BRUNTINGTHORPE: Harborough Parish #35 of 91

BRUNTINGTHORPE – Brenting’s Outlying Settlement Finally this week we come to Bruntingthorpe, about 10 miles south of Leicester and a short distance north east of Lutterworth. It’s a small rural area of fields, hedgerows and quiet lanes – pretty much the typical type of place we’ve been covering all week. However, there is something else in this one which makes it different. This one contains the hamlet of Upper Bruntingthorpe, which has long former airfield laid out on its edge. It’s that which will take centre stage today. The name Bruntingthorpe comes from Old English and Old Norse roots, meaning “outlying farm or settlement of Brenting or Branting”. It appears in the Domesday Book, in the hundred of Guthlaxton. Land here was held by powerful figures, including Hugh of Grandmesnil and the Count of Meulan. Long before the modern village, this landscape was shaped by medieval farming. Ridge and furrow earthworks survive in places nearby, and the pattern of its lanes and its plots suggest a farming settlement that grew steadily through the Middle Ages. By the 19th century, Bruntingthorpe commanded around 1,300 acres. A manor house stood near the church, reached through a formal gateway, while several farms and cottages lined Main Street. The village supported Anglican and Baptist worship, and a largely agricultural way of life. That all changed when Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome was laid out in 1942, built for use during WWII. Later used by the RAF and United States Air Force, its long runway and big hangars now serve as a proving ground, storage site and an occasional stage for historic jets. ---- Walk into the village and the mood changes from concrete and runway to stone and brick. St Mary’s Church, largely rebuilt in 1873 with its distinctive saddleback tower roof, stands slightly apart frorm it. Nearby sit the Old Rectory and gorgeous cottages like The Elms and Bruntingthorpe House. Bruntingthorpe has not produced any household names. Instead its story lies in generations of farmers, labourers, clergy and, more recently, airfield workers and engineers. During the Cold War, personnel based at the airfield and visiting crews added new layers of experience. Folklore is a bit sparse here, but older residents still remember the echo of jet engines on still evenings, and the occasional tales of strange lights or footsteps near the old hangars. Whether believed or not, such stories add a bit of colour here. So in all, we have a village flanked by a vast 20th century airfield. The name recalls early settlers; the church and the cottages carry its story through the centuries, but the runway brings in a modern chapter of wartime history. Lets go and see it all. **** #Bruntingthorpe, #Leicestershire, #Harborough, #Lutterworth, #Churches, #Pubs, #RAF, #Airfields, #WWII, #Garages, #Lightning, **** Some of the following music tracks may appear in this video: Brendan Perkins - “Foxsnow” (B. Perkins)    • Foxsnow   Brendan Perkins - “Mickey's House” (B. Perkins)    • Mickey's House   The Keyhouse - "Voices" (H. Flunder)    • Voices   The Keyhouse - "Circles" (H. Flunder)    • The Keyhouse - Circles (official audio)   Helen Flunder - "Sun" (H. Flunder)    • Helen Flunder - 'Sun' (Official Audio)   Helen Flunder - “Angels” (H. Flunder)    • Helen Flunder - Angels (Official Audio)   Helen Flunder - “C Song” (H. Flunder)    • Caistor and the Lincolnshire Wolds   Ending Song made by Suno AI I have me a Facebook page too!   / the-village-idiot-226069228730989   And now an INSTAGRAM - @andythevillageidiot Come and join The Village People! (Subscribers only!)   / 1037756120085304   Please consider buying me a coffee to support the channel! The more I get the faster I'll get to your parish! https://www.buymeacoffee.com/thevilla... Join this channel to get access to perks:    / @thevillageidiot