Description
Hinckley, a market-town, head of a county court district, a township, and a parish in Leicestershire, is 14 miles SW from Leicester, 13 NNW from Coventry, 100 NW by N from London, and 4 ENE from Nuneaton. The Ashby-de-la-Zonch Canal runs through the parish, 1 1/2 mile SW. The Watling Street, being 2 miles S and W, forms the boundary between Leicestershire and Warwickshire. The L. & N.W.R., Leicester and Nnneaton branch, and the M.R. from Leicester to Birmingham over the same line, have joint passenger and goods stations here. The town stands partly on an elevated plateau, and for some distance beyond on the old Leicester Road. Nichol's History mentions it as " the highest table in the kingdom, and from which some fifty churches may be seen." It is known as Beacon Hill, and, as the crow flies, would be between 4 and 5 miles from High Cross, where the Watling Street and the Fosse Way cross, called the centre of England-Wycliffe's Church, Lutter-worth, being 5 miles beyond High Cross.
A castle formerly stood near the top of Castle Street, now known as Castle Hill; .the mound and a portion of the moat is still in existence. This castle was built by Sir Hugh de Grentemaisnell (the second son of a potent Norman baron who came over in the train of the Conqueror), created Lord High Steward of England and Baron of Hinckley, then the most considerable landholder in the county. He also caused the parish church to be built, the appropriation of which he granted to the Abbey of Lyra in Normandy, for whom he also founded an alien priory for Benedictine monks, and erected a large and convenient House for their reception-long since demolished. At the close of his life, being aged and infirm, he took upon him, in 1094, the habit of a monk at St Ebrulf's Abbey in Normandy, which he restored, dying six days after, and was honourably buried in the chapter-house. This priory had the fate of all foreign cells of being often seized into the king's hands during the wars with France, and at length was wholly suppressed in the parliament at Leicester in 1414. It had been given for a time to the Carthusian priory of Montgrace in Yorkshire by King Richard II., and was wholly annexed to the same by King Henry VI. After the dissolution of Montgrace, the priory lands and church of Hinckley were granted by Henry VIII. (in exchange) to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster, who continued the impropriators and patrons until about twenty-five years ago, when the lands were taken over by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the patronage being since vested in the Bishop of Peterborough. The castle is traditionally said to have been inhabited by John. of Gaunt, fourth son of King Edward III., and heir to the honours and estates of the Earls of Leicester; the lordship was undoubtedly his. From him it descended to Henry of Bolingbroke, afterwards King Henry VI., by whose accession to the throne it passed, with the Duchy of Lancaster, into the possession of the Crown. Thus the office of High Steward, which belonged solely to the Barony of Hinckley, finally merged into the Crown, and has never been granted out except on special occasions, such as coronations, trials of peers, &c., and then only for the time being. Cognizances of John of Gaunt, " The Blazing Sun," were amongst the fragmentary old-stained glass in the east window of the church, removed in 1862.
The castle was most probably demolished and plundered by the victorious Yorkists about 1460, or between that period and 1485, as it was in ruins when Leiand wrote in the time of Henry VIII., and Burton (1622) states the castle was " utterly minated and gone, only the mount, rampires, and trenches " were to be seen. The present house was huilt in 1770. The parish church is dedicated to St Mary, and has a massive tower and spire 150 feet high, nave of five bays, N and S aisles, and chancel. Its principal architectural features were of the Decorated period, as one of the fine old oak beams, beautifully moulded and carved, and quite sound when removed (at the restoration!} bore testimony-the date 1265 being cut in on the top side. It was partly rebuilt and enlarged in 1875-80, the aisles and transepts being pulled down and extended laterally, with double transepts or chancel aisles, that on the south forming an organ chamber, vestry, and morning chapel, the north being seated. There is a fine peal of eight bells. The registers date from 1554. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Peterborough; gross value,, £300 with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Peterborough. Holy Trinity is an ecclesiastical parish formed in 1843. The church is a plain brick building with stone front. It is a vicarage; gross value, £300 with residence. St Peter's Roman Catholic chapel, Dominican, was built in 1824 and enlarged in 1885. There is a large educational establishment in connection with it called St Peter's Priory. There are Unitarian, General Baptist, Particular Baptist, Congregational, Primitive Methodist, and Wesleyan chapels. A new grammar school, with master's residence, on the Leicester Road, was erected in 1894. It is supposed the old charter was suppressed during the Wars of the Roses-Hinckley taking part with the Lancastrians- the two liberties, the Borough and the Bond, remaining, and a mayor, constables, and headboroughs being annually appointed at the Court Baron, which was superseded on the formation of the local board in 1868. The market is held on Mondays, and fairs on the first, second, and third Mondays after the Epiphany, Easter Monday, the Monday before Whit-Monday, and Whit-Monday, Aug. 26, the once celebrated fair mentioned in Shakespeare, and the first Monday in November. The statute fair-middle of September-has nearly died out. There is a handsome free library, also a police station, with house for the superintendent of the county police; and a police court adjoins the same, which is also used for the county courts. There are a head post office, two principal hotels, and two banks. Area of the parish, 3363 acres; population, 9638. The first stocking frame was brought to Hinckley in 1640. The manufacture of all classes of hosiery, boots, shoes, and clothing is now very considerable, and increasing largely year by year.
