Houses
The Old School House, formerly Parson's Farewell The John Osband Collection
The National School
This Grade II listed building (above) was built in 1858 as a purpose-built National School and adjoining School master's house. The building remained as a school until, due to the need for larger premises, the Barwell Road School was built in 1910. After this date, the house became a private residence for some time and then in 1922, a parsonage. By 1930, the house had been converted into the vicarage. This occured when Kirby Muxloe bacame a parish on its own. Up until 1930, it had been part of the chapelry of Glenfield. The building continued as a vicarage unril 1947.
During WWII, the vicar in residence was the Reverend G.E. Simms-Reeve, who remained vicar until 1945. A booklet entitled " A Roof Over Their Heads A Cameo of Kirby" was produced in 1992, to raise funds for the restoration of the Church roof. The book tells of the affecionate name 'Simmy', which was soon adopted by the parishoners, and that the vicar and his family soon became involved in village life. We are told he was a typical country vicar, always around the shops and visiting people in their homes, where he would never refuse a cup of tea. His appetite for tea was so prodigious and he would 'consume pots of the stuff every day'. We are also told that during the war, the vicarage was used as a Report Centre, and the vicar became an Air Raid Precautions Warden. He would often be seen cycling around the village, complete with whistle, gas mask and tin hat.
After 1947, the house once more became a private residence known as' Parson's Farewell'. In later years, part of the house was home to a successful gift shop and cafe (Parson's Gallery), selling good quality gifts and cards, run by the Osband family. When the owners closed the gift shop, the house continued as a private residence. It was re-sold in 2012, being renamed 'The Old School House'.
The National School with Winnie and Doris Rowe
c 1904
The Nationl School surrounded by the very large garden Photo the John Osband collection
The Towers
The Towers was an example of Victorian architecture at its best. The house, which will still be remembered by some peope in the vilage, was situated in the area now called Towers Drive and Towers Close. The house was tall, with towers and turrets, large chimneys and decorative trim in many areas. There was an abundant use of stained glass on its many windows. The houses was surrounded by a brick wall, interspersed by smaller round towers. Two of the original towers and parts of the wall, can still be seen at the bottom of Towers Drive, near to the entrance of Station Drive. The house had an asymetrical design featured in many Victorian houses and there are some properties of fairly similar design still to be seen in Kirby Fields today. The entrance to the grounds was flanked by two gatehouses of a quite substantial size.
The house was originally named Forest Ville, which later becme Forest Villa and then eventually The Towers. It was bult in 1879, close to the railway station, which made it convenient for business men travelling into Leicester for work.
The original owners were the Goode brothers, actually twins, who came from Cattows Normanton, near Heather. They were land owners and also owned a property named Heather Hall. In1881, we find James Bakewell Goode, then aged 66, living in Forest Ville with three servants. By 1891, the brothers had moved back to Cattows Normanton and the house sold, firstly to Captain Guy Perkins and then by 1893, to Captain Orr Grey. Around 1900, it was sold to Herbert Sutton, a gown and mantle manufacturer who had previously lived at Faleide on Kirby Fields
During WWII, the house was occupied by American airman based at Braunstone Municipal and Desford Aerodromes. After 1945, the property became a home for elderly men, run by Leicester Corporation. By 1966, the building company Calverley purchased the house and grounds, demolished the house and developing Towers Drive and Towers Close. It is said that the company fell into difficulties after building the development and this was the cause of it going into liquidation.
Another notable Kirby Muxloe house sadly demolished and almost forgotten.
The Towers built in 1879
Photograph part of the Will Walker Collection
One of The Towers gatehouses c1946
Photograoh part of the Will Walker Collection
Faith Cottage
In the early months of 1876, a group of young men from Glenfield and Ratby began to hold open-air services in Kirby Muxloe. This was to culminate in the establishment of a non-conformist Church in the village. Later in the same year Mr Henser, who owned Faith Cottage, agreed to hold the meetings in his home. Soon there was a need for larger premises, and so the services took place in the billiard room at Vernon House, Main Street, with the owner Mr Downing, supplying the seats. Unfortunately, in 1878, Mr Downing needed to return to Leicester for business reasons, and so once more the services were held in Faith Cottage. Mr Henser knocked down the central wall in the cottage to make more space and offered the use of his American organ to the growing congreation.
By 1879, a Mr James Turner had arrived in the village, having moved from Leicester. He was a staunch non-conformist and realised that Faith Cottage was not large enough for the growing congregation. He arranged for the meetings to move to the Red Barn on Desford Road. However, Mr Henser was not willing to part with the seats which had come from Vernon House. After some discussion between himself and the congregation he eventually agreed, and he also offered the loan of his American organ, along with himself as organist.
Faith Cottage has had a chequered history, much of it concerning religion. Around 1920, Mr Boden lived in the cottage and was known for handing out small texts to any child who happened to knock on his door on a Sunday morning. Around 1940, two ladies of the Boden family lived there, believed to be mother and daughter. They sold sweets and groceries and were very popular with the children. The ladies did not sell cigarettes and when young men came into the shop asking for them they would just say "If God had intended you to smoke he would have put a chimney on your head"!
The ladies were very religious and it is said that they attached a sign saying "Prepare to meet Thy God" to the shed in their front garden. There is a story about a young man, out riding his motor cycle, who crashed into the hedge on the border of the property, and finished up looking up at the sign on the side of the shed. He had quite a scare!
During more recent times, a sucessful "Bed and Breakfast"has been run at the prmises, but now it has reverted into a family home.
Faith Cottage in the early days
THe Will Walker Collection
Faith Cottage c 1910
Photograph part of the Will Walker Collection
Winstanley Cottages 75-85 Main Street
Grade II listed
Sited well back from the road with deep front gardens the Winstanley cottages hide behind a variety of trees. The cottages were built in 1859 and designed by the renowned architect William Butterfield. The cottages at Braunstone, named Cressida Place were also designed by the same man. They were built for £233 each, quite a sum of money in those days. Altogether there are 6 cottages built in an L-plan design.
There is a tiled roof and the cottages are built of red brick with irregular diaper patterning in blue headers, reminicent of the patterning on Kirby Muxloe Castle.
The left hand cottage was originally the farm baliff's house and is slightly more elaborately decorated.
The cottages were originally built to accomodate farm workers at the nearby Castle Farm, and it said that the families could live rent free, if the labourers worked on Sundays. Today all the cottages are privately owned.
Winstanley Cottages, Main Street Kirby Muxloe
Photograph the Will Walker Collection
30-32 Main Street Grade II Listed
Numbers 30 and 32 Main Street are a pair of mid -century Victorian estate cottages.
Built in pale red brick with cogged brick eaves, ornamental slate roofs and brick chimneys they are a good example of this era of Victorian architecture.
Unfortunately, much of the original woodwork e.g. skirting boards and architrave in one of the cottages has been lost. However, small pieces have been recovered allowing copies to be made bringing the cottage back to it's original interior style.
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30-32 Main Street
Pen and ink drawing by Bryan Clarke
30-32 Main Street, today