Hinckley facts for kids

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Quick facts for kids Hinckley
Town
Top to bottom, left to right: The Hinckley Hub Council Offices, Water Tower, Town Centre, Ashby Canal at the Marina & St Mary's Church
Hinckley
Population	50,712 (Urban area included Burbage)
OS grid reference	SP425939
Civil parish	Hinckley (Unparished)/Burbage (Parished)
District	Hinckley and Bosworth
Shire county	Leicestershire
Region	East Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	HINCKLEY
Postcode district	LE10
Dialling code	01455

Police	Leicestershire
Fire	Leicestershire
Ambulance	East Midlands

EU Parliament	East Midlands
UK Parliament	Hinckley and Bosworth
List of places UK England Leicestershire 52°32′29″N 1°22′21″W / 52.5413°N 1.3725°W / 52.5413; -1.3725

Hinckley is a lively market town in the southwest of Leicestershire, England. It is managed by the Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Hinckley is the third largest town in Leicestershire, after Leicester and Loughborough. It is located about halfway between Leicester and Coventry. The town also borders Nuneaton in Warwickshire. A historic road called Watling Street forms part of the border between Leicestershire and Warwickshire. Hinckley and the nearby village of Burbage form one connected urban area.

A Look Back at Hinckley's History

Archaeologists found proof of people living in Hinckley during the Iron Age and Romano-British times. This was discovered in 2000 near Coventry Road.

Hinckley's history goes back to Anglo-Saxon times. The name "Hinckley" comes from Anglo-Saxon words. "Hinck" was likely a person's name, and "ley" meant a clearing in a wood. By 1086, when the Domesday Book was written, Hinckley was already a large village. It grew into a small market town over the next 200 years. The first record of a market here is from 1311. You can still see parts of an Anglo-Saxon sundial on the old church.

Hinckley is about 4 miles (6 km) south of where the Battle of Bosworth is thought to have happened in 1485. This was the last big battle of the Wars of the Roses. In this battle, Henry Tudor's forces defeated King Richard III.

How Hinckley Changed in the 17th Century

In the 1600s, Hinckley became known for making hosiery, which means stockings and similar clothing. The town played a big part in the English Civil War. It was close to important places for both sides: the Royalists (King's supporters) and the Parliamentarians. This meant that soldiers often visited Hinckley.

In March 1644, Royalist troops took over Hinckley. But Parliamentarian forces quickly drove them out and took many prisoners. During the war, people in Hinckley had to choose sides or try to stay neutral. Staying neutral often meant paying money to both sides.

The Civil War was a difficult time for local church leaders. Some who supported Parliament were removed from their positions. Royalist troops would raid the town to threaten those who supported Parliament. One famous Royalist leader, Lord Hastings, once gathered about 100 people, including church leaders, and held them prisoner in Hinckley church. He even threatened to hang those who supported Parliament.

However, Parliamentarian troops from nearby towns quickly responded. They rushed to Hinckley, defeated the Royalists, and freed the prisoners. This event was seen as a great victory for Parliament and helped bring peace to the area.

This inscription is part of a window in St Mary's church, Hinckley

Map of Hinckley and its surroundings dated 1786

Hinckley in the 19th Century

In 1801, the first national census showed Hinckley had 5,158 people. Twenty years later, it had grown by about a thousand. The biggest industry in the early 1800s was making hosiery. Only Leicester made more stockings. Around 1830, about 6,000 people in the area worked in this industry.

Between 1816 and 1822, Ada Byron, the daughter of the poet Lord Byron, lived near Hinckley. She often visited the bank in Hinckley and loved the town. Ada is famous for being the first computer programmer.

Joseph Hansom built the first Hansom cab (a type of horse-drawn carriage) in Hinckley in 1835.

In 1899, a small hospital was built to celebrate Queen Victoria's Diamond Jubilee. Local people and factory owners, especially John and Thomas Atkins, raised money for it. This hospital was very important to the people of Hinckley. Workers even donated a penny a week to help keep it running until the NHS took it over in 1948.

Recent Times in Hinckley

A 1961 map showing Hinckley and nearby towns like Nuneaton

On May 16, 1941, during World War II, eleven people were killed in Hinckley. This was the worst attack in the county outside of Leicester. Numbers 5 and 7 Merevale Avenue took a direct hit.

The hosiery industry remained important for much of the 20th century. By 1939, the Hinckley and District Hosiery Union had 6,000 members.

New homes were built in the area during the 1950s, 1960s, and 1990s.

Hinckley's Location and Areas

Hinckley has several suburban areas. These include Hollycroft, Middlefield, Stoneygate, Wykin, Forest View, West Hinckley, Saxon Paddock, and Druid Quarter. The areas of Burbage, Sketchley, and Lash Hill are separated from the main part of Hinckley by the railway line.

How Hinckley is Governed

Hinckley became an urban district in 1894. This meant it had its own local government. In 1934, it grew to include nearby parishes like Barwell, Burbage, and Earl Shilton. In 1974, the Hinckley urban district was changed. It became an unparished area within the larger borough of Hinckley and Bosworth. Since then, some of the civil parishes have been re-established.

Famous Places and Landmarks in Hinckley

The canalside pub, The Lime Kilns, near Hinckley, where the Ashby Canal crosses the A5 road

The framework knitters' cottages in Hinckley, now a museum

Battle of Bosworth Site: This historic battlefield is managed by Leicestershire County Council. It has a visitor centre at Ambion Hill, where King Richard III camped before the battle.
Hinckley Museum: This museum is located in old 17th-century cottages where framework knitters used to live. It opened in 1996 and shows different exhibitions each year.
Stoke Golding Church: This village has a medieval church with beautiful carvings and 13th-century windows.
St Mary's Church: This is the main Church of England parish church in Hinckley, built in the 13th century. There's a local story that a tombstone in the churchyard "bleeds" every April 12th.
The Great Meeting: Built in 1722, this is an old nonconformist church hidden behind former hosiery factories. It has a special design with galleries inside.
Hollycroft Park: The Atkins family gave this park to Hinckley in 1934. It has tennis courts, a bowling green, a golf course, a bandstand, and gardens. It hosts big events like music festivals. The park has won Green Flag status for its high standards.
Brodick Park: This park in west Hinckley was almost sold for housing, but the council decided to keep it. It has now been planted with trees to create a nature reserve.
Ashby Canal: This canal, the longest contour canal in England, runs through the town.
Former Quarries: Hinckley has two old quarries, the Little Pit and Big Pit. The Little Pit is now a Site of Ecological Interest and is used by an angling club.
Shopping Centres: Hinckley has several shopping areas. The Britannia Centre and Hansom Court offer many stores. The Crescent is an outdoor shopping area with a bus station, supermarket, and cinema.

What Hinckley Makes: Industry and Business

The Triumph Motorcycle Factory in Hinckley

Hinckley has a long history in the hosiery industry. The first framework knitting machine came here in the 1600s. By the 1800s, Hinckley made a lot of Britain's hosiery. Even though the industry has shrunk, some textile companies are still in the area. The Hinckley & District Museum tells the story of this industry.

Paynes Garages Ltd is one of the oldest family-owned Ford dealerships in the UK, started in 1907.

Hinckley's central location and good links to motorways make it a popular place for large storage warehouses. Hammonds Furniture, a family-owned company making fitted furniture, started in Hinckley in 1926. It now employs over 850 people in its two Hinckley factories.

Triumph Motorcycles Ltd has had a factory in Hinckley since 1990. Triumph is one of the oldest motorcycle makers still in business, founded in 1902.

Hinckley also has many creative and technology businesses. Designers, artists, and photographers work in renovated buildings like the Atkins Building.

The supercar maker Ultima Sports is based in Hinckley. They claim their GTR720 model set the fastest lap time on the Top Gear test track.

Getting Around: Transport in Hinckley

Hinckley is about 12 miles (19 km) from both Coventry and Leicester. It is also 5 miles (8 km) east of Nuneaton.

Roads

The A47 road, which runs between Nuneaton and Leicester, was redirected around Hinckley in the early 1990s. This new road, called Normandy Way, helped reduce traffic in the town centre. New businesses have also been built along this route.

Hinckley is also connected by the A5 and the M69 motorway. The A5 links Hinckley to Tamworth, Staffordshire in the northwest and Milton Keynes in the southeast. The M69 connects Hinckley to the nearby cities of Coventry and Leicester, and to the M1 and M6 motorways.

Bus Services

Arriva Midlands is the main bus company in Hinckley. They run services to Leicester, Burbage, Earl Shilton, and Nuneaton. Roberts Travel Group operates service 159 to Coalville. Stagecoach in Warwickshire also runs other bus routes around Hinckley.

Railway

Hinckley railway station is on the line between Nuneaton and Leicester. There are regular trains between Birmingham and Leicester. You can travel to London by changing trains at Nuneaton for London Euston or at Leicester for London St Pancras.

Airports

The closest airports are East Midlands and Birmingham.

News and Entertainment: Media in Hinckley

The local radio station for Hinckley and the surrounding area is Fosse 107. The town's local newspaper is the weekly Hinckley Times, published every Wednesday. The Hinckley Times also shares news stories on the Leicester Mercury's website. Castle Mead Radio is a hospital radio station for patients and staff at Hinckley's hospitals. You can also listen to BBC Radio Leicester and BBC CWR.

Local TV news programmes include BBC East Midlands Today and ITV News Central (East).

Sports and Activities in Hinckley

Hinckley has had several football clubs over the years:

Hinckley Town (formed in the 1800s, merged in 1997)
Hinckley Athletic (formed in 1906, merged in 1997)
Hinckley F.C. (formed in 1967, dissolved in 2011)
Hinckley United (formed in 1997, dissolved in 2014)
Hinckley Leicester Road (formed in 2013)
Hinckley A.F.C. (formed in 2014)

Hinckley Rugby Club started in 1893. They play at the Leicester Road Sports ground. The first team currently plays in National 2 North (level 4).

Hinckley Ladies' Netball Club has four senior teams. Hinckley Gymnastics Club was started in 1971.

Hinckley Basketball Club was founded in 1974. They play home games at Green Towers club. The two club teams are the Hinckley 69ers and Hinckley Hail.

Hollycroft Park has two tennis courts, a golf pitch-and-putt, and a lawn bowls green. Greentowers is a youth club with a climbing wall, skate park, astro turf pitch, and a BMX track.

In 2014, the second stage of The Women's Tour cycle race started from Hinckley.

Heart of England Boxing Club is located on Druid Street.

Learning in Hinckley: Education

The main primary schools in the area are Battling Brook CP, Richmond, Hinckley Parks, St. Peter's Catholic, St. Mary's Church of England, Westfield Infant and Junior Schools, Burbage Infant and Junior Schools, and Sketchley Hill Primary School.

The high schools (secondary schools) include Redmoor, St Martin's Catholic Academy, Hastings, and The Hinckley School. The Hinckley School also has a sixth form for older students.

North Warwickshire & Hinckley College is a Further Education college in the town. Another major college nearby is Heath Lane Academy. There are also many pre-schools (nurseries) like St Peters Pre school little explorers and Smiles PreSchool.

Dorothy Goodman Special School in Hinckley helps students with disabilities, from juniors to seniors.

Arts and Traditions: Culture in Hinckley

The banner of Simon de Montfort, called the 'Arms of Honour of Hinckley', is shown in stained glass in Chartres Cathedral. This design is used in Hinckley's coat of arms, by local sports teams, and other groups. It's also part of the club crest for the town's football club, Hinckley A.F.C..

The Concordia Theatre has 400 seats and regular shows. The local council holds an annual 'Proms in The Park' event.

A French organist and composer named Louis Vierne visited Hinckley. He later wrote a carillon piece for organ called "The Bells of Hinckley," inspired by the bells he heard there.

Hinckley is mentioned in Shakespeare's play Henry IV, Part 2. It's also mentioned in a Monty Python sketch and has a major plot line in the comedy horror series Truth Seekers.

Famous People from Hinckley

Many notable people have connections to Hinckley:

John Cleveland (1613–1658), a Royalist poet, went to Hinckley Grammar School.
William Bass (1717–1787), who started Bass Brewery.
Joseph Hansom (1803–1882), who invented the hansom cab while living in Hinckley.
Nat Langham (1820–1871), a famous bare-knuckle prize fighter.
Charlotte Mary Brame (1836–1884), a Victorian novelist.
William Butler (1843–1907), who founded Mitchells & Butlers Brewery.
Una Stubbs (1937–2021), a well-known actress and TV personality, grew up in Hinckley.
Davey Graham (1940–2008), an influential guitarist and folk singer.
Phil Oakey (1955), the singer with the band The Human League.
Graeme Hawley (1975), an actor known for playing John Stape in Coronation Street.
Andy Lee (1980), a professional snooker player.
Manu Tuilagi (1991), a Leicester Tigers and England rugby player, attended John Cleveland College.

Local Stories: Hinckley Folklore

For many years, Hinckley was known as "Tin 'At" (tin hat) by its residents. One story says a sheep drover bragged he could drink a hat full of ale. The local landlord had a blacksmith make a tin hat, filled it with ale, and the drover drank it. After that, the town became known as "Tin 'At." Another idea is that people used to put buckets on water pumps to keep them clean, and these buckets were the "Tin 'At." You can see a tin hat on top of a flagpole in the town centre. There's also a pub called The Tin Hat and an annual fair in December called The Tin Hat Fair.

Partner Towns: Twinning

Hinckley is twinned with Le Grand-Quevilly in France. It also became linked with Herford, Germany, in the early 1970s. Hinckley is also twinned with Midland, Ohio, in the United States.