross Church stands and was opened on 18th September 1796. The land was owned by Mr Robert Pearson who was a druggist near the Cornwall at the top of Corn Hill, or High Street as we know it today.
Over the next twenty-five years, the congregation grew steadily and by 1825, increasing membership led to the chapel undergoing substantial alterations turning it more into a new building when it opened in October 1825.
On April 7th 1870, a meeting was called to discuss building a new chapel and schoolroom as the suggestion to further enlarge the old chapel was turned down. A new Church was agreed and whilst it was being built, services were held in the Temperance Hall on King Street and the Sunday School at the British School across the road. The first service in the new Church was held on August 17th 1871.
In July 1932 a conference agreed to the Union of the Wesleyan and Primitive Methodist Church, however no enthusiasm was shown locally. However, the last service was held at the Primitive Church on the 7th November 1965 and the Union commenced.
In the 1980s, the Central Methodist Church was knocked down leaving only the Church Hall standing. A new modern building for worship was erected and opened for its first service in April 1988.
Modern Sage Cross Church
Earlier this year, the Sage Cross Church merged with the Sandy Lane Church and the building put up for sale, bringing an end to 228 years of Methodism at Sage Cross.
In the May 2024 Historic Melton article, I looked at the story of the Old Vicarage, Seedsfield Hosue on Leicester Road.
Seedsfiled House – The Old Vicarage
Compared to other areas in town, Leicester Road was quite late in being developed with West End Villas, a pair of three-story semi-detached villas, opposite Aldi car park being the first houses to be built around 1880.
The builder, Robert Weaver, lived in one of them with his wife Dorothy, and the other was occupied by Rev Joseph Twidale and his wife Catharine, of the Baptist Church, now the United Reformed Church.
The lake behind the villas, and what is now a vehicle storage yard, is known as Weaver’s Lake and was most probably dug to provide earth for the railway embankment running across the bottom of the grounds.
A few years later in the late 1880s, a new property known as Seedsfield house was erected on Leicester Road and this was built for Joseph Dickinson, a pork pie & cheese producer.
Only a few years earlier, Joseph had submitted a claim for injury to his seeds field. The claim was made up of two items: the award of his valuer, £2 10s and 15s for man’s time rolling and seeding down the portion damaged. Maybe the house was built on that very field, hence the name.
No more houses were built on Leicester Road until the 1930s when the Melton Urban District Council built the Lake Terrace estate. Around the same time, the owners of Seedsfield House had decided to build a smaller more modern property on vacant land next door and in the late 1930s, a new Seedsfield House was built.
Consequently, the old Seedsfield House was put up for sale and purchased by the St Mary’s Church for use as a vicarage. The first vicar to take up residence was the Rev Canon Harold Bates and his wife, who moved from the original vicarage (Blakeney Institute) opposite St Mary’s Church.
Harold Bates was the vicar at St Mary’s from 1937 until he died in 1945. He was a veteran of WW1 and helped the Reverend Tubby Clayton set up Talbot House, Toc-H in Poperinge Belgium. During WW2, Harold could quite often be seen at night patrolling around his beloved St Mary’s.
In 1962, the Church purchased a new property at 67 Dalby Road for use as a new vicarage, resulting in Seedsfield House being sold off and becoming known as The Old Vicarage.
One hundred and eighty-seven years ago, on the 6th April 1837, an event took place in town that put Melton Mowbray in the news. The event involved some notable Meltonians and today we know the event as “Painting the Town Red” but at the time it was reported as an “Aristocratic Spree or Riot”.
Today the phrase “Meltonian” means “A native or inhabitant of the Melton district” but back in the 1830’s the term Meltonian also included people that came to Melton to take part in the past times fox hunting and horse racing.
3rd Marquess of Waterford – Henry Beresford
But who were these Meltonians? A gentleman named Henry Beresford, the 3rd Marquess of Waterford and his aristocratic friends, including Mr Reynard, Sir F Johnstone and the Hon. Mr Villiers had spent the day at Croxton Park races and were making their way back into Melton. They were stopped at the Thorpe End toll house and refused entry as they were too drunk.
They then rode around town and entered by a different route ending up at Lord Rokesby’s Club in Burton End. At around 3am in the morning, they returned to the toll house and boarded up the windows.
A Spree at Melton Mowbray – Larking at the Grantham Toll Gate – or Coming kn for the Brush by H Alkin
After getting their hands on some red paint, they proceeded down Sherrard Street, into marketplace and down Burton Street causing mayhem as they went.
The doors of the properties of Mr Norman and the surgeon Mr Berridge were smeared with red paint and the door knockers from Mr Gray, Miss Gray and Mr Corner were ripped off. Flowerpots at Mr George Bishops were also smashed and at the Swan Inn, the Marquis was lifted up and he painted the White Swan turning it into a “Red Eagle”.
Most of the houses in this part of town including the Post Office came in for a splash of red. A caravan at Burton End was tipped over and the Red Lion pub sign was ripped down and thrown into the canal.
A year after this event took place, the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane London hosted a play titled “The Meltonians” which ran for 17 performances from the 16th April to 5th May 1838. The play which was written by Richard Brinsley Peake was described as “a perfectly illegitimate drama and extravaganza.”
One of the things Melton is famous for is its involvement in the wool trade, being part of the Trade Council of Edward III in 1339. In the March edition of Historic Melton, I look at the connection between Park House on Leicester Street and the ancient medeival wool trade.
Melton Cloth is traditionally made of wool that is woven in a twill form and recognised for its windproof and waterproof qualities. Garments such as donkey jackets, Navy Pea coats, military uniforms and the scarlet hunting jackets are examples of clothing made from Melton Cloth. Queen Victoria even had a pair of curtains commissioned for Windsor Castle made from Melton Cloth.
But what is there today in Melton that connects us to this historic trade?
The building we know today as Egerton Lodge was built in the 16th Century and originally known as Park House. It is often confused with Parke House situated at Thorpe End which was named after a local solicitor, James Parke, who lived there in the late 18th Century.
Egerton Lodge & VC flower bed
In 1597, Park House was home to William Alkins, a Town Warden. He was also a Merchant Stapler working for the Company of Merchants of the Staple of England, a company incorporated by Royal Charter in 1319. Dealing in wool and skins it also controlled the export of wool to the continent during the late medieval period.
An ancient woolhouse run by the Merchants of the Staple believed to have been built in the early 1200’s once stood on the South side of Sherrard Street. Although this disappeared many years ago, remnants of this 13th Century building still exist.
Park House
Another Park House, now the House of Beauty by Bailey, stands on Leicester Street. Standing proud on its roof is an intricately carved medieval pinnacle believed to be from the woolhouse and sited there when it was built in 1892. Stone tracery from one of the woolhouse windows is also said to be preserved in St Mary’s Church.
Medieval Stone Pinnacle
Park House name tablet 1892
There were also several pubs in town that hinted towards the wool trade, for example, the Golden Fleece on Leicester Street, the Woolpack Inn, originally on Sherrard Street then later at Thorpe End and the Bishops Blaze on Sherrard Street. Bishop Blaze was the Patron Saint of Wool Coombers.
Like many of Melton’s historic buildings, evidence of the wool trade has now been lost but signs are still there if you know where to look.
On the 80th anniversary of the Paras arriving in Melton, the February 2024 Historic Melton article took a look at the story of the units of the Parachute Regiment that were part of the 4th Brigade.
The airborne troops of the 4th Parachute Brigade (Bde) had been fighting in Tunisia, North Africa and in September 43, they were part of the force known as Operation Slapstick that invaded Southern Italy to recapture and liberate it from Axis forces.
The 4th Bde, which was made up of 156 Parachute Battalion (Bn), 10th & 11th Parachute Bn, 2nd Air Landing Anti-Tank Battery and the 133rd Parachute Field Ambulance (PFA), was withdrawn back to the UK to make preparations for the invasion of mainland Europe as part of D-Day.
On 27th November, the units of the 4th Bde boarded the troopship “Staffordshire” and set sail for England. They arrived back in England, docking in Liverpool on December 16th, a cold damp day, so different to the sunny climate they had left behind.
Following their arrival at Liverpool, 156 Bn, under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Sir Richard Des Voeux made their way to their new billets at various locations in Rutland. Des Voeux was not happy with the situation, so he arranged for them all to be brought together in Melton Mowbray in February 1944.
Lt Col Sir Richard des Voeux
Commanding Officer 156 Battalion
156 Bn were not the first of the Airborne troops to arrive in Melton as just prior to Christmas 43, No 16 Parachute Field Ambulance arrived back in the UK and took up residence in their new billets at Scalford Hall and The Spinney. However, their stay was short as by the 4th January they had received orders to move out to new billets at Culverthorpe in Lincolnshire.
Scalford HallThe Spinney
On arrival in Melton, the troops of 156 Bn were billeted in several hunting lodges in town. The Bn HQ along with HQ Company were billeted in Staveley Lodge, Support Company at the Spinney, ‘A’ Company were at Scalford Hall and ‘B’ and ‘C’ Companies at Newport Lodge. However, following several arguments with the owner of Scalford Hall, a certain Colonel Mustard of Colman’s Mustard fame, ‘A’ Company moved into the Spinney to join the Support Company.
Meanwhile, the Bde HQ set up at The Grange in Knossington and 10 Bn were to set up camp at Burrough Court, as well as several buildings in Somerby, including Somerby House, Somerby Hall, Grove Stables and The Vines at Thorpe Satchville.
133rd PFA set up base at Barleythorpe Hall, just across the border into Rutland and the 2nd Air Landing Anti-Tank Battery were based at Harrowby Camp in Grantham.
Following their return to the UK, the 11th Bn were scattered around the Leicester area but in May 44 moved into the militia camp up on Welby Lane here in Melton.
The Red Devils had arrived in Melton!
One of my previos blogs, looks at the story of the Medium Machine Gun Platoon from 156 Battalion. To read it click here.
Back in January 2024, HistoryFare started a regular column in the Melton Times, called ‘Historic Melton’.
The history of Melton Mowbray can be traced back hundreds of years and the first Historic Melton article published in January 2024 looked at the origins of the name ‘Melton Mowbray’.
Melton’s history can be traced back thousands of years and there are several theories on where the name ‘Melton Mowbray’ comes from, and we need to consider each part in its own context.
The first theory is that ‘Melton’ is a derivation of ‘Milltown’ due to the two water mills that existed for several centuries and were mentioned in the Domesday Book. These were sited at Beck Mill Holm at the end of Chatterbox Lane off Kings Street and Corn Mill Holm where the River Eye meets the Scalford Brook at the back of Mars/Petfoods.
The second theory again relates to the Domesday Book of 1086. In this great survey, the town is listed as ‘Medeltun’. ‘Medeltun’ or ‘Middleton’/‘Middletown’ descends from the town being a central township with a Mother Church (St Mary’s) surrounded by 5 hamlets: Burton Lazars, Eye Kettleby; Sysonby, Welby & Freeby.
Domesday Book
Over the years, the name Milltown, or even Medletun has morphed into what we today now know as Melton.
The first Norman Lord of the Manor was Godfredus or Geoffrey de Wirce who was originally from France, around the Anjou/Brittany border area. Geoffrey had fought alongside William the Conqueror and continued to be the King’s advisor. He married a Saxon Lady named Alviva who was a niece of Lady Godiva from Coventry in Warwickshire.
Lady Godiva Statue Coventry
Alviva, a Saxon heiress, was a noiece of the Earl of Leofric of Coventry and his legendary wofe, Lady Godiva. During the 11th Century, Lady Godiva held lands across Leiocestershire, namely the manors of East Norton, Billesdon and Appleby. Alveva was also a landowner being the Lady of the Manor of Castle Donington and Manor of Aylestone.
This marriage brought about the signing of a document in 1077 proving that back then, Melton was a thriving market town.
It would appear that Alveva and Geoffrey had no children, or no surviving children as after his death in 1088, his vast estates including the manor of Melton reverted to the Crown and were then divided between Nigel de Albini and Robert de Mowbray (Molbrai) Earl of Northumberland with the Melton lands being passed to Albini.
Nigel was the Bowbearer to William Rufus (King William II) and was ‘girt with the sword of knighthood’ (knighted) by King Henry I, with whom he was a great favourite.
Robert de Mowbray marched against King Malcolm of Scotland, contrary to the orders of King William Rufus. As part of his punishment, his lands were given over to Nigel de Albini who by all accounts was a favourite of the King.
Nigel had two sons Roger and Hamo, by his second wife Gundreda and Roger assumed the name of Mowbray by Royal Decree. It is therefore from the Mowbray family name that the latter part of the towns name originates.
Historic Melton – January 2025
The Mowbray family crest can still be seen in various places around town such as stained glass windows in St Mary’s Parish Church and on the porch of Egerton Lodge. The family crest also forms the basis of the Melton Mowbray Town Estate crest.
Melton Mowbray became home to many rich and famous during the height of the hunting sporting seasons and the surrounding villages were not exempt.
In the village of Thorpe Satchville which lies 5 miles from Melton along the B6047, there is a hunting lodge by the name of “Pinfold” which was purchased during World War One by the Belgian millionaire financier, Captain Alfred Loewenstein who had set up his Belgian Breeding Stock Company at the premises.
The Pinfold
In 1926, Captain Loewenstein, who was said to be the 3rd richest man in the world, and his business and Pinfold were at the centre of a tax claim where £10,000 for both 1924 and 1925 when tax assessments had not been completed. Loewenstein appealed against the decision but his case was dismissed.
In November 1926, the same year as he had transferred his Headquarters from Biarritz in France to Thorpe Satchville, Loewenstein, who was known for his flying, brought across his fleet of aircraft known as “Loewensteins Flying Circus” for the hunting season. The aircraft would operate from Croxton Park where he had set up an aerodrome on the grounds of the old Croxton Park racecourse which he had leased from Belvoir Estates Ltd to train his racehorses.
Captain Alfred Loewenstein of Pinfold, Thorpe Satchville, Melton Mowbray, the Belgian millionaire banker and his young son “Bobby” before going off to a recent meet of the Quorn.
In 1927, Alfred sold off 700 pedigree dairy cattle and sheep from the business due to the inclement weather that had affected Leicestershire farmers recently. His farm at Thorpe Satchville had also been let.
On the 4th July 1928, Alfred was flying from Croydon to Brussels on a business trip in his 3-engined Fokker plane. The aircraft was flown by the pilot, Captain R Drew, assisted by the Engineer/mechanic Mr Robert Little.
Loewnesteins 3 engined Fokker
Also on the aircraft were Mr Arthur Hodgson, his secretary; Mr Baxter, his valet; and his typists Miss Ellen Clarke & Mlle Paule.
Not long after take-off, Alfred left his seat and went to use the lavatory that was in a separate compartment towards the rear of the aircraft.
A short while later, at some point over the channel, his valet, Mr Baxter, noticed that Alfred had not returned to his seat and knowing that Alfred had not been well recently, Mr Baxter went to see of all was OK.
Inside Loewensteins Fokker
To Mr Baxter’s surprise, Alfred Loewenstein was nowhere to be seen and it was assumed that he had used the wrong door either going to or leaving the toilet and had fallen from the aircraft at a height of 4,000ft over the English Channel.
The valet immediately informed the pilot who landed on the beach at Mardyck near Dunkirk where the authorities were informed. His decaying body was found in the sea a few weeks later by a Boulogne fishing boat who brought it ashore at Calais. The body was naked with the exception of pants and socks marked “AL” and a wrist watch with his name on.
The death of Alfred is one of the worlds unsolved mysteries, was it a freak accident, was it suicide, was he murdered? There are lots of theories, but we won’t delve into these now. But feel free to look up on Google and YouTube as there are lots of articles, books and videos about this mystery.
Following his death, The Pinfold was inherited by his son Robert “Bobby” Serge Loewenstein who was familiar with the property from his earlier hunting trips.
Bobby Loewenstein
When World War Two broke out, Bobby was in America on business and immediately returned to Europe via a Clipper and on returning to Belgium, he joined the Belgian Army.
He came to the UK when King Leopold surrendered and joined the Air Transport Auxiliary in the summer of 1940 with a rank of Second Officer. On joining the ATA, he gave his Next of Kin as Mr Jack Misonne, Villa Begonia, Biarritz, France and Mrs Burnaby, Thorpe Satchville.
Following his initial interview, he wrote to Group Captain G. d’Erlanger of the ATA at White Waltham airport at Maidenhead “Dear Sir, I appreciate very much your giving me an interview and a test. At this critical stage it would seem that everyone who can contribute in any way should do so. I am told that I have an opportunity of joining the Fleet Air Arm, but as I have offered my services to you and I have two friends, Leo Partridge and Rupert Belville, in the Air Transport Auxiliary, I would naturally prefer to join your organisation. I understand that the delay in my nomination is due to the Air Ministry. If it would expedite my appointment, I would be willing to give up my salary until such a time as you get their agreement.” His appointment was confirmed on the 6th July 1940.
On the 1st August 1940, he was promoted to First Officer ‘C’ Class then again to First Officer ‘B’ Class on 12th January 1941. His ATA paperwork confirms that he had previously flown the following aircraft types, Moth, Stinson, Beechcraft and Spartan and was the owner of a Stinson. He was also experienced at flying in England, Ireland, France, Belgium and the USA.
On 21st September, Bobby wrote again to Gp Capt d’Erlanger “Dear d’Erlanger, This is to confirm our conversation of the other day. It is my opinion that anyone who is in a position to undertake such war work without remuneration should do so. Therefore I suggest my salary be paid towards the start of a charity fund for the pilots of the Air Transport Auxiliary or for any better cause we mutually agree on.”
As a result of his wealth, Bobby also paid for a presentation Spitfire MkVb W3239 which was named “Bob”. It was built at Eastleigh and entered service with No 609 (West Riding) Squadron as PR-N on 27th May 1941 at RAF Biggin Hill. Unfortunately, ‘Bob’ was lost in action on 8th July 1941 when it was shot down after being attacked by a Messcherschmit Bf109 resulting in its engine cutting out and it force landing on Goodwin Sands. Its pilot, Sergeant John A. Hughes-Rees surviuved but was wounded.
Winston Churchill visiting 609 Sqn with Spitfire W3239 ‘Bob’ in the background
Another shot showing Winston Churchill with Spitfire W3239 ‘Bob’ and Sergeant John A. Hughes-Rees in the background
During his career with the ATA, Bobby flew numerous different types of aircraft including the Anson, Audax, Battle, Blenheim, Courier, Curtiss Hawk, Fairchild, Harvard, Hurricane, Lysander, Magister, Master, Oxford, Puss Moth, Spitfire, and Tomahawk.
Tragically, Bobby never got to see his Spitfire as he was killed on 29th March 1941 flying Blenheim Mk V V6263 on a ferry flight from RAF Speke to RAF Lyneham. During the flight an engine failure occurred and the aircraft crashed near White Waltham. According to his records, the evidence suggests the aircraft stalled during a tun on approaching to land at too low a height to effect recovery possibly caused by sluggish pick-up on one engine. There is probability that the circumstances were aggravated by the fact that the airscrews appear to have been in coarse pitch. This accident as caused by an error of judgment on the part of the pilot.
Following his death, his body was initially taken to Maidenhead mortuary before being brought to St John’s Catholic Church here in Melton Mowbray on Wednesday 31 March 1941 where he laid at rest overnight. The following morning, a requiem Mass was held followed by the funeral service in the afternoon which was conducted by Father A E Berington. After the funeral service, his body was taken to Twyford for internment at St Andrews Church.
St John’s Roman Catholic Church Melton Mowbray
St Andrew’s Church Twyford
If you look at his casualty record on the CWGC website, it shows his body as being buried in the Belgian Airmen’s Field of Honour within the Brussels Town Cemetery. This is due to a Belgium lady campaigning to get all the bodies of Belgium airmen recovered to Belgium and Bobby was amongst those who were repatriated in 1948.
