Shops and Businesses
The Co-op on Castle Road
Photograph The Will Walker Collection
Hudsons' Butchers
1, Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
Mrs Hudson and her sons Alec and Gerald ran a butchery business at number1, Main Street. There was an abattoir at the bottom of the garden, where the cattle were slaughtered by the two sons. This was common practice in village in the earlier part of the 20th century and before. Later on, when the butchery business closed, the premises were taken over by Vines Electrical and then finally by Sissons and Allen, another electrical retailer. In 1985, a small group of people from the Free Church had a vision to create a Care Home for the elderly people in the village. Other people including members of the Parish Church and some non-church members, gathered together and formed a Housing Association. This was an independent venture, not affiliated to any organisation however, it was decided that it would adhere to Christian values. In 1987, the Trust gained charitable status and by 1990, there were sufficient funds to purchase Sissons and Allen. Initially day care was provided for twelve elderly village residents and at the same time a charity shop was run from the premises. After 10 years work and by 2001, the shop had raised £214,000. Ideas changed somewhat and it was decided to build 13 flats, some for owner occupation and some for rental purposes. The building was named Carey Gardens. A commemorative stone was laid by the founder of the venture, George LeMay.
Vines Electrical Shop 1, Main Street
Photograph The Jeff Vines Collection
Sissons and Allen Advertisment
Free Church Magazine 1964
A. Wilson Tew's Chemist
9 ,Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
Arthur Wilson Tew was born in Warwick in 1876, one of 5 siblings. Although two of his brothers followed their father and found employment at the Gas Works, Arthur chose a different path. In 1901, he was living in London and working as a Chemist's drug assistant. Soon after he became a Member of the Pharmaceutical Society (M.P.S.), holding that qualification for over 60 years. The life of a village 'chemist' was very different to the life of a village pharmacist today. Generally, the chemist was responsible for mixing up medicines, as in the early years pre-packed medicines did not exist. The chemist's dispensing area would be full of bottles of tinctures and medicines, a pestal and mortar, different sized bottles, jars and corks, and white paper to hold powder medicines.
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Arthur served the village for many years, always going the extra mile to help his customers. When the village was bombed in 1940, his shop was destroyed. He then set up shop in a temporary wooden building until finally the newly built premises were ready.
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Mr Tew was responsible for many of the photographs taken in the village during and after WWII, as he had access to film and development materials at the time. Arthur eventually retired in 1963 at the age of 87.
A. Wilson Tew's Chemist's Shop before 1940 Photo: The Will Walker Collection
Mrs Tew at the temporary Chemist's shop on Main Street. Photo: The Will Walker Collection
Enterprise House
Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
Until 1962, the area of land between Fox Lane and Battens (now One Stop) had been fields with a tall hedge fronting Main Street. With the growth of the village around this time, suddenly there was a need for a variety of new and different shops. During the late 50's and early '60's Jelson built the houses in the area of Garfit Road, Oakcroft and Armson Avenue and so the need was suddenly pressing. A large parcel of land was purchased and Enterprise House was built. The building was split into units and they were soon taken up by enterprising shop keepers. Unit 1, became home to N. Crane, draper, selling a variety of goods including 'Ladybird' children's clothes. By 1972, the shop had been taken over by Young's shoe shop. In the late '70's the shop changed hands again and became a bakery. Finally, after being home to the Alliance and Leicester Building Society which in 1980 was taken over by Santandar, it became home to Scotney's a Letting Agent and Brooks Residential, an estate agent. Unit 2 was occupied between 1963 and 1966 by a butcher's shop trading as R.V. Wells. Afterwards another butcher D.C. Barker and then until 2004, Tony Doolan, a butcher and his wife Sue, who many will remember. Later it became a delicatessen and now a restaurant named 'The Foxes Den'. Unit 3, was occupied by Nicholson's, a fruit and grocery shop, in the 1960's. They were followed by Hartleys, who were already established further along the road, and who then moved their pet and garden shop into the unit. At the same time Hartley's expanded their grocery and provisions shop further along the road.  By 2006, new owners arrived and created our very popular 'Village Pharmacy' which we still have today. Finally Unit 4, was first occupied by 'Rennee', a ladies hairdresser followed by the 'House of Hillikere', hairdressers run by David Briggs. In 2006, the shop was taken over by 'Cool for Cuts' hairdresser which remains today.
House of Hillikere, Main Street owned by David Briggs
Leicester Advertiser
Tony Doolan Butcher
Advertisment Leicester Advertiseer 1975
Batten's Seed Merchants
28, Main Street Kirby Muxloe
Batten's (1930) Ltd. was first listed in the Trade Directories 1936, as a coke and coal merchant; by 1946, the shop was listed as selling 'solid fuel' and pet food. The shop occupied the left hand side of the building with Clarke's fruit and grocery on the right. Batten's were primarily Coal and Agricultural merchants, but they also owned three pet shops, trading under the name of Hartley's.
Tom Poyner, the manager and his new wife were the first people to move into the living quarters at the back of the shop. The shop sold many other items including dog biscuits, bird seed, and lots of other animal related articles. Everything was in large sacks which sat on the floor, the goods were put into paper bags and then weighed to calculate the cost. Mr Poyner often collected coal and coke from Kirby Wharf. This was sold in the shop. He stored the coal and coke in heaps in the fields behind the shops. At the time, the shops were surrounded by fields full of wild flowers, a great place for children to play.
Batten's Advertisment Leicester Advertiser 1964
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Batten's decorated for the Coronation of Queen Elizabeth II in 1953.
The Will Walker Collection
Jack Chesterton Blacksmith
Jack Chesterton, Blacksmith, 29 Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
Jack Chesterton was the villages last blacksmith. He appeared at the first Local History Exhibition in the Church hall in 1970. The exhibition was part of the Ruby Year celebrations of the establishment of the parish. Jack regretted he could not bring a pony into the hall to shoe! He said to our local historian, the late Jonathan Wilshere, that "no longer does the village wake to the sound of the anvil". Many of Kirby's elder residents can remember as children watching him shoe a horse, with sparks flying all over the place!
George and John (Jack) were brothers and had a forge at Ratby. They both worked with Tom Moore, the wheelwright, when putting new rims on wheels and then onto farm carts. When a wheel was to be repaired, it was firstly taken to Jack Chesterton's who cut off the rim. It was then wheeled back down the road to the wheelwright's shop, where a big fire was burning. When it was hot enough, the wheel was put into the rim.
After the smithy closed down in 1948, the forge closed down and the house passed into private hands.
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Jack Chesterton standing in front of the Forge
on Main Street. Part of the Will Walker Collection
Harry Ireland Plumber
Harry Ireland, Plumber & Glazier, 34 Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
​Harry Ireland was born in Leicester in 1886. Harry married Edith Fanton who had been living with her parents in Ratby since 1897. They moved to Church Road in Kirby Muxloe before 1911 and Harry, who had originally trained as an electrical engineer, became a plumber and glazier. In the 1920's Harry bought a plot of land on Main Street and built his own shop. It was registered in the Trade Directories as Harry Ireland, Plumber and Glazier.  Harry is well remembered in the village as during WWII, and in his late 50's, and also in a reserved occupation, he held regular dances in the Church Hall. They danced to Victor Sylvester music played on a gramophone. Harry will always be remembered as being very tall whilst his second wife, Agnes, was very short, they made quite a spectacle on the dance floor!  Harry was also very involved in the building of the new Free Church which opened in 1953. It is said he was a prolific knitter and made many items which were  sent to the troops at the front. When Harry retired the premises passed to Jones and Overton Ltd. Electrical Contractors. They based their business in the upstairs area and let the ground floor to Craft Services, a D-I-Y and Hardware business. In the 1960's, the shop was sold to Malcolm Peck who opened the Post Office which had moved from Church Road. Malcolm ran the Post Office for many years, and then when he retired it changed hands, but continued as a Post Office as it still does today.
Harrry and Edith, his first wife with Lillian & Bill Oringe. Edith and Lillian were sisters. Photo Gerard Mildner Oregon U.S.A.
Forman's Bicycle Repairs & Grocers
Forman's Bicycle Shop & Grocers, 36 Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
John/Jack Foreman was classed as a 'cycle repairer', a reserved occupation during WWII, but he also sold new cycles. During WWII, cycles were often the only mode of transport, as few people owned a car and petrol was severely rationed. His forebearers had a long history in the village, as his grandmother had been born and brought up in the village; her name was Eleanor Chesterton. When Eleanor married Fred Forman in 1910, the newly-weds set up home in Kirby Muxloe. Soon after their wedding, Fred set up a carrier's business in the village. At first, he transported goods by horse and cart and then later purchased a lorry which carried goods in the morning and converted into a bus each afternoon. Sadly, Fred died in 1923 and his son Jack took over the business, eventually increasing the number of buses to three, all based at Ivy House on Main Street. The buses were kept in a large wooden shed at the rear of the property and there was a petrol pump and storage tank for Pratt's Petroleum in front garden. When Jack decided to sell his buses due to competition from Midland Red, he moved with his two aunts, Elizabeth Chesterton and her sister, from the large Ivy House, on Main Street, to a newly built bungalow, with shop premises at Oak View, 36, Main Street. 'Lizzie' Chesterton had run a small shop selling groceries at 39, Main Street and so the business was transferred across the road to the new building. Early in the 1930's, a large wooden workshop was built behind the bungalow, with a glass lean-to at the side of the bungalow to display cycles and accessories. Jack married his wife Ann in 1939. When Lizzie Chesterton died in the early 1950's, Ann took over the runnning of the shop. In 1962, the lean-to was replaced by an extension to the shop. In 1971, Jack closed the cycle business, but the grocery shop continued for another two years under different management. Eventually, the shop was re-opened by Jack and Ann's mother as a shop selling knitwear and hosiery. This lasted two years to be followed by E.A. Rawson and Son, greengrocers and florists until 1977, when the shop ceased to trade. The bungalow was then altered into a residence with the shop part making a large front lounge. One item remembered is that during the late 60's and 70's, Ann Forman used to run regular bingo sessions at her bungalow. Using every single room for the participents and with a caller in the hall, these sessions were extremely popular. The sessions raised valuable money for the Women's Section of the British Legion.
John Forman standing by his Durant bus
Photo part of the Joe Moore Collection
George Barkby Cobbler
George Matthew ‘Tin Tack’ Barkby - cobbler, 45 Main Street. Kirby’s last boot maker
George Barkby was born in 1896. By 1911, both George's mother and father had passed away and he was living with his paternal grandparents in Kirby Muxloe. By 1922, Thomas Barkby, George's grandfather is recorded as a 'boot maker' and it is most likely that George was working with him. The first cobbler's shop was in a workshop behind George Upton's stable, which was opposite Harry Ireland's shop on Main Street. By 1932, his workshop had moved to number 45, Main Street and George Mathew Barkby had become the village cobbler.
George is remembered as always having a mouth full of tacks and by having a large treadle machine and a buffing machine. Stories abound of children having been sent to get a pair of shoes repaired, were told to count the number of tacks put in each shoe. The correct number was 13, if there were only 12 the shoes were returned.
George served in the Army Service Corps in WWI, but was eventually discharged through ill health. After leaving the services he returned home and married Gertrude Emily Nash. During WWII, he served as an Air Raid Protection Warden, helping to alert the village of incoming air raids, a very important job.
George died in 1966, aged 67 years and with his passing Kirby Muxloe lost it's cobbler.
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45-47 Main Street Kirby Muxloe
Photo part of the Will Walker Collection
George Barkby pinning cigarette packet cards on the wall of his shop Photo George Barkby
Joe Moore Wheelwright
Joe Moore, Wheelwright, 46 Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
Joseph Moore was born in Walton-by-Kimcote in 1851, he was one of 8 children. He was apprenticed to Samuel Harrison of Forest Edge, Leicester Forest East. By 1872, he had completed his apprenticeship. Joseph married Sarah Jane Bradbury of Kirby Muxloe in 1873 and by 1881, he had established a business and workshop on land on Main Street, which stretched from The Old White House to the shop now occupied by A.A. Moore. Joe and Sarah had 6 children and by 1886, had moved into Ivy Cottage nearly opposite the workshop.
Joseph worked closely with John/Jack Chesterton, the village blacksmith and between them they made many wheels with a steel rim for their customers. Joseph also made coffins for the local community and implements and farm tools.
Joe, kept cows in the field at the back of Ivy Cottage, with his wife Sarah making butter in the larder and selling it to villagers. Although his sons Harry and Charlie initially worked in the business, they soon moved onto other employment. Tom, Joe's youngest son always worked with his father and took over the business in the 1920's. Over the years Tom not only made coffins but also became the village undertaker, working closely with Ginns and Gutteridge of Leicester. Tom was a very good carpenter and could turn his hand to anything, making all sorts, including carts, sash-cord windows, milking stools and dolly pegs. He was also an excellent sign writer.
In WWI, he served in the Royal Engineers and was injured in the shoulder and leg at Arras in 1917. He was in hospital for a time and then eventually returned home until his retirement in 1952. The works premises were then extended and his tools were buried beneath the concrete floor.
The Wheelwrights shop Main Street 1908
Photo part of the Joe Moore Collection
Wheelwright - Old Joe 1851-1929
Photograph part of the Joe Moore Collection
George Russell Butcher
George Russell, Butcher, 47 Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
There have been butchers in Kirby Muxloe since 1804. The names that come to our attention are Nathaniel Hooke in 1804, Thomas Thorniloe in 1837, Henry Tunnicliffe in 1861, and in 1888, Hefford Hudson. In 1941, there were 3 recorded butchers in the village. George Russell at 47, Main Street, was one of them. He was said to sell 'good quality meat' and often sang whilst he was working.
For some unknown reason, Russell's butchers were favoured by people attending St Bart's Church, whilst the congregation of the Free Church shopped elsewhere. He is first recorded working as a butcher in 1916 and there is also a reference to him in the Trade Directories of 1946. He retired in 1971.
George was well known in the village as a 'Peoples Warden' and also as a sideman at St Bart's. He is remembered as handing round the collection plate during services.
After George Russell retired, the shop was let to two ladies who sold bric- a- brac, followed by a Mrs Dawson who sold knitwear. Following on from Mrs Dawson, a shop selling good quality craft items appeared and on a Thursday afternoon, classes were held in the back room.
Eventually number 45, and 46, Main Street were joined together and were taken over by an optician.
The premises have now changed hands again.
George Russell 1885-1976
Photograpgh from " A Roof Over their Heads"
Edward Madder Baker
43, Madder's Bakery, Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
The first recorded baker in the village was William Flude, who remained as a baker in the village until 1870. The Madder family then took over the role of bakers in 1889, firstly Fred Madder followed by Edward Madder until 1936.
In 1892, Edward was recorded as a baker and flour dealer and in 1898, he was recorded as a baker, confectioner and sub-postmaster, with his bakery business expanding to cater for the new residents of Kirby Fields. By 1941, the bakery had been replaced by a garage and one petrol pump belonging to Jack Forman. Therefore during WWII and later, it appears that there was no longer a baker in the village.
Edward Madder with Nobby his horse
Photograph part of the Will Walker Collection
Edward Madder with his delivery van
Photograph part of the Joe Moore Collection
Dr. Garfit - Doctor
Charles Corringham Garfit was, M.B., was Kirby's first full time doctor. Previously, the village had been served for just three days a week by Dr Kelly of Desford and Dr Harris from Anstey. Dr Wright of Newtown Unthank occassionally attended, arriving on his horse and cart or on his horse and sleigh in the winter. By 1894, Arthur Crossley, surgeon, of Leicester was attending twice a week. Dr Garfit was born in Delamere, Cheshire, in 1871. He was the son of Charles Taylor Garfit, a land agent and his wife Ada Maria Cunningham. He had three younger sisters, Ada, Helen and Kate. He gained an Exhibition to Hulme Hall, Manchester University to study medicine, qualifing in 1896. He arrived in Kirby as a single man in 1897 and lodged with Mrs Crawford at 'Ashleigh', Station Road. After his marriage he moved next door to 'Inglewood' and continued in practice until 1944. Dr Garfit is well remembered in the village and his reputation is legendary. We are told numerous stories of his rusty scissors, profuse use of iodine, unhygenic habbits and liberal applications of ointment. It is also said that he more than once removed tonsils from a child on the kitchen table. His main cause of death for anyone over the age of 60 was 'senile decay'. Dr Garfit was, initially of course, practicing medicine at the turn of the century when medicine was still in its infancy. At first, the doctor's surgery was held in the front room of a cottage on Main Street. The cottage was built at right angles to the road and on a small jitty. The jitty is still there today. At one time, at dead of night, Harry Webster, who was well known in the village, is said to have crept down the jitty and fixed a sign to the wall of the cottage which said 'Harley Street'. The doctor was quite enamoured by the sign and so it stayed there until the cottage was demolished. In 1933, Dr Garfit was joined by Dr Jones and became part of the firm of Garfit and Jones, Physicians and Surgeons. Dr Jones bought The Old White House on Main Street and erected a large wooden chalet-like building in the front garden. Many people from Ratby and Kirby Muxloe will remember visiting the doctors' surgery there, firstly with Doctors Garfit and Jones and later with Doctors Jones and Alexander. Eventually in 1969, a purpose built surgery was erected at Braunstone Crossroads. Now latterly in 2024, the surgery at the Crossroads is hardly used and a new surgery is available at Leicester Forest East on the David Wilson development. Dr Garfit was a member of both the Quorn and Atherstone hunts and it was not unusual on hunt days for him to arrive at house calls on horseback, with his trusty hunt terrier in tow. We are told that he usually arrived between 7:30 nd 8:30am, tied up his horse on the gatepost, visited his patient, then went off to join the hunt of the day. Dr Garfit was very well known in the village and very involved in community life. He was a member of the Parish Council and Chairman of the Govenors at the school for many years. He was also a member of the Parochial Sanitary Committee. Charles Garfit will always be remembered for his rousing performances in Gilbert And Sullivan's Mikado and for preserving the 'right of way' through the Old White House by walking through the hallway, front to back, once a year. Dr Garfit retired in 1944 and died in 1955, aged 84 years. Part of the information for this article comes from Old Kirby (Muxloe) by Jonathan Wilshere, which has generously been made available online by his son, Andrew Wilshere.
Dr Garfit on horse back, ready to join the hunt.
Photograph part of the Will Walker Collection
Davey – Grocers
Davey Grocers, 60 Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
This building was originally a farm and is thought to date back to the 18th century or possibly earlier. The original farm was named 'Village Farm' and was situated on Village Street (Main Street) as several small farms were at that time. The farm had a fairly small plot of land reaching back to Desford Road (Back Lane). The main crops were wheat, oats and barley.
In 1910, the farmhouse and land were purchased by Albert Davey, a builder originally from Devon. Albert had moved to the village some years before to work with his wife's uncle, George Mason. Albert demolished the cow sheds and stables which fronted Main Street and built houses numbered 62-80 Main Street. He then converted the farmhouse in to a shop run by his wife. in 1925, Albert built a large house for his family, accessed by a long drive at the side of the shop. The house was named 'Sandycroft', most likely as there was a large natural sandpit in the garden. It is said that at the time there was a large orchard in the front garden and that the garden was full of flowers, as Mrs Davey was an avid collector of flower cuttings.
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Davey's grocery and off-licence on Main Street 1910
Photograph part of the Will Walker Collection
Burdett's – Grocers
Burdett's Grocers, 60 Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
Mr and Mrs Burdett took over the shop and off licence in the 1930's. They are still remembered by many people in the village. The shop stayed in the Burdett's hands until 1996.
We are told that they had a long counter with a bacon slicer and cheese counter at one end and large square tins of biscuits at the other. Apparently, the tins had a glass panel at the front so that the selection of different biscuits could be seen at a glance. There was usually also a tin of 'broken biscuits' on the counter. During war time and after when food was still rationed, Mrs Burdett had a stamp and ink pad at the back of the shop where she diligently stamped rationed books as people made their purchases. Many customers wrote out their order either in a small book or a piece of paper so that groceries could then be delivered to their home.
Burdett's Advertisment The Leicester Advertiser
A.A. Moore – Florists
Burdett's Grocers, 60 Main Street, Kirby Muxloe
On 1st November 1985, the building was purchased by A.A. Moore and Son. The shop ws initially run as a high class green grocers and floristry shop however, eventually it changed in to the shop we know today as a high classs floristry business. After moving into the premises they embarked on a massive renovation project. During the renovations an important discovery was made. Whilst passing the time of day a gentleman who lived almost opposite, watched as various items were removed from the shop. He became more interested when he saw very large wooden beams taken out of the shop ready to be burnt. He approached Mr Moore and his son Jeremy to ask if he could take further interest in the proceedings and look at the building materials as they were exposed. As soon as the builders started to uncover the walls and ceiling at the front of the building it became evident that the building was much older than originally thought. In fact it could be dated as between the 17th and 18th centuries. Some of the main roof beams had previously been used somewhere else and so were older than the building. It was soon realised that there were only two possible areas from which the materials had been obtained. The Church or the Castle. As the Church was renovated between 1848 and 1850, there was only one possible solution. The materials had come from the decaying castle. To follow up these theories the beams were then subjected to dendrochronological testing, carried out at Nottinghan University. The results were as follows- the beams dated back to around 1396 and then brickwork was identical to the materials used in the building of the castle. As our very observant gentleman became more and more enthralled, he began to ask more questions. Why was rush and straw mixed with the plaster between the ceiling rafters and why was the front part of the building built of brick but the rear half built in stone? The burning of the beams was halted and they were with permission of the Moore family moved into a place of safety. It was noted that although the beams were very old and fulll of assorted nails, some hand-made, a good clean with a wire brush attachment on his drill and a loving layer of beeswax changed their appearance completely.
A.A. Moore decorated for the Coronation of King Charles III
Mrs Gibson
Eleanor Jane Wormleighton was born in Birstall in 1872, the daughter of Thomas and Mary. The family moved to Queniborough, but Thomas was working as a gardener in Kirby by 1901 and the family were living at Belmont Villa, Church Road. Although Eleanor had previously worked as a housemaid for the Marshall family in Knighton there was no occupation listed for her in the 1901 census. Robert Gibson was born in 1875 at Market Overton, the son of Joseph and Ellen. The 1891 census tells us that his occupation was a farm servant, but in 1901, he can be found with his brother Harry, lodging at Westbourne Cottage, Main Street, where he is working as a bricklayer and carter. Eleanor and Robert were married at Kirby in 1905 and by 1911, they had three children, Edward, Walter and Margaret Ellen, and were living in five rooms in Main Street. Robert was a farm labourer and a cowman. In 1912, another son, Joseph was born. The family lived in the thatched vergers cottage next to the Church rooms where Eleanor provided a tea room service in the front part of the cottage, but at the rear she sold seeds. Robert was also a Church warden. Eleanor died in 1931 and Robert in 1936. They are buried together in Kirby Churchyard. Edward and Joseph moved out of the village but Walter married and lived in a house opposite his old home. Margaret married Harold Wingate Burdett in 1937, and the couple lived in the shop (Burdett's) at 60, Main Street.
Mrs Gibson standing outside her Tea Shop on Main Street
Photograph part of The Joe Moore Collection
Map showing the approximate site of shop in the1930/40's
Hand drawn from memory by Peter Cooper