Gopsall facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Gopsall |
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 Engraving of Gopsall Hall |
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 Gopsall
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| Population | 346 |
| OS grid reference | SK 34594 06819 |
| • London | 170 km |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | ATHERSTONE |
| Postcode district | CV9 |
| Dialling code | 01530 |
| Police | Leicestershire |
| Fire | Leicestershire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
Gopsall, also known as Gopsall Park, is a special area of land in Hinckley and Bosworth, England. It's located between the villages of Appleby Magna, Shackerstone, Twycross, and Snarestone. The people living here are counted as part of the civil parish of Mancetter.
Gopsall was once home to a huge Georgian country house called Gopsall Hall. The northern part of the estate has the Ashby Canal running through it. There's also a long walking path called the Ivanhoe Way.
Most of the land in Gopsall is used for farming. You can find many privately rented farms here. A special footpath lets people walk between Little Twycross and Shackerstone. The A444 road also leads to a canal area on the western side of the estate.
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Gopsall Hall: A Grand Estate
Gopsall Hall was a very grand country house built around 1750. It cost a lot of money back then, about £100,000, which would be millions today! It was built for a man named Charles Jennens. For a long time, people thought John Westley designed it. But later research suggests that William or David Hiorns were the designers and builders.
The Hall was set in hundreds of acres of land. It had two lakes, a special walled garden, and even a Chinese boathouse. There was also a Gothic seat and other cool buildings in the gardens. In 1818, a huge entrance was added, which looked like the famous Arch of Constantine.
Royal Visits and Local Fame
Queen Adelaide, who was a queen of England, often visited Gopsall Hall after her husband died. She was very popular with the local people. You can still find places named after her in nearby villages, like the old Queen Adelaide Pub in Appleby Magna.
In 1848, Gopsall Hall was described as a large and fancy mansion. It was owned by Earl Howe and sat on a gentle hill in the middle of the park. The park had beautiful trees and many deer. The Ashby-de-la-Zouch canal ran nearby, and a main road was on its western side.
The Hall's End and What Remains
Gopsall Hall was once considered the most beautiful country house in Leicestershire. During World War II, it was used as an army headquarters. After the war, it was in such bad shape that it had to be torn down in 1951. Today, Gopsall Park Farm is built over most of the original site.
Some parts of the old estate still remain. You can see parts of the walled garden, the building that generated electricity, and an underground water tank. There's also a long avenue of trees, the gatehouse, and the ruins of a temple connected to the famous composer Handel.
Motor Racing and Famous Guests
In the 1920s and 1930s, Gopsall even had a motor racing circuit! Part of the woodland there is still called "The Race Course."
Many famous people visited Gopsall Hall over the years. These included King Edward VII, Queen Alexandra, Queen Adelaide, and even Winston Churchill.
The land around Gopsall was also once thought of as a possible place for the East Midlands Airport.
Trains and a Special Locomotive
Between 1873 and the 1930s, Gopsall had a railway line. The Shackerstone railway station is now part of a preserved railway called the Battlefield Line Railway. It's a fun visitor attraction!
There was even a Great Western Railway steam train named "Gopsal Hall." Notice the slight misspelling of the name!
Gopsall Temple: A Historic Spot
The Gopsall Temple was part of a restoration project in 2002. It is also a Grade II listed building, which means it's an important historic structure.
You can visit the temple by walking along a public footpath. It's near the old Gopsall Hall Gatehouse entrance in the village of Shackerstone. The walk takes about 15 minutes.
A statue called "Religion" by Louis Francois Roubiliac once stood on the roof of the temple. It was put there to remember Edward Holdsworth, a friend of Charles Jennens. This statue was later given to the City of Leicester and is now in the gardens of Belgrave Hall Museum.
Handel's Messiah: A Musical Connection
In the 1700s, the Gopsall estate was owned by Charles Jennens. He was a writer of words for music and a good friend of the famous composer George Frideric Handel.
It is said that in 1741, Handel composed part of his very famous musical work, Messiah, inside a garden temple at Gopsall. However, some people say there's no proof that Handel stayed there in 1741, even though he visited often. Also, the temple was built after Messiah was already finished.
The organ that Handel designed for Charles Jennens in 1749 can now be found in St James' Church, Great Packington.
Images for kids
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1868 view of Gopsall Hall
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North Front of Gopsall Hall
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Deer in Gopsall Park
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The Gate House at Gopsall Park
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Chapel at Gopsall Hall
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Remains of Gopsall Temple
