A new group has been formed in Ratby to meet at Ratby library on the first Wednesday of the month to take a ‘walk down memory lane’.
Open to anyone from the Hinckley and Bosworth area.
Memories Meeting Group – Ratby Library
Heritage Weekend – St Peter’s, Thornton
Last weekend as part of Leicestershire Heritage weekend, St Peter’s church, Thornton was open to the public, boards displaying the history of the village and local historian, Pete Leadbetter were available and created a great deal of interest for the visitors.
96 visitors came to the church over the 2 days and over £200 donated for tea and cakes.
Organised by the Friends of St Peter’s.
Heritage Open Days & The National Churches Trust ‘Ride & Stride’
Welcome to England’s largest festival of history and culture!
Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture. It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.
Heritage Open Days are England’s largest community led festival of history and culture events which celebrate our heritage, community and history.
https://www.heritageopendays.org.uk/whats-on/printable-area-lists/leicestershire.html
Also every September the National Churches Trust organises ‘Ride and Stride’ for churches – sponsored cycle rides and walks that raise money for the restoration and maintenance of our historic churches and chapels.
https://www.lhct.org.uk/ride-and-stride/
Check out the two links for more information on sites and churches open during September, and please drop in at St Peter’s, Thornton, to view the church and the display of local history. Refreshments available.
Limited street parking. Access from Church Lane by the Corner shop, or take a stroll along the path at Thornton reservoir and walk up to the church from the reservoir.
St Peter’s Church, Thornton
Very largely Early English in character; the nave and the two aisles dating from the beginning of the 14th century or slightly earlier.
St Peter’s church is Grade I listed.
The west tower and spire and the nave clerestory are Perpendicular, added in the 15th century, and the chancel was rebuilt in 1864. The north arcade of the nave has massive octagonal pillars, while that on the south side has quatrefoil pillars. The north aisle has a rare window of ‘ox eye’ design, a cusped spherical triangle. The nave has a full set of Tudor benches, dating from the 1560s their bench ends having carved linenfold panelling.
Markfield Local History group
Heritage weekend at St Peter’s Church, Thornton
Whether you have links with Thornton or are a lover of local history, we invite you to our Heritage weekend, being held at St Peter’s Church in Thornton (LE67 1AA) on:
Saturday 13th September: 10am – 6pm and Sunday 14th September: 1 – 4.30pm. •
Explore our lovely Grade 1 listed historical church for yourselves and discover its wealth •
Visit our ‘Historic Thornton’ Exhibition with fascinating insights into the history of the village •
Examine old maps of Thornton (1794-1919). •
Chat with a local amateur historian •
NEW THIS YEAR! Cake Stall – home-baked cakes (Saturday) •
Part of national ‘heritage open days’ www.heritageopendays.org.uk •
Refreshments on sale • Free entry •
Organised by the ‘Friends of St Peter’s’
Unfortunately access to the church is by steps and there is currently no wheelchair access – (but we are working on it).
Thornton Community Centre Chairperson’s Report 2024/5
Welcome to this year’s AGM.
I’d like to start by looking at our achievements throughout the year.
Achievements:
Sports Hall Kitchen and Toilets Upgrade:
The work was contracted to TLB Construction Ltd and what an excellent job they’ve done. In addition to the existing disabled toilet, we now have two unisex toilets complete with wash hand basins and dryers, and a modern fully fitted and functional kitchen. These added facilities will hopefully make the premises more attractive to potential hirers and feedback from users and members of the public is very positive.
Sports Hall Replacement Acoustic Panels and Re-decoration:
The existing acoustic panels in the Sports Hall have been replaced by up-to-date panels installed by Sound Reduction Systems.
TLB Construction did an excellent job of taking down the existing roof and wall soundproofing and re-installing a flat ceiling prior to the new panels being fitted.
An excellent job also by Dave Goodburn, our local painter and decorator who finished the project by painting the hall throughout.
Our thanks go to Gill Tapping who project managed the whole process and kept everything running smoothly.
Main Entrance Front Door Replacement:
After many years we finally said ‘Goodbye’ to the old doors which had become shabby, slightly damaged and had a problem with the locking mechanism. Again, Gill project managed this in conjunction with TLB Construction Limited who organised the work through a qualified double glazing company.
Future Projects:
- To provide decking at the rear of the hall – although plans were submitted to Hinckley & Bosworth Borough Council Planning Department in 2023 this is currently on hold due to insufficient funds at this time.
- To extend the existing car parking – plans have been submitted for this too but, as the estimated cost is prohibited given our funds, will not go ahead for the foreseeable future
- To replace existing chairs and trolleys in the main store room.
Challenges:
Currently, as we don’t have funds to take on the above and/or any other projects, our focus need to be on applying for available grants, promoting the Centre as a multi-purpose venue, e.g. wedding, parties, business use etc. so we all need to work towards those ends.
Finances:
Our finances have been excellently managed throughout the year by our Treasurer, Tadeusz Dobrowolski, allowing us to continue to maintain the fabric of the building and to make purchases to improve facilities for its users. Despite the financial support given by grant from the Parish Council for 2025 remaining at the same allowance as the previous year this will continue to reduce by £1,000 per year so we need to be self-sufficient and financially supported by 2030. Our thanks go to Andy for his diligence in questioning our energy contracts and sourcing the most financially beneficial deals.
Bookings
Our on-line Hallmaster booking system is regularly used by hirers and administered by Kate Sketchley who continues to do a fantastic job following up bookings and addressing queries, plus organising Trustees for opening and closing the Centre for hirers (including taking many of these on herself).
Our local websites – Thorntonvillage.com and Facebook – are managed and regularly updated by Gill Tapping and Amy Bakewell thus providing us with new opportunities to advertise the Centre’s facilities and events.
Our thanks go to all three mentioned for their commitment, help and enthusiasm in promoting the Centre.
Health and Safety
Weekly checks continue to be done on fire alarm points and monthly checks on emergency exits and lighting.
Annual PAT testing on all relevant electrical appliances has been completed.
Annual gas safety testing has been completed throughout the Centre.
In conclusion:
Finally, I would also like to thank the following:
- all the trustees for their continued support;
- Gill Tapping – project management and applying for and obtaining a number of grants throughout the year;
- Alex Docherty of Sound Reduction Systems – Sports Hall sound proofing;
- Dave Goodburn, Painter and Decorator;
- Tim TLB Construction Ltd.;
- Jon Loseby of Losby Lectrics – statutory and ad hoc electrical testing;
- Tom Orme of Charnwood Heating Services – statutory gas testing, plumbing tests, plus ad hoc repairs.
Mary Gibson,
Chair of Trustees.
22nd May 2025
New Chairperson and Vice Chair Thornton Community Centre
At the AGM, Mary Gibson stood down as ‘Chair’ after a 5 year term of office.
The trustees thanked her profusely for presiding over the many improvements at the Centre especially post Covid and for all her hard work in overseeing the day to day running of the Centre.
At the AGM Dan Smith was elected as the new Chair, and Delia Geary the Vice Chair, of the Community Centre Trustees – we wish them well in continuing to oversee all the improvements, renovations and repair work and day to day running at the centre.
Although most of the work has been completed there is still more to be done.
Urgently required are fund raising ideas for the centre – we need to replenish our depleted reserves to get the decking and car park extension built, the kitchen/toilet flooring replaced and new tables and chairs and trolleys purchased. COULD YOU HELP TO SECURE THE FUTURE OF THIS WONDERFUL VILLAGE RESOURCE? – Then please contact the trustees – thorntonvillage@aol.com
Markfield History Society
MARKFIELD LOCAL HISTORY GROUP – 2025 PROGRAMME
FROM JULY
Tuesday 22nd July VILLAGE WALK ***meet on The Green (opposite the Methodist Church) from 7.15PM for a 7.30PM start ***
Join us for a walk of discovery, looking at the history of Markfield. This will again be part of the Festival of Archaeology.
We will explore part of the old village, encompassing the lower and upper Green, lower Main Steet, Forest Road and Queen Street. Providing a glimpse into village life in times past, we will pick out notable older buildings, together with more recent changes and the expansion of housing over the years.
There is no charge for the walk which will last for approx. 1 hour – all are very welcome.
Tuesday 16th September MAINTAINING AND REPAIRING BRITAIN’S HISTORIC BUILDINGS DAVID SLEIGHT
Find out how Britain’s historic buildings and monuments are protected and repaired as part of our heritage, to protect them for future generations to enjoy and cherish.
David worked for English Heritage for many years and now has his own building conservation business.
Tuesday 18th Nov HISTORY OF MARKFIELD QUARRIES COLIN SHARPE
Granite has been quarried locally at least as far back as Roman times and has shaped the landscape. Commercial quarrying started at Hill Hole in the 1850s and at Cliffe Hill in the 1870s, employing many people. Some innovations made the national and international news.
Colin is a member of our history group and will tell us about the history of the quarries in Markfield and the surrounding area.
Annual membership is currently £8 for individuals and £14 for couples/ families. This includes all the talks during the year, so no extra to pay. Non-members are asked to pay £3 on the door at each talk. Please note these fees are subject to change at the AGM in January.
All meetings are at Markfield Methodist Church, Main Street (Opposite The Green) at 7.30 unless otherwise stated.
Website – www.markfieldhistory.org
FB – Bygone Markfield
Further details for each talk nearer the time
Thornton Community Centre – Sports Hall – building works
The trustees apologise for any inconvenience caused by the recent building work in the Sports Hall at the Community Centre.
The work has been carried out in three phases to minimise disruption.
PHASE ONE
To remove the Sports hall ceiling tiles, insulation and the brown felt wall and ceiling covering.
Earlier in the year there was a fire inspection at the premises and it was found that the tiles etc were not fire retardant,
The hall was in danger of being closed if the trustees had not taken remedial action. The old tiles, felting and insulation was removed and replaced with new fire retardant tiles and insulation (Tim Baker TLB Construction Ltd) and the hall decorated throughout (Dave Goodburn).
COST – £13,080
PHASE TWO
To provide two unisex toilets in the Sports Hall (additional to the disabled toilet) by utilising the space of the existing small kitchen and using a third of the Sports Hall storeroom space for a new modern, fully equipped kitchen with eye level oven and microwave, induction hob, and large fridge freezer. (Tim Baker TLB Construction Ltd).
COST – £24,500
PHASE THREE
After phase two was completed the trustees realised that there was an unacceptable level of noise (reverberation) in the hall, making it ‘uncomfortable’ for users to hear and concentrate. The decision was taken to engage a specialist company to address the problem.
Sound Reduction Ltd will be installing white, Sonata Aurio absorber panels across the whole of the ceiling. This work will take one day to complete and will take place on Wednesday 6th November in time for the two major forthcoming events – The Christmas Fayre (16th November) and the School pantomime.
COST – £5,577.60
TOTAL COST OF THE THREE PHASES OF THE PROJECT – £43,157.60
It is hoped that this work will lead to more bookings for the Sports Hall which can now be used independently of the Main Hall. The hall is already very popular for childrens parties with the safe use of a bouncy castle indoors. The trustees would welcome new user groups to the hall, especially for sporting activities such as ‘pickle ball’ the new sporting craze sweeping the country.
SECURITY
We now have the capability to lock the new kitchen and storeroom doors to enable regular user groups equipment to be stored safely.
FUTURE PROJECTS
There are a few minor internal works that still need completing (new main hall door, new flooring in the Main hall foyer, toilet and kitchen, bricking up an obsolete rotting door and frame plus major works outdoors – the erection of a decked area off the Main hall patio doors and the extension of the car park.
FUND RAISING
All the works completed so far have seriously depleted the Centre’s funds and no further projects can be carried out until we raise the necessary monies .
More than ever we need new fund raising ideas and helpers.
If you have any ideas or think you can help in any way, then please contact the trustees through this website.
Working for the Community – Thornton Community Centre
A small group of trustees manage the centre on behalf of the Community, and just prior to Covid they were working on a lengthy programme of refurbishments to be carried out at the 50-year-old Centre which was looking tired and dated.
As these plans for refurbishment began to take shape Covid struck, and the centre was closed for 16 months.
(The two halls are owned by the village community and sit on a plot of land extending to the hedgerow behind the centre and to the left of the path, leased from the Parish Council for a peppercorn rent).
The trustees apologise for the untidy state of the driveway borders. They have located architects’ plans at the Parish Council offices, which indicate that the land is not leased from the Parish Council, making them responsible for maintenance. If you are unhappy with the borders’ condition, please inform the Parish Council. Despite repeated requests to tidy the area, the response has been “there is no money available.” This situation reflects poorly on the Centre and the village.
Since reopening in July 2021, the trustees have created an online presence with this website and an associated digital booking system (Hallmaster).
New signage was erected above the hall doors and noticeboards on the driveway facing Main Street.
The felt roof on the Sports Hall was replaced.
Overgrown borders and hedges were cut back.
A large screen and projector were purchased for the Main Hall with a grant from Forterra Brickworks.
A freezer was purchased for the kitchen.
Two benches were purchased from grant money, and placed by the front door together with a planter donated by the Parish Council.
Continual blockages in the toilets for several years led the trustees to have the drains ‘scoped’, and it was found that they had collapsed in part and the whole drainage system had to be replaced
During the autumn of 2022, MDJ Developers and Johnson Wellborn decorators started major works refurbishing the main hall toilets and decorating the main hall, kitchen, toilet, storeroom, meeting room, foyer and sports hall foyer.
New modern, white doors were fitted throughout the centre and painted.
Glenfield Electrical rewired the Centre and installed LED lighting throughout the inside, and new external lighting.
After this work was completed a window cleaner was engaged to clean the fascia’s and windows on a monthly basis and the Main hall curtains were dry cleaned.
All this work contributing to the centre having a fresh, clean, spacious look making it more appealing to hirers.
In August 2023 another part of the flat roof had to be repaired, and a replacement extractor fan had to be fitted in the main kitchen.
The obsolete, external cameras were taken down.
Earlier this year a fire inspection was carried out it was found that the Sports hall ceiling and wall tiles were no longer compliant with fire regulations. To avoid closure of the hall the ceiling and wall tiles were taken down and replaced with new tiles and insulation, and the hall was redecorated throughout.
Currently major works are taking place in the Sports Hall. A larger fully equipped kitchen is being built, and the former small kitchen is being converted into two toilets.
MORE PHOTOGRAPHS TO FOLLOW ……..
In December last year plans were submitted to HBBC for permission to construct a decked area to the rear of the hall and to increase the car parking space by a further 27 spaces.
Planning permission was granted, however the unforeseen costs of replacing the drains and the Sports hall ceiling (£30,388) mean that there are insufficient funds to carry out these works, until fund raising, and grants allow.
The trustees have spent £98,000 over the past 3 years to ensure that the Centre is fit for purpose for the next 50 years.
Both halls make superb venues for all kinds of events, they can be used together or separately, with arguably the best view in the county overlooking the National Forest and the reservoir.
The Sports hall is a particularly safe space for childrens’ parties with room for bouncy castles inside the hall. The photographs show a recent Spiderman themed party.
Could you help your Community with fund raising through organising events, grants or donations to make these final proposals happen?
Would you like to be involved in securing the future of this wonderful resource for your community?
Then please contact us on email thorntonvillage@aol.com
For more information about the Centre (hire costs/photographs/booking system etc), check out the pages on this website dedicated to the Community Centre.
Gill Tapping (Trustee)
Heritage Open Days – Leicestershire ~ St Peter’s Church, Thornton
England’s largest festival of history and culture!
Heritage Open Days 6th-15th September 2024
Every September thousands of volunteers across England organise events to celebrate our fantastic history and culture.
It’s your chance to see hidden places and try out new experiences – all of which are FREE to explore.
As part of Heritage Open Days, St Peter’s Church, Thornton, will be open over the weekend of 14th and 15th September for all to visit.
It’s your chance to explore this lovely Grade 1, historical church for yourselves, and discover its wealth of history.
An Exhibition in the church will provide a fascinating insight into Thornton’s history.
The church will be open between 10 am and 6 pm on Saturday 14th and from 1 pm till 5 pm on Sunday afternoon.
Entry is free. Donations always welcome. Refreshments will be available to purchase.
Any contributions towards the exhibition are welcome. Do you have stories to tell or old photographs of Thornton that we could borrow to display?
Please contact churchwarden.thornton@gmail.com
For details of other Heritage Open Days venues go to http://www.heritageopendays.org.uk
Thornton 