Leicestershire, county within the East Midlands region of England,
bordered by Nottinghamshire, Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire,
Warwickshire, and Derbyshire. Its central axis, containing most
of its population and industry, is the valley of the River Soar,
which crosses the county from south to north on its way to join
the River Trent.
Leicestershire's agriculture has traditionally been pastoral
and livestock-based, the county being famous for its sheep, Stilton
cheese, and pork pies. Its industry is varied, but hosiery has
been of special importance; framework knitting began in the 16th century
in adjoining Nottinghamshire and was first introduced into the
county at Hinckley in 1640.
Leicestershire has a very high concentration of Gamble
families. Early Parish Records show Gambles were in the
county before the 16th century. In 1881 The
county was home to more than 815 Gambles making it by
far the highest concentration any where in England, as
can also be found today. This page should also be of
interest to anyone interested in the history of South
Leicestershire.
Kellys Directory of 1855 & 1881 gives an interesting description
of the towns and villages of Leicestershire. The following places
were the home to many Gambles.
Ashby Magna,
Great Ashby, or Ashby Magna, township, parish and
village.
Enderby a
parish and large village, on the west side of
the Soar
Fleckney a
parish, bounded on the east by the Union canal
Kilby is a small
parish and village, 10 miles north-east from
Lutterworth
Kimcote & Walton is
a township and parish, including a portion of
Knaptoft. It is 3 1/4 miles north-east from Lutterworth,
Leire is a small
parish and village, in the southern division
of the county.
Lutterworth is
a small market, Union and polling town and parish,
pleasantly situated on the side of a hill sloping
from the north, on the boarders of Northamptonshire
and
Warwickshire, and upon the banks of the small
river Swift, which, passing the town, joins the
Avon;
Mowsley a township
and chapelry in Knaptoft Parish
Knaptoft a township
and parish, with the chapelry and village of
Shearsby.
Willoughby Waterleys small
parish, and village, 8 1/2 miles south-west from
Leicester
Traders in Leicester ( 1881 ) Gamble & Gilbert , wine & spirit merchants,
25 High street Gamble Arthur, shopkeeper, 1 Raynes
street Gamble Cyrus, pianoforte tuner, 17
Halford street Gamble Daniel, dairyman, 27 St Nicholas
street Gamble Frederick, saw mills, 68 Lower
Willow street Gamble Henry, baker, 9 Allington street Gamble Henry, foreman to John Norman,
1 Heanor street Gamble James, shopkeeper, 26 Gresham
street Gamble John, shopkeeper, 30 Wanlip
street Gamble Richard, shopkeeper, 8 Redcross
street Gamble Richard, shopkeeper, 1 South
Albion street Gamble William, boot & shoe manufacturer,
28 Stamford street Gamble William, butcher, 18 & 20
East Bond street Gamble William, umbrella maker, 10
Birstall street
Kellys 1895 - 1922
John Gamble Ltd, Boot & Shoe manufactures.
South Wigston H Gamble and Sons, Boot & Shoe
manufactures. 28 Crafton St Richard Gamble, Boot & Shoe
manufactures. Silby
Great Ashby, or Ashby Magna, township,
parish and village, in Guthlaxton Hundred, Lutterworth Union, South
Leicestershire, a short distance off the Leicester and Lutterworth
road, 41/2 miles north east from Lutterworth, 10 miles south-west
of Leicester, 2 mile from the Broughton Astley station on the Midland
Railway , and 96 miles from London. The vicarage is worth £120,
in the patronage of the Earl of Aylesford, lord of the manor, Leicester
archdeaconry, Peterborough bishopric; and the incumbent is the
Rev. Edward Gibson, M.A. There is a Sunday school, built in 1820.
The church dedicated to St Mary, is a small Gothic building, with
a square embattled tower. Great Ashby is noted for two excellent
springs, one at the east end, the other at the west of the village;
the later spring is stated to be very efficacious in the cure of
sore eyes. It had, in 1851, 323 people and 1,804 acres of land.
Davenport Gamble 30 years vicar of this parish died July 14th 1777.
In the 65th year of his Age. in a large fenced tomb
at the rear of the church
Thomas Gamble Iron Cross to the front of the church
Alice Gamble Iron Cross to the front of the church
Oldest Known event -
07-Feb-1589 William Gamble married Margaret Hunt
Kimcote and Walton 1855
Kimcote is
a township and parish, including a portion of Knaptoft. It is 31/4 miles
north-east from Lutterworth, and 6 miles from Ullesthorpe station,
in South Leicestershire. The church, dedicated to All Saints,
is an old building, with a square, pinnacled tower and 4 bells.
The living is in the patronage of Lord Willoughby be Broke, and
worth £566; the Rev. Thomas Cox is rector and incumbent. A free
school was built in Kimcote in 1844, entirely at the expense of
Lord Willoughby be Broke, who is lord of the manor. Here is an
endowed free school in Knaptoft-in-Walton, and the Baptists have
a place of worship. Kimcote has 168 inhabitants, and 1710 acres,
exclusive of hamlets.
Walton is a large village, with 658 people in
1851, and 1248 acres, partly in Knaptoft parish. Many of the people
are framework knitters. Here is a Methodist chapel.
Gentry
Cox Rev. Thomas, B.A. [rector]
Grimson William, esq. Walton
Lucas Robert, esq. Knaptoft in Walton.
Wormleighton Miss Harriet
Traders ( only some )
Burdett Richard, farmer & grazier
Cobley William, farmer, Knaptoft-in-Walton
Lucas Elizabeth (Mrs), frmr & grazier
Mason Richard, 'Talbot,' Knaptoft-in-Walton
Moore Robert, shopkeeper, Walton
Knaptoft or Knapton, a township and parish, with the chapelry
and village of Shearsby. A little off the road between Leicester
and Welford. 7 miles east-north-east from Lutterworth ~ The church
at Knaptoft has altogether gone to decay, in consequence of which
the inhabitants attend the church at Shearsby, which is dedicated
to St Mary Magdalen. It is a gothic building, with tower and 4
bells, and is a curacy, consolidated with Knaptoft, in the gift
of the Duke of Rutland, who is lord of the manor. ~ At the Bath
inn, in the village, is a mineral spring called the Spa, which
has some repute for its medicinal virtues, but there is very little
resort to it. Knaptoft township has only 55 people, and 1,392 acres.
Shearsby township and chapelry had in 1851, 372 people, and 1,150
acres. Some of the people are employed in framework knitting. Walton
in Knaptoft is another township of this parish, with 223 inhabitants.
MOWSLEY is a township and chapelry in Knaptoft Parish , 6 miles
north-west by-east from Market Harborough, and 12 south-east. by-south
from Leicester. The Grand Union canal passes l 1/2 miles south of
this place. The church of St. Nicholas, in the early English style,
is a small ancient cruciform building, consisting of chancel, nave,
transepts, in each of which there was originally a side altar and
an open turret, in which hangs a bell : a massive stone slab, 10
ft 8 in. in length, believed to have bean the principal alter of
the church, was, in 1873, raised from the flooring near the door,
and restored to its former position : the church. The register dates
for baptisms, from 1660; marriages 1698; burials 1660 and is in good
condition.
In 1881 the population was 208.
In the Churchyard
Mathias and Mary. Died 1893 & 1895. Substantial
headstone at the rear of the church
Ann Gamble. has a simple headstone under and
against a tree
Lutterworth is a small market town and
parish, pleasantly situated on the side of a hill sloping from the
north, on the boarders of Northamptonshire and Warwickshire, and
upon the banks of the small river Swift, which, passing the town,
joins the Avon; it is in South Leicestershire, At the extreme
end of the old wood market, a substantial brick Union workhouse was
erected in the year 1840, calculated to admit 200 inmates. In the
High-street, in 1836 a Town-hall and Market place was erected; A
police station was erected in the Beast market, in 1842, ~ The
town not being the seat of any manufacture, its trade entirely depends
on the agricultural interest of the neighbourhood. The land around
is rich pasturage, and the neighbourhood is highly respectable. Earl
Denbigh is lord of the manor. Lutterworth is partially paved, very
clean, and is now lighted with gas. The Church
of St Mary is a large and handsome building, with nave,, aisles,
chancel, and galleries; it has a lofty tower and 6 bells, ;~ The
portrait of Wickliffe, the great reformer, who was rector in this
town is preserved in the church, together with his dining table,
gown and communion cloth. Wickliffe died and was buried here in the
year 1835. The pulpit which is now in use in the church is the same
in which Wickliffe preached; the body is of thick oak boards, beautifully
carved. . . The population in 1851, was 2,446; acreage. 2,413
In the list of traders is :
Gamble Saml. & Geo. Curriers, Regent Street.
Oldest Known Event
23-Jun-1633 Samuell born to Robert
Willoughby Waterleys 1855
Willoughby Waterless, or Waterleys, a township,
small parish, and village, 8 1/2 miles south-west from Leicester,
6 north-east from Lutterworth, and 2 from Countesthorpe station on
the Midland Counties railway, South Leicestershire. The church of
St Mary is an old building, chiefly in the decorated style, with
a nave and small aisle, tower and 4 bells, the tower is covered with
ivy. There are an old font and sedilia. A National school was erected
here in 1846; the site was given by the late rector, the Rev. John
Miles. The Rev Lomas Miles is lord of the manor. The number of acres
is 1200, and the population, in 1851, was 361.
Extracts from WILLOUGHBY WATERLEYS A Local History ( from The
Artisan No 11 )
Old Hall', originally a farmhouse, built about 1620 is mentioned
on the 1845 Tithe Map as having moats, the only reminder of which
is the pond on the west side of the house. As the Old Hall stood
away from the village, it would have needed the protection of a
moat from the destitute and ravaging populace who were roaming
the countryside at the time of the enclosures. In 1712 the house
was modified and enlarged to its present size by Richard Gamble;
the date 1712.can be seen in blue bricks on the south gable.
Old Hall North Gate
Old Hall South Gable
The eighteenth century saw Willoughby grow. `The Limes,' lying
well back from the road, was built by Thomas Gamble in 1702. This
has quoins, bricks in a chequer pattern of red and dark blue, a
pitched roof with finials on the gables and a walled garden with
gateposts and vases. It is said that the `Old Hall' and `The Limes'
are linked by ghost-lore.
In the l9th century, wattle and daub houses stretched the length
of the main road to beyond `Grange Farm.' The south end of the
village up to the village boundary seemed to have been developed
in the l8th century when `The Limes' (1702) and `Manor Cottage'
(1731) and the extension to the `Old Hall' (1712) were built. `The
Limes' and `Old Hall' belonged to the Gamble family who also built
`near town houses' and `far town houses' in the village.
John Gamble, Mayor of Leicester born 1721 presided
over council meetings, there is also a plaque to him in Leicester
Cathedral
In the Churchyard
Mary daughter of John and Sarah Gamble. Died 1788
Sarah wife of John Gamble ( Leicester Alderman) died 1792
