Market Bosworth facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Market Bosworth |
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 Market Bosworth Market Place |
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 Market Bosworth
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| Population | 2,097 Census 2011 |
| OS grid reference | SK4003 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | NUNEATON |
| Postcode district | CV13 |
| Dialling code | 01455 |
| Police | Leicestershire |
| Fire | Leicestershire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| EU Parliament | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament |
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Market Bosworth is a small market town in Leicestershire, England. It's famous for being close to where the important Battle of Bosworth happened. This battle was the last big fight in the Wars of the Roses.
In 2011, about 2,097 people lived in Market Bosworth. In 1974, the area joined with another district to form Hinckley and Bosworth.
Contents
History of Market Bosworth
Early Settlements and Roman Times
People have lived in the Market Bosworth area for a very long time. Building work has shown that there was a settlement on the hill during the Bronze Age. This was thousands of years ago!
Later, during Roman times, a Roman villa was found on the east side of Barton Road. This shows Romans also lived here. The village of Bosworth itself started around the 8th century, during the Anglo-Saxon period.
Norman Conquest and Market Rights
Before 1066, when the Normans conquered England, Bosworth had two main land areas. After the Norman Conquest, William the Conqueror gave these lands to a powerful Norman lord.
Later, the village came into the hands of the Harcourt family. In 1285, Edward I gave Sir William Harcourt a special permission. This allowed a market to be held every Wednesday. From that day, May 12, 1285, the village became known as Market Bosworth. This also meant it was considered a "town."
The two oldest buildings in Market Bosworth, St. Peter's Church and the Red Lion pub, were built in the 1300s.
The Battle of Bosworth Field
One of the most famous events linked to the town is the Battle of Bosworth. This battle happened in 1485, just south of the town. It was the final major battle in the Wars of the Roses. These wars were fought between two powerful families, the House of Lancaster and the House of York.
The battle ended with the death of King Richard III. This changed the course of English history. In 2012, King Richard III's remains were found in Leicester. His funeral procession passed through Market Bosworth on March 22, 2015. A special plaque in the town square now remembers this event.
The Dixie Family and Bosworth Hall
In 1509, the ownership of Market Bosworth changed to the Grey family. After some changes, the manor was sold to Sir Wolstan Dixie in 1567. He was a Lord Mayor of London.
The first Dixie family member to live in Bosworth was Sir Wolstan Dixie, his grand-nephew. He moved there in 1608. He started building a large house and park, which became Bosworth Hall. He also founded the free Dixie Grammar School. The current Bosworth Hall was mostly built by Sir Beaumont Dixie in the late 1600s.
In 1885, the Dixie family had to sell Bosworth Hall. It was bought by Lady Agnes Tollemache. Her husband made the estate even bigger. The estate was sold again in 1913.
The War Memorial in the town square honors the local men who died in the First World War and the Second World War. The town also had a cattle market that operated until 1996.
Notable People from Market Bosworth
Many interesting people have lived in or had connections to Market Bosworth.
- William Bradshaw (1571–1618) – A Puritan writer.
- Dr. John Charles Bucknill (1817–1897) – A doctor who worked to improve mental hospitals.
- Richard Dawes (1708–1766) – A scholar who studied Latin.
- Lady Florence Dixie (1855–1905) – A travel writer, war reporter, and a supporter of women's rights.
- Sir Wolstan Dixie of Market Bosworth (1597–1630) – He founded the famous Dixie Grammar School.
- Rev. Arthur Benoni Evans (1781–1854) – A scholar and headmaster of the Dixie Grammar School.
- Sir John Evans (1823–1908) – His son, a well-known archaeologist.
- Sebastian Evans (1830–1909) – Another son, who was a poet.
- Davey Graham (1940–2008) – An important folk guitarist. He was born at Bosworth Infirmary.
- James Holden (born 1979) – A music producer who makes electronic music.
- Thomas Hooker (1586–1647) – A Puritan who helped found the state of Connecticut in America.
- Samuel Johnson – A famous writer and dictionary maker. He worked at the Dixie Grammar School for a short time in 1732.
- Andy Morrell (born 1974) – A professional footballer.
- Cliff Price (1900–1959) – A footballer who played for Southampton F.C.
- Thomas Simpson (1710–1760) – A mathematician.
- Ollie Smith (born 1982) – An England international rugby player who started his career with Market Bosworth RFC.
Community Life in Market Bosworth
Market Bosworth is a lively town with a strong community spirit.
Local Competitions
In 1985, the town joined the Britain in Bloom competition. This was to celebrate 500 years since the Battle of Bosworth. Many beautiful flowers were displayed around the town. This led to the creation of the "Bosworth in Bloom Committee." This group now helps prepare for more floral displays every year. In 2012, the town won a Gold Award in the national finals!
Sports and Clubs
Market Bosworth has several sports teams and clubs.
- Football: There are two football teams, AFC Market Bosworth and Market Bosworth FC. They have teams for many age groups, from young children to adults.
- Other Sports: The town also has a triathlon club, a cricket club, a rugby club, a tennis club, and a lawn bowls club. Many of these clubs share the same sports ground.
Education in Market Bosworth
Market Bosworth has three schools for its young people:
- Market Bosworth Primary and Junior School
- The Market Bosworth School
- The private Dixie Grammar School
Media and Local News
You can get television signals in Market Bosworth from the Sutton Coldfield TV transmitter. This broadcasts programmes from Birmingham. You can also watch BBC East Midlands and ITV Central through cable and satellite TV.
Local radio stations include BBC Radio Leicester, Capital East Midlands, Greatest Hits Radio, and Smooth East Midlands. The town is also served by the Leicester Mercury and Hinckley Times newspapers.
Town Centre Features
The town centre of Market Bosworth has many old and interesting buildings. In the Market Place, there are two cottages called the Rose and Thistle Cottages. These names show the historical link of the Dixie family to both England and Scotland. The town also has three churches: an Anglican church, a Catholic church, and a Free Church.
Parks and Outdoor Activities
Market Bosworth offers great places for outdoor fun and relaxation.
- Country Park: Market Bosworth Country Park is a lovely place to visit.
- Water Park: Bosworth Water Park (Lakeside Lodges) offers more outdoor activities, especially around the water.
- Battlefield Site: The actual site of the Battle of Bosworth Field is a few miles south of the town. You can visit it to learn more about the famous battle.
- Heritage Railway: The Battlefield Line Railway is a special heritage railway. It runs on weekends from Shackerstone, through Market Bosworth station, to Shenton. This railway used to be part of a bigger line.
- Ashby Canal: The Ashby Canal runs next to the railway. It has a marina called Bosworth Marina, where up to 150 boats can moor.
There is also an hourly bus service that connects Market Bosworth to Leicester.
Images for kids
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Market Bosworth Market Place
