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ARNESBY, or Arnsby, a well-built village, on an eminence, 8 miles S. by E. of Leicester, and 7 1/2 miles N.E. of Lutterworth, has in its parish 1366 acres of enclosed land, and 573 inhabitants, some of whom are framework knitters. The soil is chiefly a strong fertile clay. The manor has been held by the Despencer, Peverill, Beaumont, Saltmarsh, and other families ; and in 1292, Hugh le Despencer had a market and fair. The manorial rights are now held jointly by J. S, Sherwin Gregory Esq., and Miss A. M. Clark ; but a great part of the soil belongs to J. Howcutt, Esq., Eli Hipwcll, Esq., and several smaller owners. The parish feast is on the first Sunday in July. The Church (St Peter) is an ancient and massive structure, with an embattled tower, in which is a very old clock, the face of which is 12 feet in diameter. It was re-seated and a new gallery erected in 1829, when 72 additional sittings were obtained and declared to be free, in consideration of a grant from the Incorporated Society. Over the chancel window is a small figure of St. Peter. The nave is of three bays. The two westernmost arches on each side are of heavy Norman character, with massive round pillars, but those to the east are pointed and of later date. The windows are of various styles of early pointed architecture, and the east window of the chancel is early decorated. Sedilia for three priests, and a double piscina are in the south wall of the chancel, and in the north wall arc two arches, probably intended for tombs. The west doorway is. a tine specimen of architecture of very early date, and above it is a later window, in the perpendicular style. There is a porch on the north as well as on the south side. The parish chest is very ancient, and is braced-with strong iron hoops. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in, K.B. at £5. 16s. 8d., and now at £140. It was augmented, in 1809, with £200 of Queen Anne's Bounty, and has 250 acres of old glebe, and 44A, allotted in lieu of tithes, at the enclosure in 1794, when the rectorial tithes were also commuted for land. A little to the south of the church is a dilapidated thatched building, occupied by two poor people, and said to have been the Vicarage House. J. S. Sherwin Gregory, Esq., is impropriator ; Sirs. Chapman, of Putney, is patroness ; and the Rev. Joseph Chapman, B.A., is the incumbent. A commodious School was built here by subscription in I860, and a Penny Savings' Bank has been established in connection with it. The Particular Baptists have a chapel here, which was built about 1799 ; but its congregation date their origin from 1702, and their original chapel is now a stable, and was for 37 years under the ministry of the Rev. Robert Hall, who died in 1791, and whose eon, of the same name, was born here in l764, and died at Bristol in 1831. The latter was one of the most eloquent preachers of the present century, and his sermons and other writings, published in six volumes, are in great estimation.He was for some years minister at Leicester, and removed thence to Bristol. His father was author of a small work called "Help to Zion's Travellers." The chapel is endowed with 15A. of land, let for £60 a year, left by Mr. Benj. Winkle ; and has a house for the minister. Sunday Schools are attached both to the church and chapel ; and here are two Benefit Societies, which meet at the Old Cock and Blue Bell. In 1668, John Loseby left £60 for 24 of the poorest parishioners ; £10 for the poor, at the discretion of the trustees; and £20 for repairing the church, highways, and town wells.
These sums were laid out in land, now consisting of 5A. 22P. in this parish and 11A. 1R. 25P in Gilmorton The latter is let for £33, and the former is let to the poor in garden plots, at rents amounting to £17 13s a year. The total net rents are applied as follows:- Two-ninths to the repairs of the church, town wells &c and seven- ninths in the distribution of sums varying from 2s. to 18s. among the poor, on St. Thoma's day. The interest of £30, left by Mary Tebbs, in 1817, and Elizabeth Wyatt, in 1806, is applied towards the support of the Sunday School. Post from Rugby, via Theddingworth, at 9 morning, returning at 4.20 p.m. Here is a wall letter box
Bull Thomas, parish clerk
Evans Rev. Shem (Baptist)
Fox Frederick, schoolmaster
Kemp Rev Thomas Cooke, carate
Pollard Thomas, joiner & wheelwright
Smith John, chapel keeper
Snuton John,chemist and druggist
INNS AND TAVERNS.
Blue Bell, William Peberdy
Old Cock, John Smith
Shoulder of Mutton, Frederick Ross
BLACKSMITHS.
Barber William
Pallat Robert
BUTCHERS.
Groocock Chas. (& cattle dealer)
Langton William
FARMERS & GRZRS
(*Are Owners.}
Blackwell Samnel
Chamberlin John
Chamberlin Thos.
Eales John
*Hipwell Eli
Horton Samnel
Hurst John (and baker & miller)
*Perkins Abraham
Spriggs Maria
Williams James
Williams William
SHOE MAKERS.
Carr Thomas
Hardy William
Sharp Henry
SHOPKEEPERS
Clements Thomas
Freer Job
Langton William
TAILORS.
Burdett John
Moore George
CARRIERS.
To Leicester, Wed. & Sat.Jno. Freer and Thos. Walker
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