Kirby Bellars, Leicestershire

Description
Kirby Bellars, a township and a parish, with a pleasant village, in Leicestershire, on the river Wreak, and on the Syston and Peterborough branch of the M.E., with a station at Asfordy, 2 1/2 miles WSVV of Melton Mowbray. Post town and money order office, Melton Mowbray; telegraph office, Asfordy. Area, 2754 acres; population, 258. The masor belongs to the Seddon family. Kirby Park was a hunting seat of Sir Francis Burdett, Bart., and is now occupied by a farmer. A college for a warden and twelve priests was founded in the parish by Eoger Beller in 1319, and was converted into an Augustinian priory by Alice Beller in 1359. Fossil bones of elephants and other animals were found in 1821. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Peterborough; gross value, £103. The church of St Peter is a handsome building of stone in the Gothic style, and has a western tower with lofty spire. There is an ancient stone cross in the churchyard.