Coston

Extract from White's Leicester and Rutland Directory 1877

COSTON, a small village and parish, on the banks of the chief branch of the river Eye, 61/2 miles E.N.E. of Melton Mowbray, in Framland Hundred, Melton Mowhray Union and County Court District, in 1871 contained 164 persons, living in 30 houses, on 1745 acres of land, which is of the rateable value of £2081 17s. 2d. The soil is clayey, except on the east, where it is bounded by a yellow limestone ridge of the Wold hills, dividing it form Buckminster. The Earl of Dysart is lord of the manor, formerlyheld by the Tuftons and Phelps, and anciently by the Ferrers, Berkeleys, &c.; but part of the soil belongs toMr. W. Fablin. At the Domesday survey Henry Ferrers held 9 carucates; and here were 11/2 ploughs in the demesne, 2 bondmen, 12 socmen, 10 villans, and 1 bordar, with 7 ploughs; a mill, and 100 acres of meadow. The Grange, an old building, on an eminence, contains an interesting specimen of ancient wood-carving, and is occupied by a farmer. The Hall, which was a seat of the Phelp family, is now in ruins. The CHURCH (St. Andrew), pleasantly situated on a small eminence, is an ancient structure, consisting of nave, with aisles, chancel, south porch, and a tower, containing two bells, and surmounted by a spire. It was restored in 1846, and a new chancel erected, at a cost of £800, chiefly contributed by the rector. The seats are open at the ends, and of varnished deal, except those in the chancel, which, as well as the pulpit, are of carved oak. The north aisle was restored in 1868 by the late rector, from the design of Mr. W. Gillett. The font is octagonal in form, and panelled. At the eastern end of the south aisle are three sedilia and a piscina, which probably formed part of a chantry, and in the east window of the same aisle are two fine specimens of ancient painted glass, one representing the Crucifixion, and the other St. Mary. The east window is of stained glass, containing in the centre a figure of the patron saint, and in the other compartments medallions illustrative of various passages in his life. The register dates from 1561, and is perfect to the present time. The living is a rectory, valued in KB. at £16 6s. 3d., and now at £334, and was appropriated to Tutbury Priory, but is now in the patronage of the Lord Chancellor, and incumbency of the Rev. Arthur Medland Rendell, M.A., who has a good residence, on a pleasant eminence, and 36A. 2R. of glebe. The tithes were commuted in 1845 for £320 per annum. The parish feast is on the second Sunday after the 19th of September. This parish is united with Garthorpe as a School Board district The School is situated in Garthorpe parish.
POST OFFICE at Mr. John Cawthorne's. Letters are received at 10.30 a.m., and are despatched at 4 p.m. viâ Melton Mowbray, but Wymondham is the nearest Money Order Office, and Waltham the nearest Telegraph Office.

Copyright Guy Etchells © 2000-04 All rights reserved.

Permission is granted for all free personal and non-commercial uses. It is my intention to make all data contained herein freely available for all private, non-profit and non-commercial uses. Commercial use of any portion contained herein is expressly prohibited.