Mountsorrel castle is situated on a granite outcrop within the small town, midway between loughborough and leicester. Mountsorrel is not listed in the domesday survey of 1086, and there is no evidence that it existed before the arrival of the normans. Output increased when transport by horse and cart was superceded by the opening of the leicester and swannington railway line, one of the worlds earliest steam railways. A decadelong, volunteerrun initiative, we supplied building materials and equipment while it was under construction. Dated 1860 in large figures in brickwork above central arch. Mountsorrel and rothley community heritage centre 2020.
As early as 1860, there was a branch line, the mountsorrel railway, to the quarry, the path of which is still followed by a mineral conveyor to barrowuponsoar, where quarry rock is sorted for distribution. In 2016 we managed two further running weekends in august and october, whilst in 2017 we managed four train weekends, including the first through trains onto the main gcr line. Mountsorrel motte and bailey castle, mountsorrel 1010188. Mountsorrel and rothley community heritage centre caring. The construction of the transsiberian railway at the end of the 19th century provided a similar national link for russia. This drawing can be found in the midland counties railway companion, which was was published in 1840. Following an act of parliament in 1858 to build an extension to the midland counties railway, broad hill quarry became the first industrial operation to have its own branch line and sidings at. History archives mountsorrel archivemountsorrel archive. Organised quarrying of the granite in mountsorrel quarry began in the late eighteenth century, and had around 500 employees by 1870. Indeed, it shows how railways made work no less tedious or hard for many people, but far more profitable for their employers, particularly in colonies with rich natural resources. Public world how the railways transformed the world brendan martin 2 fascinating book is that it tells a far richer and more complex story than that would suggest. Mountsorrel and rothley community heritage centre home. The mountsorrel railway was an industrial line predating the great central railway.
Alvis articles buildings bulls head buttermarket castle census charities drawings and paintings leicester road lindens mountsorrel fair now and then. The detailed road map represents one of many map types and styles available. Mountsorrel railway opens again after 50 years bbc news. Pictures of mountsorrel in leicestershire yourlocalweb.
Mountsorrel was the site for a hospital for the mentally ill, which had 91 beds in 1979, but this has since closed and been converted to a housing estate. Mountsorrel sk 51 ne 318 mountsorrel mineral railway bridge ii bridge. Many of our staff also volunteered their skills to help restore 1. View old historical pictures and photos of mountsorrel in leics and the surrounding area. Mountsorrel mineral railway bridge is a grade ii listed building in mountsorrel, leicestershire, england. Construction started around november 1859 on a line 1.
The first recorded mention of mountsorrel is in about 1148, in a charter made between the earl of chester and the earl. Despite being just over a mile long, there are two stations, a large cafe with an adjoining museum section and the beginnings of a quarry museum section with sidings, a large shed and three restored local private owner railway wagons. Mineral railway bridge, mountsorrel listed buildings. The mountsorrel branch great central railway the uks. Home mountsorrel archivemountsorrel archive history. The mountsorrel railway project aims to recreate a forgotten industrial steam line, which was once crucial to the local community. Railway vehicle preservations the mountsorrel railway. Mountsorrel is a village in leicestershire on the river soar, just south of loughborough with a population in 2001 of 6,662 inhabitants. Beyond are a single round arch on west side and double on east. Yesterday i had a ride on a dmu along the new gcr branch line the mountsorrel railway. According to the historian jim bradbury, the acquisition of the castle by the earl of leicester was as a result of a final concord of peace with ranulf, earl of. One, built in 1860, ran to the midland railway main line at barrowuponsoar.
Updates about the new mountsorrel and rothley heritage centre, cafe and railway. By 1781, the population was recorded as 150 dwellings, and by 1840 the population of mountsorrel had reached 1,900. Mountsorrels distinctive, pink granite was in great demand so much so that it became clear a more efficient form of transport was necessary. Mountsorrel, a small town and two townshipchapelries, in barrowuponsoar district, leicester. The charnwood forest area of northwest leicestershire had a number of small quarries in the late18th century, supplying broken rock for local road construction. In 2005 rvp ltd took a lease on a 34 mile section of the former mountsorrel railway, which runs off the gcr at swithland sidings. During world war ii, in 1942, alvis, an armoured vehicle manufacturer. In 1151, robert le bossu, the earl of leicester and deputy to henry ii, who was the justicar, or chief justice of the peace for the area, acquired the tenancy of mountsorrel castle. Love to travel and always are on the lookout for your next journey. You can search for units that covered the particular location you are interested in by typing a postcode into our home page, or by using our historic maps section, zooming in, selecting the information option, and then clicking on your location. Mountsorrel railway bridge is a place on the waterways. Rebuilding the mountsorrel branch from the great central at swithland aiming to ensure the future for our collection.
It ran from the gcr at swithland sidings, around the quarries, over the grand union canal at mountsorrel. Mountsorrel archive history, heritage and wildlife. Mountsorrel s distinctive, pink granite was in great demand so much so that it became clear a more efficient form of transport was necessary. By using this site, you consent to our use of cookies on this website in accordance with our cookie policy. The film shows the train crossing swithland reservoir viewed from the branch line. Mountsorrel railway project leader steve cramp came up with the idea after doing some research into local history. Mountsorrel and rothley community heritage centre about. Mountsorrel heritage group is creating an online archive for all to view and make contributions introduction to the mountsorrel website archive the website is an outstanding opportunity for interactive action and contributions by anyone with an interest in mountsorrel to enhance the range and quality of the website. Local history, wildlife of mountsorrel, leicestershire. Need to travel all the time, as well as to explore new places. January 9, 2017 by keith foster the new town and borough of mountsorrel. Trains over the weekend were hauled by 040 lner y7 no. Look at mountsorrel, leicestershire county, east midlands, england, united kingdom from different perspectives.
Mountsorrel railway mountsorrel and rothley community. Mountsorrel and rothley community heritage centre, mountsorrel. Our blog is our mission to share with all holidaymakers our experience with travels. Mountsorrel, a small markettown, a township, a civil parish, and two ecclesiastical parishes in leicestershire. It includes a motte and a second mound on the hill top, and the remaining part of the bailey ditch at the foot of the hill to the south. The mountsorrel railway was a network of industrial railway lines that served the granite quarries of mountsorrel.
It ran from the local quarries of the mountsorrel granite company at the north west of mountsorrel, through the village on an embankment 20 feet 6. The village is in the borough of charnwood, surrounding a steep hill, once crowned by a castle, and is bordered to the east by the river soar. Mountsorrel railway the railway opening weekend was a phenomenal success with over visitors enjoying the trip to swithland sidings and back. The mountsorrel railway was built at the turn of the 20th century to deliver stone from the mountsorrel quarries to swithland sidings on the great central railway. See why it was listed, view it on a map, see visitor comments and photos and share your own comments and photos of this building. Opening weekend for the mountsorrel railway tripadvisor. The mountsorrel railway the grand opening steve cramp. Please note that these units are listed here because their boundaries covered the point location we hold for mountsorrel. History of mountsorrel, in charnwood and leicestershire. Contributing over 140,000 hours of volunteer labour they restored the rail line, built mountsorrel station with car park and access. Response from steve c, owner at mountsorrel and rothley community heritage centre responded 28 aug 2019 hi charlotte, please accept our sincere apologies for.