Sapcote
Encyclopedia
Sapcote is a small village in the south west of Leicestershire
, England
, with a population of approximately 2,700. The well-known inland scuba diving
site Stoney Cove
is nearby.
It was mentioned in the Domesday Book
as Scepecote. Its name came from the Anglo-Saxon Scēapcot = "shed
or enclosure
for sheep" - a bit like Shepshed.
An early Bronze Age
occupation site has been discovered here, and a Roman villa
and bath house
dating from the 1st century AD. Druids, Saxons
, Romans
and Normans
have been known to have inhabited the area in and around Sapcote.
From the 12th-14th century the village was the home of the powerful Basset family. Ralph de Basset was High Sheriff of England
and, possibly, the first Member of Parliament
, being the first Lord to be called to the Barons Parliament by Simon de Montfort
.
The oldest surviving building in the village is the 12th century All Saints Parish Church, an elegant well-proportioned building of Early English style. At one time all its windows had the Basset coat of arms, but these have now disappeared, except for a trace in one window. A chantry was added by Ralph de Basset in 1376 and is the present north aisle. The Wesleyans built their first church in Sapcote in 1805. In 1902 a square stone-built structure was erected. The stone was quarried by the men of the church and they made such a good job of it that the church remains as one of the best buildings in Sapcote. It opened in 1905 and is a fine example of the Arts and crafts
period.
In 1806 a bath house was built by John Frewen Turner over the so-called Golden Well in Stanton Road, in an attempt to turn Sapcote into a Spa. In the building were cold and warm baths, and treatment was given for nervous rheumatic and scrofulous complaints. The building cost around £600, and Prime Minister
George Canning
, Duke of Wellington
and Mr Lines all visited the baths.
Other historical buildings include several thatched cottages, Park Farm, a timber-framed house in Stanton Road which is dated 1683, the Old School in Leicester Road which was built in 1819, and the Stanley Burrough's Almshouses in Cooke's Lane, erected in 1847.
Other historical figures to have lived in Sapcote include Claude Greengrass off of Heartbeat and John Wood. John Wood was famously referred to in the Guardian Guide as providing ' contemporary acoustic vibes' at his sell out show in Leicester in 1998.
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
, with a population of approximately 2,700. The well-known inland scuba diving
Scuba diving
Scuba diving is a form of underwater diving in which a diver uses a scuba set to breathe underwater....
site Stoney Cove
Stoney Cove
Stoney Cove is a large flooded quarry which is a popular inland scuba diving site. It is between Stoney Stanton and Sapcote in Leicestershire in England. There is a diving shop, a pub selling beer and hot food and a diving training facility there.-Background:...
is nearby.
It was mentioned in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Scepecote. Its name came from the Anglo-Saxon Scēapcot = "shed
Shed
A shed is typically a simple, single-storey structure in a back garden or on an allotment that is used for storage, hobbies, or as a workshop....
or enclosure
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
for sheep" - a bit like Shepshed.
An early Bronze Age
Bronze Age
The Bronze Age is a period characterized by the use of copper and its alloy bronze as the chief hard materials in the manufacture of some implements and weapons. Chronologically, it stands between the Stone Age and Iron Age...
occupation site has been discovered here, and a Roman villa
Roman villa
A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Roman country house built for the upper class...
and bath house
Public bathing
Public baths originated from a communal need for cleanliness. The term public may confuse some people, as some types of public baths are restricted depending on membership, gender, religious affiliation, or other reasons. As societies have changed, public baths have been replaced as private bathing...
dating from the 1st century AD. Druids, Saxons
Saxons
The Saxons were a confederation of Germanic tribes originating on the North German plain. The Saxons earliest known area of settlement is Northern Albingia, an area approximately that of modern Holstein...
, Romans
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
and Normans
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
have been known to have inhabited the area in and around Sapcote.
From the 12th-14th century the village was the home of the powerful Basset family. Ralph de Basset was High Sheriff of England
High Sheriff
A high sheriff is, or was, a law enforcement officer in the United Kingdom, Canada and the United States.In England and Wales, the office is unpaid and partly ceremonial, appointed by the Crown through a warrant from the Privy Council. In Cornwall, the High Sheriff is appointed by the Duke of...
and, possibly, the first Member of Parliament
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
, being the first Lord to be called to the Barons Parliament by Simon de Montfort
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester
Simon de Montfort, 6th Earl of Leicester, 1st Earl of Chester , sometimes referred to as Simon V de Montfort to distinguish him from other Simon de Montforts, was an Anglo-Norman nobleman. He led the barons' rebellion against King Henry III of England during the Second Barons' War of 1263-4, and...
.
The oldest surviving building in the village is the 12th century All Saints Parish Church, an elegant well-proportioned building of Early English style. At one time all its windows had the Basset coat of arms, but these have now disappeared, except for a trace in one window. A chantry was added by Ralph de Basset in 1376 and is the present north aisle. The Wesleyans built their first church in Sapcote in 1805. In 1902 a square stone-built structure was erected. The stone was quarried by the men of the church and they made such a good job of it that the church remains as one of the best buildings in Sapcote. It opened in 1905 and is a fine example of the Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts
Arts and crafts comprise a whole host of activities and hobbies that are related to making things with one's hands and skill. These can be sub-divided into handicrafts or "traditional crafts" and "the rest"...
period.
In 1806 a bath house was built by John Frewen Turner over the so-called Golden Well in Stanton Road, in an attempt to turn Sapcote into a Spa. In the building were cold and warm baths, and treatment was given for nervous rheumatic and scrofulous complaints. The building cost around £600, and Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
George Canning
George Canning
George Canning PC, FRS was a British statesman and politician who served as Foreign Secretary and briefly Prime Minister.-Early life: 1770–1793:...
, Duke of Wellington
Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
Field Marshal Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington, KG, GCB, GCH, PC, FRS , was an Irish-born British soldier and statesman, and one of the leading military and political figures of the 19th century...
and Mr Lines all visited the baths.
Other historical buildings include several thatched cottages, Park Farm, a timber-framed house in Stanton Road which is dated 1683, the Old School in Leicester Road which was built in 1819, and the Stanley Burrough's Almshouses in Cooke's Lane, erected in 1847.
Other historical figures to have lived in Sapcote include Claude Greengrass off of Heartbeat and John Wood. John Wood was famously referred to in the Guardian Guide as providing ' contemporary acoustic vibes' at his sell out show in Leicester in 1998.