Lutterworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lutterworth |
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 Church Street, Lutterworth |
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 Lutterworth
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| Population | 10,833 (2021) |
| OS grid reference | SP541848 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LUTTERWORTH |
| Postcode district | LE17 |
| Dialling code | 01455 |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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| Website | Lutterworth Town Council |
Lutterworth is an old and interesting market town in Leicestershire, England. It's located in the southern part of the county, near the borders of Warwickshire and Northamptonshire. The town is about 6.5 miles (10.5 km) north of Rugby and 12 miles (19 km) south of Leicester. In 2021, Lutterworth had a population of 10,833 people.
Contents
Lutterworth's Past: A Journey Through Time
Lutterworth started as an Anglo-Saxon settlement. Its name likely comes from an old English word meaning "clean farm" or "clear enclosure." The town was even mentioned in the famous Domesday Book back in 1086!
Becoming a Market Town
In 1214, King John gave Lutterworth the right to hold a market. This made it a busy little market town where people could buy and sell goods.
Famous People and Inventions
In the 14th century, a religious reformer named John Wycliffe lived in Lutterworth. He was the town's rector (a type of priest) from 1374 to 1384. People believe he created the first English translation of the Bible from Latin right here!
Lutterworth Grammar School was founded in 1630. By 1676, Lutterworth had grown to 644 people.
In the old days of stagecoaches, Lutterworth was an important stop. It was on the main road from Leicester to Oxford and London. You can still see many old coaching inns and half-timbered buildings in the town today.
A very important inventor, Sir Frank Whittle, worked in Lutterworth. He developed some of the world's first jet engines here in the 1930s and 1940s. His company, Power Jets, worked at the British Thomson-Houston factory. You can see a model of his first jet aircraft, the Gloster E.28/39, on a roundabout south of town. The town's museum also has documents about his amazing work.
The M1 motorway was built near Lutterworth in 1964. The M6 motorway followed in 1971. These highways helped the town grow even more.
Lutterworth's population has steadily increased over the years. In 1801, there were 1,652 people. By 2001, it had reached 8,294. By 2017, nearly 10,000 people lived here.
Cool Buildings in Lutterworth
Lutterworth has several historic and interesting buildings.
St Mary's Church: A Historic Place of Worship
The parish church of St Mary was first built in the 13th century. It was repaired and updated in the 1800s. During these changes, a large tower replaced its original spire. Inside, you can see beautiful 15th-century wall paintings that have been carefully restored.
The Cavalier Inn: A Building with a Story
The Cavalier Inn is a well-known building from the 17th century. It sits on the corner of George Street and Leicester Road. It was once called the "Ram Inn." In the 1970s, it was renamed "the Cavalier." Some say this was because wounded soldiers from the Battle of Naseby in 1645 found shelter in Lutterworth. The building has stone walls and low, beamed ceilings. In 2010, it closed as an inn and became a shop selling log-burning fires.
Lutterworth Town Hall: Designed by a Famous Architect
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Lutterworth Town Hall was designed by Joseph Hansom. He also designed the famous Birmingham Town Hall. Joseph Hansom is also known for inventing the horse-drawn hansom cab.
The Shambles Inn: The Oldest Timber-Framed Building
Another landmark in the town centre is the "Shambles Inn." This building has a thatched roof and timber frame. It's the oldest timber-framed building in Lutterworth, dating back to the 16th century. It used to be a butcher's shop. It was a pub from 1791 to 1840, then a home again. In 1982, it became a pub once more and was named the Shambles. In 2023, a fire damaged the building, but it has since been repaired and reopened.
Lutterworth's Economy and Traffic
To the west of Lutterworth is Magna Park. This is a very large centre for storing and distributing goods. It's the main place for jobs in the Lutterworth area. Magna Park was built on the site of an old airfield called Bitteswell aerodrome.
A big challenge for the town is managing traffic. About 3,000 large trucks drive through Lutterworth every day. This comes from Magna Park and the nearby M1 and A5 roads. This heavy traffic can cause high levels of pollution.
Lutterworth has several supermarkets. These include Morrisons, Waitrose, and Aldi. There's also a Subway restaurant.
Getting Around Lutterworth: Transport Links
Lutterworth is located on the A426 road, which connects Leicester and Rugby. It's also very close to junction 20 of the M1 motorway. The town is just a few miles from the M6 motorway and the A5 road. A bypass road, the A4303, was opened in 1999. This helps traffic from the M1 and A5 avoid driving through the town centre.
The closest train station to Lutterworth is in Rugby, about six miles south. Lutterworth used to have its own railway station on the Great Central Main Line, but it closed in 1969.
Bus services are provided by Arriva Midlands and Centrebus. These buses connect Lutterworth to nearby towns like Leicester, Market Harborough, Rugby, and Hinckley.
Sports in Lutterworth
Lutterworth has two local football teams: Lutterworth Athletic and Lutterworth Town. They both play in different football leagues. Lutterworth Tennis Club is also located just outside the town.
Learning in Lutterworth: Schools
Primary Schools
Lutterworth has two primary schools: John Wycliffe Primary School and Sherrier Primary School. Sherrier Primary School moved to a new building in 1983. It was even featured on the BBC children's TV show Blue Peter in 2008!
Secondary Schools
For older students, there are two secondary schools: Lutterworth High School (for ages 11–16) and Lutterworth College (for ages 11–18). Both schools help students achieve good exam results. A special school called Sir Frank Whittle Studio School opened in 2015 for ages 14–18. It focused on vocational courses, but it closed in 2019 due to a lack of students.
Famous People from Lutterworth
- Sir Frank Whittle (1907-1996), who developed the first jet engine in Lutterworth.
- Anthony Thistlethwaite, a folk rock musician.
- Lauren Henry, a world champion rower and Olympic gold medallist.
Lutterworth's International Friends
Lutterworth is twinned with a town in France:
- Chambourcy, France (since 1998)
See also
In Spanish: Lutterworth para niños
