Andy Reed MP - Shepshed Page
About Shepshed
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Shepshed, often known until 1888 as Sheepshed, (also Sheepshead - a name derived from the village being well involved in the wool industry) is a town in Leicestershire, England with a population of around 14,000 people. It is in the Charnwood borough and the Loughborough constituency.
- wikipedia article on Shepshed
See the full article in Wikipedia. If you log on you can even edit the details and add any of your lcoal knowledge
Content from villagers of Shepshed
Andy Reed MP with Home Office Minister Vernon Coaker MP, Betty Newton and kevin Parker discuss tackling local anti social behaviour in Shepshed.
The town originally grew as a centre for the wool trade. However, since the construction of the M1 motorway nearby, it has become a dormitory town for Loughborough, Leicester and Nottingham. It was officially a village until recently, and claimed to be Britain's largest and also claimed to have the highest number of pubs per head of population in the country. Now, however, it is home to only 15 public houses.
There has been much controversy about the origin of the name of the town. The earliest form is Scepeshefde Regis as mentioned in the Domesday Book, which means "Hill where sheep graze", but since then there have been many changes until the present form, Shepshed, was adopted in 1888.
Very little evidence of settlement on the site of Shepshed appears before the Domesday Book. However, succeeding centuries provide an abundance of historical material. The prosperity of medieval Shepshed was based on the wool industry and "Well Yard" on Forest Street may well be a corruption of "Wool Yard", where Bradford wool merchants congregated to buy from local inhabitants. In addition, there is considerable evidence to suggest that a weekly market was held at least, until the 14th Century.
St Botolph's parish churchThe older part of the Town is found in the vicinity of St Botolph's Parish Church, which has stood on its present site since the 11th Century and is the westernmost parish church in England to bear the name of Saint Botolph.
The church's original patronage came from Leicester Abbey, however between 1699 and 1856 the patrons were the Phillips family of Garendon Hall. This family has been Lords of the Manor since its purchase by Ambrose Phillips in 1683. Garendon Hall (now demolished) was built on the site of Garendon Abbey, a prominent Cistercian House which was built in 1133 and survived its dissolution by Henry VIII in 1536.
The 18th Century saw the enclosure of the common lands around Shepshed. There had been enclosures in the 15th and 16th Century, but towards the end of the 18th Century the last remaining common land, approximately 2000 acres (8 km²), was enclosed and divided among the principle commoners of the village. Much destruction was caused in the town when in 1753, 85 bays of buildings were destroyed by fire.
There were many changes during the 19th Century. Shepshed was briefly linked by canal to Loughborough, and to the coalmines of West Leicestershire when the Charnwood Navigation Canal was opened in 1798. However, their success was only short lived. By 1804 the canal had proved an uneconomic venture and was closed. The Charnwood Forest Railway was opened in 1881, but regular passenger services ceased in 1931. However, the goods service did not close until 1963.
Andy Reed MP with Betty Newton discusses the closure of the HSBC bank with customers. Andy Reed MP backed locals in their fight against closure in a high profile campaign. Although the bank closed its doors in January 2007 the battle to improve banking facilities in the town continues and the 2 Post Offices provide a solid future for this.
Andy Reed MP discusses Post Office Services with Betty Newton and Bob Feeney. The Post Office offers a wide range of services and is expanding in Shephed. Planning permission for a ATM was suported and the shop front extension has taken place. Andy Reed will work with local councillors to keep expanding the role of the Post Office.
Sport & Leisure
Sport
The main sports team in the town and the surrounding borough is Shepshed Dynamo F.C., who play in the Unibond League Division One. The town is twinned with the Parisian suburb of Domont.
There are other active clubs in the town from bowls to rugby. I still play against Shepshed at rugby at least a couple of times a season for my team Birstall in the same league.
Education
Education
Hind Leys Community College educates pupils from 14 to 19, in the town, and includes students not only from Shepshed, but also from local towns and villages such as Loughborough, Belton, Castle Donington, Diseworth, Long Whatton, and Tonge.
Pupils aged from 10 to 14 attend Shepshed High School. I have been a regular visitor to the school an have been impressed with the students over the years. I am even more impressed by the new building - a genuine school fit for the 21st Century.
There are four primary schools in the town; Oxley, St Botolph's and Newcroft for pupils until the age of 10, and St Winefride's which caters for Roman Catholic pupils until the age of 11, after which they transfer to De Lisle Catholic 11-19 school in Loughborough.
Local Issues
Issues
Many of the local issues I am raising on behalf of Shepshed constituents are available elsewhere on this site but here below are a few of the specific ones to Shepshed.
Loss of shopping facilities, road traffic, anti social behaviour, Newhurst Quarry proposal for landfill, local education for example.
But I want to hear from YOU. Please visit my contact page and email me with your thoughts.
- My Shepshed Photos on Flickr
- Labour in Shepshed
Link to the Labour Party in Shepshed
- Newcroft School Visit
Youtube reaction to visit to Newcroft School in May 2007.
Surgery/Advice Session
I hold a Surgery/advice session in Shepshed on a regular rotational basis on a Friday afternoon. These are held at the Town Council offices.
Please phone my office for an appointment on 01509 261226.
Promoted by Andy Reed - Unity House, Fennel Street, Loughborough, LE11 1UQ on behalf of Andy Reed, Unity House, 21 Fennel Street, Loughborough, Leicestershire, LE11 1UQ and House of Commons, London SW1A 0AA.