Anstey Leicestershire Family History Guide
ANSTEY, a neat village, picturesquely situated in the vale of a rivulet, 4 miles NW of Leicester, has in its parish about 1100 acres of land, and 838 inhabitants, many of whom are employed in framework knitting1. Anstey is a chapelry of Thurcaston Ancient Parish in Leicestershire.
Alternative names: Hanstigie, Anstige
Parish church: St Mary
Parish registers begin:
- Parish registers: 1556
- Bishop’s Transcripts: 1633
Nonconformists include: Primitive Methodist and Wesleyan Methodist.
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
Parish History
The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales 1870
ANSTEY, a chapelry in Thurcaston parish, Leicester; on a branch of the river Soar, near Swannington railway, 4 miles NW of Leicester. It has a post-office under Leicester. Acres, about 1,400. Real property, £3,144. Pop., 734. Houses, 174. The manor belonged to Ulverscroft Abbey; and went to the Greys of Groby. The living is a rectory in the dio. of Peterborough. Value, £150. The church was recently rebuilt, but retains an ancient tower. There are three dissenting chapels, a national school, and charities £41.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
A Topographical Dictionary of England 1848
ANSTEY (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Barrow-upon-Soar, hundred of West Goscote, N. division of the county of Leicester, 3¾ miles (N. W.) from Leicester; containing 838 inhabitants. This place, formerly called Hanstigie or Anstige, is situated between the forests of Charnwood and Leicester; and at the dissolution of religious houses belonged to the priory of Ulverscroft, with a reserved rent of 3s. 4d., and a pound of pepper, due to the Lord of Groby.
The living is consolidated with the rectory of Thurcaston: the church was rebuilt by the incumbent in 1844, and is now a beautiful edifice, with the old tower; the cost was £4000.
There is a place of worship for Wesleyans. In 1376, certain lands, described as “lying in the fields of Anstey in Wolfdale,” were granted by John Lenerych, of Leicester; and in 1490 the “Brereyard” was devised by Thomas Martyn and William Haket, and vested in trustees for the repair of the church, bridges, and causeways of this place.
Source: A Topographical Dictionary of England by Samuel Lewis 1848
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Directories
The Post office Directory of the Brewers and Maltsters 1884
Marked thus * are Small Brewers who brew the beer they sell
ANSTEY Leicester
Brewers
Pettifor Daniel
Willet Mrs Jemima *
Source: The Post office directory of the brewers and maltsters [afterw.] Kelly’s directory of the wine and spirit trades, with which are included brewers and maltsters. 1st-10th, 12th-16th ed By Kelly’s directories, ltd · 1884
Directory of Leicestershire 1846
ANSTEY, a neat village, picturesquely situated in the vale of a rivulet, 4 miles NW of Leicester, has in its parish about 1100 acres of land, and 838 inhabitants, many of whom are employed in framework knitting. It is within the peculiar Jurisdiction of Groby and is parcel of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington’s manor of Groby; but a great part of the soil belongs to W.M. Martin, Esq., Thos. Pares, Esq., and a few smaller owners.
The Church (St Mary) was a very ancient structure, but it was all taken down, except the tower in 1845, and rebuilt, on a larger scale, in the decorated style of the 14th century, solely at the expense of the Rev. Richard Waterfield, B.D., the present highly esteemed incumbent. It was finished in May 1846, and consists of a nave and chancel, with north and south aisles; and the interior is neatly fitted up, and has sittings for 500 hearers; but the old edifice had only room for about 200.
The benefice is consolidated with the rectory of Thurcaston. Here is a Wesleyan Chapel, built in 1797; a Primitive Methodist Chapel, built in 1839; and a National School, erected in 1833. The parish is entitled to send 12 free scholars to Hill’s Free School at Thurcaston.
Arguile Rd vict Coach and Horses
Bacon Samuel beerhouse
Bates Edward butcher
Burchnall Saml maltster & brewer
Burgin Bradshaw Roby, Esq
Cramp Wm butcher
Elliott Mary beerhouse and shopr
Grundy Richard joiner
Hughes George vict Hare & Hounds
Jinkinson Jno. schoolmr & par. clerk
Lygo Thomas blacksmith
Martin Rev. Robert, M.A. vicar Ratby and Groby, & commissary of the Peculiar of Groby, Anstey Pastures
Moore Wm. vict. Crown
Pickering Thomas cowkeeper
Richards Wm shopkeeper
Skertchley Joseph surgeon
Skertchley Wm bricklayer
Tebbs John corn miller
Boot & Shoe Mkrs.
Tebbs John
Elliott Henry
Hughes George
Neal Wm
Spencer Richard
FARMERS
And Graziers
Astill James W. High Lees
Burchnall Thos.
Gallimore Thos., Anstey Pastures
Hinks George
Mills Richard
Lovett Thomas
Pickering Joseph and butcher
Pratt Thomas
Swaine John
Tailors
Cramp Wm
Hughes Thomas
Willett John
Source: History, gazetteer, and directory of Leicestershire, and … Rutland; together with the adjacent towns of Grantham & Stamford By William White · 1846
Maps
Administration
- County: Leicestershire
- Civil Registration District: Barrow upon Soar
- Probate Court: Court of the Peculiar of Groby
- Diocese: Peterborough
- Rural Deanery: Goscote
- Poor Law Union: Barrow upon Soar
- Hundred: West Goscote
- Province: Canterbury
1. History, gazetteer, and directory of Leicestershire, and … Rutland; together with the adjacent towns of Grantham & Stamford By William White · 1846