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Lutterworth Town Guide 2026/27

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LUTTERWORTH Town Guide 2026/27

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Shopping & Dining in Lutterworth • History • Annual Events • Town Map • Useful Contacts • Places to Stay and much more... All the information you’ll need to explore this special town


Robinsons of Lutterworth EST 1973

Independent Family Jewellers Specialising in fine, pre-loved & vintage jewellery and watches 16 Church Street, Lutterworth - 01455 554434 - robinsonsjewellers.uk

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Contents... Contents:

Page:

Welcome to Lutterworth .......................................................................................5 History of Lutterworth .................................................................................... 6 & 9 John Wycliffe.....................................................................................................11-12 St. Mary’s Parish Church .......................................................................................15 Annual Events ......................................................................................................... 17 Town Map..........................................................................................................18-19 Shopping & Dining in Lutterworth ............................................................. 21-22 Stay a While? ...........................................................................................................24 Sir Frank Whittle ...........................................................................................26 & 29 Local Information & Contacts .......................................................................30-32 Advertisers Index ...................................................................................................34 Proudly published and printed in Suffolk by Community News and Micropress Printers Ltd. Copyright is with Community News. Reproduction in part or whole is forbidden without the express permission of the publishers. Every effort has been made to ensure that information contained in this publication is correct at the time of going to press, the publishers accept no responsibility for errors or omissions. • Editor: David Burns • Advertising: Karen Taylor & Kasey Turner • Design & Production: Polly Coleman Community News, Fountain Way, Reydon Business Park, Reydon, Southwold, Suffolk, IP18 6SZ T: 01502 725837 E: info@yourcommunitynews.co.uk by u yo W: www.yourcommunitynews.co.uk brought to

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• Companionship • Palliative Care • Personal Care • Respite • Pet Care • Cleaning • Post Hospital Stay Care

01455 413 888 | www.visiting-angels.co.uk/southleicestershire

EXPERT SOLICITORS SERVING LUTTERWORTH Based in the heart of Lutterworth, our solicitors provide quick, reliable legal support across conveyancing, family law, wills, probate and personal injury.

• Accident Claims • Commercial Property • Corporate & Commercial • Dispute Resolution

• Settlement Agreements • Family & Children • Residential Conveyancing • Wills & Probate

01455 556321 • richandcarr.co.uk

10/10a Station Road, Lutterworth, Leicester, LE17 4AP OFFICES IN: Birstall, Blaby, Leicester, Lutterworth, Syston & Oadby

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Image: Rob Woodward

Welcome to Lutterworth...

At the southernmost tip of Leicestershire, Lutterworth is an attractive market town which has twice had a profound effect on world history. In the 14th century, John Wycliffe, Rector of Lutterworth, led the pioneering translation of the Bible from the Latin Vulgate into English. 500+ years later, Sir Frank Whittle developed the jet engine at the Ladywood Works off Leicester Road in the town.

inns on the High Street, including the Hind, the Denbigh Arms, and the only surviving inn, the Greyhound. Lutterworth acted as a stop-off point for coaches travelling across England to destinations such as Chester, Liverpool, and London. The highly distinctive Lutterworth Town Hall was based on a Greek design for Birmingham Town Hall; both were the work of Joseph Hansom, designer of the famous Hansom cab.

In 1214, King John granted an annual charter to Nicholas de Verdun, Lord of the Manor, to hold a market in Lutterworth for livestock, wood, and dairy produce. In 1414, a weekly market charter was granted by King Henry V, a tradition that remains in force today.

For all its long history, Lutterworth is very much a modern town. Its location at the hub of Britain’s motorway network led to the creation of Magna Park (Europe’s largest distribution centre) on the disused Bitteswell Airfield to the west of the town. Both East Midlands and Birmingham airports are within easy reach, and Rugby Railway Station is only minutes away. These excellent connections will continue to contribute to the town’s ongoing prosperity.

The imposing buildings in the town centre date from the coaching heyday of the Georgian period, though the architectural style of a much earlier era is notably preserved in The Shambles public house. There were a number of coaching

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History of Lutterworth...

Although situated in the very centre of Roman England and close to the intersection of the Fosse Way and Watling Street at High Cross, Lutterworth was likely first settled by the Anglo-Saxons.

In the 14th century, the manor of Lutterworth passed to another of Leicestershire’s great landowning dynasties, the Ferrers of Groby, and thence by marriage to the Grey family. Their eldest daughter was Lady Jane Grey, the tragic Nine Days Queen, who was beheaded.

It was suggested by Sir Thomas Cave in the 18th century that the name “Lutters Vortig” means Luther’s Farm, and the original settlement is thought likely to have been on or near the site of the present parish church. The settlement (facing south and overlooking the fertile Swift Valley) had prospered by the time of the Norman Conquest enough to make it a fitting reward for one of the Conqueror’s minor followers. The Domesday Book of 1086 records that “Maino the Breton held in Lutresurde 13 Carucates with 3 Ploughs in the demesne, 2 Servants and a Maid Servant and here were 7 Villeins, 7 Bordars and 12 Socmen with 4 Ploughs and 12 Acres of meadow”.

Despite its proximity to the battlefield at Naseby, Lutterworth seems to have played only a peripheral role in the Civil War of the next century. The church plate was looted by Lord Hastings’ royalist troops in January 1644, and the Rector, Dr. Tovey, was deprived of his living for supporting the King’s cause. It was during this period, however, that the last of Lutterworth’s great landowning families (the Feildings) rose to prominence, becoming Earls of Denbigh in 1622. Continued on page 9...

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From roughly 1750 to 1850, the town was an important posting station for stage coaches on the London to Chester turnpike. By 1840, a horse-drawn omnibus was transporting Lutterworthians to the nearest railway station at Ullesthorpe, on the Midland Line from Leicester to Rugby with connections to London and Birmingham. In 1899, the Great Central Railway (“The Last Main Line to London”) linked Sheffield and Leicester to the capital, and Lutterworth gained a station of its own to the east of the town.

...Continued from page 6

The Earl of Denbigh was killed in battle, fighting on the side of King Charles. His eldest son, Basil Feilding, was one of Cromwell’s finest Generals, and Cromwell allowed Basil to keep the Earldom. When Charles II returned to the throne, he also allowed Basil to keep it because his father had fought and died for Charles I. The link with the Feildings lives on through The Denbigh Arms, which was one of Lutterworth’s Georgian coaching inns, together with The Hind and The Greyhound. A sculpture recently created on Regent Court Embankment recognises this coaching history.

Sadly, both railway lines closed in the 1960s, although part of the Great Central embankment remains as a public walkway and a pleasant reminder of this particular chapter in the town’s long history. Almost simultaneously, the M1 reached Lutterworth and opened up the future. The Greyhound Coaching Inn on Market Street

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Luuerworth Town Council

What is a Town Councillor and what do they do? Luuerworth Town Council consists of 16 elected Councillors who serve a four year term. All Councillors are voluntary. Council Meeengs - A diary of meeengs can be found on the Town Council’s website. Members of the public are welcome to auend any adveresed meeeng. What is a Councillor? Councillors are elected to represent an individual geographical unit on the council, known as a Ward. Luuerworth Town Council have 4 Wards: Brookfield, Orchard, Springs and Swii. The responsibiliees and duees oien depend on what the Councillor wants to achieve and how much eme is available, this may include: * Going to meeengs of local organisaeons * Going to meeengs of bodies affeceng the wider community * Taking up issues on behalf of members of the public * Running a surgery for residents to bring up issues Am I qualified? Yes, most people are! However there are a few rules: You have to be a Briesh subject, a ciezen of the Commonwealth or the European Union and be 18 years of age or over. A local government elector for the council area for which you want to stand or have, during the whole of the 12 months preceding that day, occupied as owner or tenant of aany land or other premises in the council area. Or have during that same period had your principal or only place of work in the council area or During that 12 month period resided in the council area or within three miles of it. You cannot become a Town Councillor if you are subject of a bankruptcy restriccon order or interim order, have, within five years, been convicted in the United Kingdom of any offence and have had a sentence of imprisonment (whether suspended or not) for a period of over three months without the (wh opcon of a fine.

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John Wycliffe was a prominent 14thcentury theologian who objected strongly to the power and practices of the Catholic Church of the time. For much of his life, he had the support of the court and the patronage of the powerful figure John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster and Earl of Leicester.

John Wycliffe... Some 40 years later, in a vain effort to stamp out the clamour for reform which Wycliffe’s teachings had fuelled, the Council of Constance ordered his bones to be dug up, publicly burnt, and the ashes cast into the River Swift. Thomas Fuller, an English churchman and historian, elegantly describes the result in his church history: “Then this brook hath conveyed his ashes into Avon; Avon into Severn; Severn into the Narrow Seas; they into the Main Ocean. And thus the ashes of Wycliffe are the emblem of his doctrine which was dispersed all the world over.”

However, Wycliffe’s questioning of religious doctrine proved more controversial; In 1381, he was found guilty of heresy at his trial at Blackfriars in London. In 1374, it was Gaunt who (through his father, Edward III) secured Wycliffe the then fairly obscure town of Lutterworth. Although Wycliffe remained in Oxford until three years prior to his death, he then came to live in Lutterworth. During his three years here, with the help of key followers, such as Nicholas of Hereford, he completed the great work of translating the Latin (Vulgate) Bible into English. Whilst conducting mass, Wycliffe suffered a second stroke and died on 31st December 1384.

Continued overleaf...

Image: joshimerbin/Shutterstock.com

The Latin Bible (opened to the book of the Revelation)

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It was not until 1837 that a permanent memorial to Wycliffe’s life and work was placed in St. Mary’s Church, where it can be found under the east window in the south aisle. 60 years later, a granite obelisk commemorating both Wycliffe and the Diamond Jubilee of Queen Victoria was erected at the junction of the Coventry and Bitteswell Roads.

...Continued from page 11

Wycliffe’s followers were known as “Lollards”, a derisive name from the Dutch word for “mumbler”, coined by the Irish Cistercian Henry Crump. Even before Wycliffe’s death, there was an active Lollard cell in Leicester led by Philip Repington, who later recanted and became a fiercely anti-heretical Bishop of Lincoln.

John Wycliffe Monument

In the wake of Sir John Oldcastle’s rebellion in 1414, the Lollards became an underground movement. Meanwhile, Wycliffe’s writings influenced the Bohemian reformer Hus, and Hus in turn influenced Luther. Thus, when antipapal Lutheran tracts began to be smuggled into England in the 1520s, they found a ready readership amongst the Lollards. Within a generation, an English Bible had been officially sanctioned, and in 1559 the Church of England became permanently established.

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St. Mary’s Parish Church...

St. Mary’s Parish Church has a long and noteworthy history in Lutterworth and stands today as one of the great medieval churches of the Midlands. The church was founded during the tenure of the Lord of the Manor, Norman de Verdon (1139–1192), with construction believed to have begun in 1170. Although it was once thought to sit on the site of a former Saxon church, this is extremely unlikely: just two miles away stood a large Saxon Minster at Minsterton (now Misterton), which would far more likely have been the ‘governing’ church for the area.

of Judgement over the chancel arch, and three crowned figures with three skeletons over the north door—a stark reminder of mortality. Under the tower hangs the millennium Lutterworth Tapestry. Its panels chronicle the town’s history, including one stitched by residents of Lutterworth’s French twin town, Chambourcy.

The 14th century saw the addition of the north and south aisles, together with a taller spire. The roofing of the aisles is considered a particularly fine example of the Decorated Period. In the 15th century, the walls of the nave were raised to form a clerestory and covered with a new, low-pitched roof. Most of the lancet windows were also replaced with larger Perpendicular-style windows. On Christmas Day, 1701, the spire collapsed onto the roof of the nave, causing great damage. With little repair work done, the church had fallen into a dangerous state by Victorian times. Architect Joseph Hansom was initially hired to restore it, but elders rejected his plans. Instead, renowned architect Sir George Gilbert Scott led a comprehensive restoration from 1867– 1869. The overall structure remained mostly unchanged, apart from removing the west gallery to reveal the tower arch and adding an organ gallery and northeast chancel vestry. One benefit of the restoration was uncovering two medieval wall paintings whitewashed during Puritan times: a 15th-century ‘Doom’ showing the Day

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Classes for beginners to advanced dancers All genres under one roof Build confidence, friendships & skills Performance, exams & exciting opportunities Exceptional facilities in a central location

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From summer festivals to winter celebrations, Lutterworth Town Council hosts a varied calendar of community events all year round.

Annual Events...

Lutterworth Town Council hosts an Annual Summer Event at the end of June each year. This ranges from Summer Carnivals, Picnics in the Park, Film & Food Festivals and Street Parties. Details of which will be advertised in local press each year.

Lutterworth Christmas Lights Switch On takes place on the last Friday evening in November. There is a packed programme of entertainment that includes performances in the Town Hall square, a fairground located on George Street car park and Santa’s Grotto in the Memorial Gardens. The local traders open for late night shopping offering special Christmas promotions and market stalls can be found dotted around the Town Centre.

Lutterworth Town Council are responsible for the annual Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service in Lutterworth and organise this event in conjunction with the Lutterworth branch of the Royal British Legion. Each year, we are honoured to be joined by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Leicestershire. The Remembrance Sunday Parade is formed up of local groups and organisations such as Forces Veterans, Forces Cadets, the Emergency Services, various groups from the Scouting movement and in recent years, we have had the privilege of being joined by the 244 Signals Squadron.

For more information about the events organised by the Events Committee, please visit our website: www.lutterworth.org.uk or contact: events@lutterworth-tc.gov.uk

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We cater for Woofs, whiskers, fin, fur and feather in our shop! We’re a little shop with a BIG HEART! Serving Lutterworth Town since 2016

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Independent children’s shoe shop in Lutterworth

We genuinely care about children’s feet development

Trained by the Society of Shoe Fitters and proud members of The Footwear Hub, our experienced team offers expert, personalised shoe fitting for children in a calm, welcoming environment filled with toys and books. Our team are dedicated to supporting healthy foot development and giving back to the local community.

01455 552775 | colourfulsolesltd@gmail.com 23 Church Street , Lutterworth, LE17 4AE STOCKING TRUSTWORTHY & QUALITY BRANDS INCLUDING:

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Shopping & Dining in Lutterworth...

Lutterworth’s vibrant mix of shops, cafés, and eateries gives this historic market town its distinct local charm. It’s the kind of place where daily errands seamlessly blend with leisure, where you can browse boutique gifts, catch up over local coffee, or gather for dinner, all while keeping the high street thriving.

Lutterworth’s café culture is also thriving, serving as the beating heart of the local community. These welcoming spots offer far more than just artisan coffee, hearty breakfasts, and homemade cakes, they provide cosy spaces to catch up with friends, unwind mid-errand, and feel connected to the town.

One of the great things about the town is the mix of businesses on offer. Alongside familiar national retailers, Lutterworth is home to a wide range of independent shops that provide something a little different. From specialist food retailers and florists to fashion boutiques, gift shops and professional services, the town centre offers a shopping experience that combines convenience with personality.

For those looking for something more substantial, Lutterworth has a diverse selection of restaurants serving a range of cuisines. From traditional British favourites to international flavours, there’s something to suit most tastes and occasions. The town offers plenty of dining options without the need to travel further afield.

Independent businesses are often at the heart of what makes a town unique. Their owners are passionate about the products and services they provide and are often happy to go the extra mile for their customers. Shopping locally also means you’re more likely to find unique items that cannot be found on every high street across the country. It’s this individuality that helps give Lutterworth its charm and appeal.

Continued overleaf...

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...Continued from page 21

Lutterworth's pubs also play an important role in community life. Many combine good food, quality drinks and a friendly atmosphere, making them popular gathering places for residents and visitors alike. They provide a welcoming environment where people can catch up with friends, enjoy live events and support local hospitality businesses.

In addition, thriving town centre businesses contribute to a vibrant and attractive high street. Busy shops, cafés and restaurants help create a welcoming atmosphere that encourages people to visit, spend time in the town and support other local enterprises. A healthy high street is something that benefits residents, businesses and visitors alike.

Of course, choosing to spend money in Lutterworth's businesses is about much more than simply enjoying what's on offer. Every purchase made in a local shop, café, restaurant or pub helps support the local economy. Money spent locally is more likely to stay within the community, helping other businesses and services to thrive. This creates a positive cycle that benefits everyone who lives and works in the town.

As shopping habits continue to change and businesses face increasing challenges, it has never been more important to support the organisations that make our town such a great place to live and visit. Every coffee bought from a local café, every meal enjoyed in a restaurant, and every purchase made from a town centre shop helps contribute to the future success of Lutterworth. So next time you need to buy a gift, meet a friend for lunch or enjoy an evening out, consider staying local. By supporting Lutterworth's shops, cafés, restaurants and pubs, you’re helping to preserve the character of the town, strengthen the local economy and support employment for years to come. In return, you’ll discover the friendly faces, quality products and welcoming atmosphere that make Lutterworth such a special place!

Supporting local businesses also helps protect jobs. Many of the town's retailers and hospitality venues employ local people, providing valuable employment opportunities for residents of all ages. From students taking on their first job to experienced professionals building careers in retail, hospitality and services, local businesses play an important role in creating and sustaining employment within the community.

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Stay a while?

Ready to immerse yourself in the beauty and tranquillity of Lutterworth? Discover our curated selection of accommodations, each promising a comfortable and memorable stay. Stay a while... and let the journey unfold!

The Greyhound Inn, Lutterworth

The Greyhound Inn is Lutterworth’s last remaining 18th-century coaching inn, offering a warm, independent welcome in a Grade II listed setting. This family-owned hotel features 33 individually designed en-suite bedrooms, ranging from classic doubles to four-posters and family rooms, complete with free Wi-Fi, Freeview TV, and complimentary breakfast. Guests can relax in the dog-friendly lounge, unwind in the traditional courtyard, or explore Leicestershire’s largest whisky selection, boasting 200+ malts. While no lunch or evening meals are served, a microwave and tableware are provided in the restaurant for takeaways, alongside plenty of local dining options on your doorstep.

The Shambles Inn, Lutterworth

Located on Bell Street, The Shambles offers a comfortable, relaxing stay ideal for business trips, weekend getaways, or family breaks. This traditional, family-friendly pub features well-appointed accommodation with modern amenities, including carpeted family rooms, walk-in showers, work desks, free Wi-Fi, and flat-screen TVs. Guests can enjoy hearty British cuisine alongside vegetarian, vegan, and glutenfree options, plus a full English breakfast. A fully stocked bar, cosy lounge, sports TV, and vibrant live events program provide plenty of entertainment. Weather permitting, visitor relaxation shifts outside to the spacious, lush pub garden for al-fresco drinks and dining.

The Travelodge, Lutterworth

Conveniently located off the M1 on Rugby Road, Travelodge Lutterworth is an ideal, affordable stopover under a mile from the town centre. Recently refurbished, the modernised hotel features contemporary rooms equipped with signature king-size Sleepeezee beds, blackout curtains, USB charging, free Wi-Fi, and complimentary tea and coffee facilities. Guests benefit from 24/7 reception staffing, optional petfriendly rooms, and handy ground-floor accessible accommodation. While local dining options are nearby, a quick “Breakfast to Go” box and 24/7 reception snacks are available on-site. It serves as a perfect base for exploring Lutterworth and the nearby area.

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Sir Frank Whittle...

Sir Frank Whittle Memorial

Frank Whittle was born in Earlsdon, Coventry, on 1st June 1907. In 1916, his family moved to Royal Leamington Spa, where his father purchased The Leamington Valve and Piston Ring Company. Frank became an expert in operating the various lathes in the factory.

Fellowes Memorial Prize for Aeronautical Sciences. He was posted to 111 Squadron at Hornchurch and, the following year, was sent on a Flying Instructor’s course at RAF Wittering. From there, he was posted as an instructor to RAF Digby and promoted to the rank of Flying Officer. In 1930, he filed a patent for his theories on a gas turbine engine.

He did not do well at school, mainly because of his extreme dislike of homework and a rebellious streak, though he showed a great deal of interest in aviation.

While continuing his service in the RAF, he earned a place in 1934 at Peterhouse, Cambridge, where he gained a degree with his completed thesis ‘Future Developments in Aircraft Design’.

In 1922, aged 15, Whittle applied to join the Royal Air Force (RAF). He passed the entrance exam and reported to RAF Halton as a boy apprentice, but he lasted only two days; at just five-feet tall, he was considered too small to join. However, in September 1923, he was accepted by RAF Cranwell as an apprentice and subsequently became a Flight Cadet. He excelled in his studies and became an accomplished pilot.

In 1935, his patent on the gas turbine engine lapsed; unfortunately, he lacked the funds to renew it, and the Air Ministry refused to support him. However, he was offered the opportunity to set up a private company (with R. Dudley-Williams) to take the jet engine project forward, leading to the formation of Power Jets Ltd in 1936. They contracted with British ThomsonHouston (BTH) in Rugby to produce design drawings for the experimental engine.

In 1928, Whittle graduated from Cranwell, receiving the Abdy Gerrard

Continued on page 29...

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01502 725839 info@countrywidepublications.co.uk - 28 -


In 1941, the E.28/39 made its maiden flight from RAF Cranwell, achieving a top speed of 370mph at 25,000ft. Meanwhile, the Air Ministry sent Whittle to the USA to assist in developing his engine.

...Continued from page 26

The year 1937 saw the first trial of this revolutionary engine. However, BTH, concerned about potential damage to their factory, decided the project should relocate to a disused factory they owned on Leicester Road, in Lutterworth.

In 1943, the project was nationalised, and Whittle surrendered his shares and rights, losing commercial control of the invention.

Power Jets contracted BTH for an engine in July 1939. At the same time, the Gloster Aircraft Company provided an experimental aircraft, the E.28/39 (a replica of which is now mounted on a roundabout at the southern entrance to Lutterworth).

Whittle was knighted by King George VI in July 1948. In 1976, he emigrated to the USA to take up a position as Research Professor at the US Naval Academy in Annapolis. In 1996, Sir Frank died of lung cancer in Maryland, at age 89. His ashes are interred in a memorial at the Station Church of St. Michael & All Angels, at RAF Cranwell.

By now, the Air Ministry had finally taken an interest in the project, and in 1940, they decided that Power Jets should become a research-only organisation. BTH and Rover were authorised to assist Gloster in producing the F.9/40, which eventually became the Gloster Meteor.

Standing on a roundabout at the southern entrance to Lutterworth, this full-scale replica of the Gloster E.28/39 marks the birthplace of modern jet aviation and Sir Frank Whittle’s achievements.

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Local Information & Contacts...

Lutterworth Golf Club

Find essential information and contact details for Lutterworth’s public spaces, community organisations, and local attractions.

Golf On Rugby Road sits the 18-hole, PAR 70 course of Lutterworth Golf Club, founded in 1904. This picturesque, undulating course features a practice ground and an indoor academy. The golf club welcomes visitors and is open year-round. lutterworthgc.co.uk

Allotments Lutterworth Town Council provides a number of allotments over two sites (Crescent Road and Coventry Road). For more information, contact 01455 550225. Cricket

Lutterworth Town Estates Charity

Located on Coventry Road, Lutterworth Cricket Ground has been home to one of the country’s oldest cricket clubs since 1789. The picturesque land was donated by local benefactor George Spencer and is held in trust by the Town Estates Charity, preserving this idyllic community setting for all to enjoy. lutterworth.play-cricket.com

The history of the Lutterworth Town Estates Charity dates back to medieval times, originating when local residents stepped in to care for their own sick and elderly. By the 16th century, a legal statute was established for the Church and Town Fathers to manage charitable funds and property.

Lutterworth Country Park

Following 19th-century reforms, including the 1834 Poor Laws, formal legal schemes established the modern Charity. The Trustees also retain the rights to a 1214 Royal Charter, allowing them to continue the town’s weekly market tradition to this day. lutterworthtownestatescharity.org.uk

The Country Park, situated off Brookfield Way, is now well established and owned by Harborough District Council. Set in beautiful countryside, it provides the perfect location for dog walkers and outdoor enthusiasts alike.

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Regent Court Embankment

Recreation Grounds

This giant art installation, consisting of four galloping white horses, stretches 22 metres along an embankment visible from a distance when approaching the town. The sculpture celebrates Lutterworth’s historical significance as a major stopping point for stagecoaches on the route to London. A Welsh slate plaque set into the wall commemorates the occasion.

Coventry Road Recreation Ground was donated by George Spencer and is held in trust and fully maintained by the Town Council. The recreation ground is situated off Coventry Road, close to the town centre and is also the home of Lutterworth Bowls Club and offers a welcome facility for all Lutterworth residents and visitors. The Coventry Road also hosts a play area which was fully refurbished in 2024 plus the newly refurbished Pavilion which is space for the whole community available for hire. Please contact: info@liveatthelodge.co.uk for details.

Rugby Football Lutterworth Rugby Football Club (founded in 1872) is one of the oldest established clubs in Leicestershire. The club plays on its own grounds on Ashby Lane, Bitteswell, located on the northern side of the town. lutterworthrfc.com

Crescent Road Recreation Ground is maintained by the Town Council, featuring play equipment that was fully refurbished in 2025. Additional smaller recreation areas within the town have been provided in conjunction with housing developments:

Lutterworth Sports Centre Opened in 2004, the Sports Centre is located off Coventry Road, adjacent to the Coventry Road Recreation Ground. Facilities include a well-equipped gymnasium, swimming pool, and sports hall, all of which are popular amenities for people of all ages. everyoneactive.com/ centre/lutterworth-leisure-centre/

• Poppy Road Park • Saxon Meadows • Foxfield Park • Moorbarns Lane Park • Brookfield Way

Continued overleaf...

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The Town Hall holds a licence to conduct Civil Wedding Ceremonies and is regularly used by various local community groups. lutterworthtownhall.org.uk

...Continued from page 31

Leaders Farm Cemetery Leaders Farm Cemetery is managed by Lutterworth Town Council as a peaceful place of reflection, adhering to national standards.

Lutterworth & District Museum Situated at High Point on Market Street, Lutterworth Museum is an independent museum staffed and run entirely by volunteers. Its goal is to collect and preserve documents and artefacts charting the history of Lutterworth and its surrounding villages from ancient times to the present day. Beyond highlighting major milestones—such as the invention of the jet engine and early English translations of the Bible - the museum tells the story of daily life in Lutterworth and how the town grew into what it is today.

The cemetery is open for burials, cremated remains, and memorials. All headstone requests must be arranged through a NAMM-registered stonemason. For purchases of Exclusive Rights of Burial, please contact Lutterworth Town Council on 01455 550225. Lutterworth Town Hall Dating from 1836, the Town Hall was built through public subscription as a meeting place for Lutterworth. Designed in a classical style by the wellknown architect Joseph Aloysius Hansom (who was living in Hinckley at the time), the building reflects a strong family architectural tradition shared with his brother and nephew. Hansom developed his architectural skills early in life, later designing notable structures such as Birmingham Town Hall and inventing the Hansom Cab. Lutterworth Town Hall remains a focal point of the town and a testament to Hansom’s legacy.

Explore these vibrant spaces and rich history to discover everything Lutterworth has to offer! lutterworthmuseum.org

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Lutterworth Methodist Church on Bitteswell Road

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Adams & Jones Estate Agents................25 Age UK...................................................... 20 Art for Life................................................... 8 Colourful Soles Ltd.................................. 20 Community News........................... 14 & 33 Countrywide Publications..................... 28

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Rich & Carr Solicitors................................. 4

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Robinsons of Lutterworth........................2

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Lutterworth Athletic Football Club.......35

Savage Aesthetics................................... 20

Lutterworth Golf Club.............Back cover

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Lutterworth Leisure Centre......................7

Swift Valley Coaches................................23

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