The series will explore the people of Kibworth’s past through letters, diaries, censuses, medieval tax rolls and the Domesday Book (Find your own past on the Online Domesday Book here) as well as bringing in the current residents to help Families who have generations of history in the villages were asked to provide a DNA sample so their ancestory could be traced back and to build a picture of how inhabitants over time came to Kibworth and how the three villages in the old parish flourished Kibworth Harcourt and Smeeton Westerby have a combined population of approximately 6,000 people who over the past year have been the focus of the new BBC Four series the village of Smeeton Westerby is a name of mixed heritage roots – Smeeton With assistance from the University of Leicester and Cambridge University, residents were invited to dig a small test pit in their gardens to see what was uncovered, with some hope resting on Saxon finds (perhaps the optimists were hoping to uncover a gold horde?) Even the local Coach and Horses pub had the tarmac ripped off it’s car park to excavate the ground underneath which will be revealed in full when the programmes air this Autumn 1,200 year old Middle Saxon pottery and prehistoric flint blades All of the digs were recorded and then analysed in Cambridge The programme’s presenter Michael Wood told the BBC “I’m hoping you’ll get this impression of the fabulous richness of the history at the roots of ordinary people the sort of people who made our history not at the level of kings and queens.” “The English Story” will air this Autumn on BBCFour An award-winning Italian restaurant in Kibworth has closed down Boboli was a popular destination with diners and had played a key part in the community since 2007 who previously also ran another restaurant in the village “I think most of you will know by now that Boboli is closed It has been 25 years since we arrived in Kibworth and what a ride it has been “These years have been remarkable really and it’s been good people such as you and yours that have helped to make it happen.” The statement continued: “The beautiful community that is “The Kibworths” has embraced us from the start and we have thoroughly immersed ourselves in return; From running the play scheme to getting our team on board for the Fun Runs to bringing Paella nights to Kibworth and reintroducing a little “Ooo La La” in the Beaujolais Nouveau nights to navigating our way through lock down… take away pizza was the tip of the iceberg “heat to eat” lasagne and soufflé was iconic beef wellington and yummy pots of pudding will never be forgotten “Then there are the wonderful people; The amazing youngsters without whom we could never have made it this far the amazing folk who have made the rest all possible the christenings and general celebrations of life which have made our business so wonderful… we hope that the memories we leave behind will be our legacy our recovery from the pandemic has been hampered by various crises way beyond our control we have decided that it’s time to hang up our hats and bow out gracefully and are looking forward to the next exciting chapter in our lives “We wish you all the very best that life has to offer and thank you sincerely from the bottom of our hearts.” grants and donations to enable us to continue to provide the service Your donation would be greatly appreciated ALL CONTENT © COPYRIGHT HARBOROUGH FM 2007 – 2024 Regular police speed checks are to take place on the A6 in Kibworth Harcourt following safety concerns from villagers Checks by Community Speed Watch volunteers found a high proportion of drivers are breaking the 30mph limit on Leicester Road Regular checks will take place on the A6 in Kibworth The area has become a ‘community concern site’ and will be regularly patrolled by a safety camera van from the Leicester Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnership Monitoring will be carried out for for at least a year but could be extended through to 18 months has welcomed the announcement and says some of speeds recorded during volunteer checks were frightening: A series of recommendations have been made after a freak storm saw hailstones the size of golf balls rain down on Kibworth Leicestershire County Council has published a Flood Investigation Report after cars and homes were damaged and properties flooded when five weeks of rain fell in less than two hours It happened on July 20th 2021 when drainage systems and watercourses became overwhelmed and unable to cope with the volume of water Sewage was also reported to have contaminated flood waters Hailstones the size of golf balls fell during the storm The flooding impacted key parts of Kibworth including: Kibworth Primary School The Lea and Brookfield Way and Langton Road A county council spokesperson said: “Flood investigations are complex and can take significant time to complete “Our busy team worked on this report alongside routine duties as the Lead Local Flood Authority as well as other named storm events which required urgent action and investigation we would like to emphasise that action delivery on flooding at Kibworth Harcourt & Kibworth Beauchamp has been underway for some time “This included work to identify and assist responsible bodies in five separate locations with a strategy to help reduce the impacts of any future flooding” View the report HERE A man reported missing has been found safe in Kibworth Police issued an urgent appeal earlier today after concerns were expressed for the welfare of the 50-year-old who had last been seen in Newton Harcourt during the early hours Officers are thanking all who came forward with information Drivers are being warned the A6 through Kibworth will be shut for nine nights from next week so carriageway repairs can take place The closure will be in force between 8pm and 6am from Monday until Friday and then from the following Monday until Thursday August 8th It will affect the stretch of the A6 along Harborough Road and Leicester Road with parking restrictions also to be put in place Leicestershire County Council will be carrying out the work in three phases and is also warning residents there will be some noise disruption through Tur Langton into Kibworth and vice-versa A power cut is affecting the Kibworth area The outage at just after 2.30pm initially left over 1,400 properties without electricity although supplies have since been restored to some Over 500 homes and businesses remain without power and National Grid is bringing in a generator to restore supplies by 8.30pm A spokesperson for National Grid told HFM: “The power cut affecting customers in Kibworth Harcourt and the LE8 postcode was due to an initial switchgear fault at a substation in Hillcrest Avenue “This was followed by a secondary fault affecting an underground cable in Leicester Road “Currently about 500 customers are still without power We are bringing in a generator to restore supplies by 20.30 this evening “We apologise to everyone affected by these faults for the disruption they have caused; our engineers are working to resolve this as quickly as possible.” National Mills Weekend is being celebrated at the Kibworth Harcourt Windmill it’s the only surviving post mill in Leicestershire and was restored to its former glory in a major project completed last year Kibworth Harcourt WindmillPic: English Heritage It is one of hundreds of windmills and watermills opening their doors as part of a celebration of the heritage and history of mills Free pre-booked tours are taking place this weekend led by volunteers who work with the Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings who own the Grade II-listed windmill located off Langton Road Graham Watts is one of them and told HFM it’s great to be able to let people see the historic mill: Major work is to take place to upgrade water pipes in Kibworth and Newton Harcourt Severn Trent Water is to spend £3m replacing over three miles of ageing pipework with new plastic pipes in a bid to reduce the number of leaks and bursts in the area Work will start on Glen Road in Newton Harcourt tomorrow and along Fleckney Road and Wistow Road in Kibworth from Monday The project is set to be completed by August and will see some temporary road closures although the firm has pledged access to homes and businesses will be maintained at all times said: “Customers in Kibworth deserve a modern water supply that they can rely on That’s why we’re investing £3 million to upgrade the water network in this area which will benefit the local community for generations to come “We’ll be doing everything we can to minimise the disruption and we’d like to thank everyone in advance for their patience and understanding as we get this essential work done.” Some work has already taken place to upgrade pipes on private land A Kibworth Park is set to get a new Multi-Use Games area at a cost of around £20,000 It is earmarked for the former skatepark area at the Warwick Road Recreation Ground and will be a space for youngsters to play football The Multi-Use Games Area would be similar to this Kibworth Harcourt Parish Council will use money provided by developers for community facilities to construct it A recent survey of young people in the village found it was a facility they wanted to see A site for a new skatepark is still being discussed By NOTICEBOARD · 26 April 2024 This year’s National Mills Weekend will take place over may 11 and 12 with more than 100 traditional windmills and watermills opening their doors to the public The weekend is organised by The Society for the Protection of Ancient Buildings (SPAB) and its Mills Section With so many mills across the UK facing uncertain futures it’s more important than ever to celebrate our milling heritage Polls show that windmills are the UK’s favourite structures yet with local authorities under financial pressure many publicly-owned mills face being sold off – meaning the public may no longer be able to visit them and see their historic machinery in action The SPAB has rounded up the top mills to visit in the Midlands This National Mills Weekend, book a free guided tour of Leicestershire’s last remaining post mill, owned and looked after the SPAB and removed from the Heritage at Risk Register in 2021 following our major repair project This is one of just a handful of dates the mill is open to the public each year including the working machinery and some fascinating graffiti left by millers over the years Image (above) of Kibworth Harcourt Post Mill © Rachel Stoplar Built on the banks of the Doe Lea river, the mill at Stainsby has been part of the Derbyshire countryside for over 800 years and is now part of the Hardwick estate Explore the mill yourself or join a guided tour for an immersive experience This brick tower windmill was built in 1825 on the site of a post mill This National Mills Weekend they are pulling out all the stops Presiding over spectacular views towards the Derwent Valley Mills World Heritage Site this Grade II* listed windmill was lovingly repaired in 2002 To celebrate National Mills Weekend there will be guided tours and the Nunsfield House amateur radio group will be there contacting other mills around the world Open May 11 and 12, 11am-4pm. Visit for free or book a guided tour on the website Experience the sights and smells of the past at Heckington Windmill this National Mills Weekend There’ll be demonstrations by millers and engineers on the Saturday and guided tours and the George Chambers Memorial Run on the Sunday – a parade of classic vehicles You can also go on a guided tour and stop for a bite at the tearoom Housed in Hereford’s Victorian water pumping station with its impressive steam engines still working in situ, the museum tells the public health and engineering story of drinking water. This National Mills Weekend, experience the power (and noise!) of the mill engines in operation with a guided tour of the museum This is a great time to visit Clodock Mill as a new waterwheel shaft is ready to be fitted This means that (if completion goes to schedule!) the mill will be working in time for your visit – with refreshments available using flour from the mill donations to Midlands Air Ambulance welcome A tall stone corn mill has a large overshot waterwheel which you’ll see in action on your visit as well as iron machinery and two pairs of stones It’s a great time to visit as the mill is currently being repaired to working condition You’ll find this corn mill in a steep wooded valley with a dramatic leat (or aqueduct) to mill from waterfall Visit to see the external overshot waterwheel turning and driving a Victorian apple scratter Looking for something a bit different this National Mills Weekend? Take a trip to the UK’s only horse-drawn cider mill You can taste and buy cider made right here at the 17th century mill and press donations to the Laurie Engel Fund for Teenage Cancer Trust welcome LoadingDaily Email Updates {{contentTitle}} You are in: Leicester > History > Local History > Kibworth Dig A new BBC television series explores the history of Britain through the eye of Kibworth Listen to the interview with historian Michael Wood and find out how you can get involved Acclaimed TV historian Michael Wood is filming a fascinating six-part history series for BBC Television which will be partly set right here in Kibworth 'The English Story' will explore the lives of ordinary people against the backdrop of national events in history The gardens of willing local residents will be excavated as well as a major dig in the car park of The Coach and Horses pub in Kibworth Harcourt BBC Leicester contributor Debbie Miles-Williams was one of the volunteers who lent a hand at the Kibworth dig on 25 and 26 July Debbie works as an Archaeological Illustrator and Outreach Officer for the School of Archaeology and Ancient History Take a look at her photographs of the weekend and take a sneaky glimpse at some of their finds.. BBC Leicester's Chris Highton spoke to Michael Wood about the research proposals and how you can get involved… Help playing audio/video "We're tracing the story of Kibworth all the way through English history The weekend of 25-26 July 2009 kicked off a series of archaeological digs in the South-East of Leicestershire The filming team asked local people to literally open their gardens by digging a metre deep and wide hole the progress of which was looked over by Time Team's Carenza Lewis Michael has travelled all over the world documenting the history of many exotic countries but he’s always wanted to tell the story of England from one place After filming in Leicestershire a number of years ago Michael was keen to get back and explore more of the history "Kibworth is just fantastically well documented "In fact I was sitting in the Indian restaurant on the A6 last night in Kibworth and when the manager discovered what I was doing he came over and said 'This is the most historic village in Leicestershire.'" with really interesting histories from India and Bangladesh In 1270 art of Kibworth Harcourt was bought by Merton College Oxford University after Simon de Montfort's defeat in the Barons Revolt This means there are documents covering nearly 800 years of the village’s history including details of each resident – a great starting point for the research team: "You've got an incredible sort of searchlight that you can focus on individual families sometimes over three or four hundred years." The focus of the filming will be in the old parish of Kibworth Harcourt "So I think in the films they'll be a relationship between the villages and the city which will bring out those other histories." Many local names in the history world have been involved in the project so far whose father was a great founder of Leicester history: as a 10 year old he’d been out on the hedgerows of Glen and Gumley and Kibworth counting flower species for his dad Leicestershire publican Andrew Southerden has already taken up the tarmac of his car park at The Coach and Horses in Kibworth Harcourt in preparation for the dig based there Victorian brickwork from cottages formerly on the site has been revealed as well as slate from their roofs Andrew has high hopes of going back in time It's known that there was a thriving community here in Saxon times and there's also the possibility of discovering more about how the villages fared at the time of Danish and even Roman occupation The Coach and Horses features prominently in Kibworth's history It's on the main coaching route through the village and at a major junction connecting the neighbouring settlements of Kibworth Harcourt and Kibworth Beauchamp a 73 year old passenger in a coach passing the pub at about midnight fell off and was killed His tombstone can be seen today in the nearby churchyard Thomas Cook had his dream of worldwide travel for all while waiting for a coach to take him to his home in Market Harborough The bar is adorned with old photographs of the pub and its surroundings Andrew has now produced a DVD of archive images of the Kibworth area which is being shown on screens inside the pub It's a great attraction and talking point for both the regulars and for visitors travelling through this historic area of south Leicestershire "I'm hoping you'll get this impression of the fabulous richness of the history at the roots of ordinary people the sort of people who made our history not at the level of kings and queens." Filming for the new series will take place between July 2009 and May 2010 The final programmes will be shown on BBC4 and BBC2 during the autumn next year For details of how the research is developing and how you can get involved  call  local member of the team BBC Leicester's Stephen Butt on 07982 845112 last updated: 05/08/2009 at 14:46created: 22/07/2009 Click here to listen to BBC Radio Leicester LIVE A unique building at the entrance to the cemetery in Kibworth Harcourt has been recognised as one of the country’s historical gems has been added to Historic England’s National Heritage List and will now receive special protection The building is unusual because of its large size and enclosed design which allowed it to be used as a second chapel for funerals it has a steeply pitched roof and detailed carving on the large wooden front door A spokesperson for Historic England said: “Its large size and enclosed design are unusual for the time and point to shrewd financial thinking on the part of the local Burial Board “By making it big and grand enough to accommodate funeral services they saved the cost of building two chapels on the site – one for Church of England parishioners and another for the growing number of non-conformist denominations.” The Lych Gate was built between July and October 1894 by Edward Woodford Mason one of Kibworth’s most celebrated builders and founder of the family firm A popular pub in Kibworth Harcourt which has been closed for the past nine months is to re-open under new management The Coach and Horses has been taken over by The Boathouse Group the Foxton Locks Inn and The Waterfront in Market Harborough The re-opening on September 29th will create around nine jobs and the management team will be made up of Phil and Paul Baker two brothers who ran and managed The Coach and Horses in the past and who already work for The Boathouse Group Villagers expressed sadness when the pub closed in January when the tenants blamed rising energy costs for the decision director of operations for The Boathouse Group told HFM they are delighted to be opening the doors again and have had a great response from the village following the announcement: A new Multi-Use Games Area at Warwick Park in Kibworth is nearing completion as other improvements are to be carried out there this week The tarmac base is being allowed to cure for the next three weeks before line markings and other final touches are added The new multi use games area taking shape at Warwick Park In Kibworth will be a place for youngsters to play football It is being funded through developers who have built in the village This improvements are being made by the Kibworth Joint Recreation Board A man has been charged with drink driving after a car crash in Kibworth Beauchamp last night Police were called after the driver of a Vauxhall Astra left the carriageway on Fleckney Road and collided with a shed in a dog walking field The crash happened close to the junction with Warwick Road just before 8pm and no-one was injured of Luther Street in Leicester has been charged with driving while over the alcohol limit and will appear before Leicester Magistates’ Court later this month Two men from Market Harborough and another from Kibworth Harcourt have been questioned by Police after officers found a car 90 minutes after it was reported stolen They were arrested after the white Audi TT was taken from outside a property on Northampton Road Leicestershire Police say the car was located on Leicester Road in Oadby using automatic number plate recognition and on arrival a vehicle was surrounded by two police cars A second vehicle was stopped and five men from the cars were subsequently arrested with the assistance of police dog Spike What is believed to be Class A drugs and a knife were also recovered and the stolen vehicle has since returned to the owner In a Tweet shared by Leicestershire Roads Policing Unit police dog Spike was praised for his “pivotal” role in the arrest of the men shortly after celebrating his birthday with the team were arrested for theft of a motor vehicle and the 48-year-old man from Kibworth Harcourt for theft of a motor vehicle and possessing an offensive weapon in a public place were arrested for theft of a motor vehicle and possession of Class A drugs with intent to supply All have been questioned and released under investigation as enquiries continue Plans have been announced to build 400 new homes in Kibworth Manor Oak Homes have submitted an application for the large development on 81 acres of fields between Wistow Road and Warwick Road There is also space set aside for a new primary school We are outside Mary's Deli in the village of Kibworth in Leicestershire and I am scribbling this as the camera crew gulp a quick coffee After epic journeys in the Story Of India, not to mention tracking Alexander through Afghanistan, and Pizarro Over The Andes Now one year into Michael Wood's Story Of England and we all really feel at home here Mary automatically puts extra milk in the producer's tea and it's impossible to walk down the street without meeting people who have helped us I had always wanted to try to tell the whole story of English history from one place I felt sure that looking at history from this perspective would tell a completely different but no less dramatic story and one which we all could relate to - as it would be the history of us And why Kibworth? I was led to Kibworth first by its remarkable archive of historical documents. And split by the A6 on the fringe of the multiracial city of Leicester Kibworth is emphatically today's England in miniature So the Story of England is the tale of one community over time Making the series all started over a year ago with the Big Dig, which you'll see in episode one. We advertised on BBC Radio Leicester and 250 locals turned up at the school hall for an archaeological weekend they dug 55 test pits (the most ever done in a single place) The dig was a success beyond our wildest dreams We got Roman sherds remarkable early and late Anglo-Saxon pottery all the way through the Middle Ages to the debris of Georgian coaching inns frame knitters' workshops and even in one pit household throwouts from the 1960s And even the children really got into it - as one of the villagers Louise Dodds said: "We've never seen the kids concentrate so hard in all our lives!" We've found a Roman villa and Norman castle mound The villagers have researched in the National Archives and we've gone with the high school kids on their battlefield tour to the Somme Through all this, tales have opened up of Viking settlers, medieval rebels, canal navvies, highwaymen transported to Australia, and suffragettes thrown into Holloway prison And filming back in England after years on the road I used to think that washing in a mountain stream at dawn on the Hindu Kush and breakfast with black tea and coarse bitter bread was just about as good as it gets on a film shoot with Richard the postman doing his rounds Debbie putting out the sign outside the bookshop and Mrs Croxford (97 this month) heading down to the Co-op I must say that Mary's Marmite toast and coffee runs it pretty close Michael Wood is the presenter of Michael Wood's Story Of England Michael Wood's Story Of England is on BBC Four at 9pm and BBC HD at 10.30pm on Wednesday For all future programme times, please visit the upcoming episodes page Stay updated with the latest posts from the blog Russell Kane: I'd be a rubbish Bear Grylls Meet the actresses behind Leanne and Rhona Jasmin thinks her complications are bad karma Mary Beard's stories from behind the scenes Get outta my pub! Stars try out her famous phrase It's fun playing a character in his own revenge film Matt the elephant made it clear he's to be respected Watch exclusive deleted scenes Exploring an unlikely sort of World War II hero Actress Jodie Comer on the mystery of Ivy All Salma wants is to protect the people she loves Mared's red coat needs its own Twitter account A new bridge over the railway in Kibworth is starting to take shape after the old structure was demolished at the weekend The old bridge was demolished Pic: Network Rail The historic pedestrian bridge off School Road was flattened and the new bridge structure craned into place while the line was closed to trains Network Rail engineers worked round-the-clock to complete the first part of the bridge renewal work The rest of the work is set to take around six months and while the bridge is shut to pedestrians a temporary footbridge has been put in place for villagers to use The new bridge structure was lowed into place Pic: Network Rail Concern has been expressed after drugs paraphernalia including syringes and needles were found discarded in the Kibworth Grammar School Hall car park Police have pledged to step up patrols amid fears people are using the area to take drugs Kibworth county councillor Kevin Feltham told Hfm such items pose a serious hazard: The items have now been cleared from the area A spokesperson for Harborough District Council said: “Concerns about drug use should be reported to the police and any needle finds and clear ups should be reported to the Council.” We are outside Mary's Deli in the village of Kibworth in Leicestershire After epic journeys in the Story Of India, not to mention tracking Alexander through Afghanistan, and Pizarro Over The Andes Now one year into Michael Wood's Story Of England and we all really feel at home here Making the series all started over a year ago with the Big Dig, which you'll see in episode one. We advertised on BBC Radio Leicester and 250 locals turned up at the school hall for an archaeological weekend We got Roman sherds The villagers have researched in the National Archives Through all this, tales have opened up of Viking settlers, medieval rebels, canal navvies, highwaymen transported to Australia, and suffragettes thrown into Holloway prison Michael Wood is the presenter of Michael Wood's Story Of England Michael Wood's Story Of England is on BBC Four at 9pm and BBC HD at 10.30pm on Wednesday For all future programme times, please visit the upcoming episodes page Sign in or register to comment Complain about this comment (Comment number 1) zzgood programme Michael but I sense that you muffled the transition from Roman to Anglo Saxon England You said at one point that the native Brits (pre-Anglo-Saxon) were Celts which is dubious; exactly who and what the Celts were is much disputed that the body might have been not only from a pre-Anglo Saxon family but from a pre-Roman one You said that a river name was the same as that in Denmark whence came the Angles; and later that the language of the Celts was replaced by that of the Anglo Saxons and so we came to speak old English You did not suggest a major Anglo Saxon invasion post the Romans and I think it is becoming accepted that there wasn't one; that there was a migration from across the North Sea of Frisians and maybe Danes (Angles) is almost certain but that was a continuation of an ancient movement which certainly pre-dated the Romans and continued during their occupation and may well go back to Doggerland; possibly this migration included tough gangs able to impose themselves as rulers in Eastern and Southern England but there is nothing in the archaeological evidence to indicate a mass misgration into England (nor out of Frisia etc) So what is the evidence for Anglo-Saxons who were not just a continuation of the native people of England the same people as under and before the Romans now coming to the surface with a modified culture You will know about language displacement and these points suggest that there was insufficient new settlement to bring about a language replacement inside 200 years (or less) The normans failed to displace English; Norse hung on in Orkney into the 17th century; and it is likely that the language of England did not change substantially under the Romans and continued during the so-called Anglo Saxon period Complain about this comment (Comment number 2) I thorougly enjoyed the first episode of Michael Wood's Story of England and am very much looking forward to following the whole series Mr Woods might be interested to know that (largely out of a passion for history) we (WAG Screen) recreated and filmed the famous series of images of everday life from the Luttrell Psalter The process gave us an amazing insight into medieval life from ploughing with a team of oxen to the way clothes were cut I have also just been re-discovering In Search of the Trojan War which really stands up to the test of time - any chance of an update Complain about this comment (Comment number 3) I really enjoyed the programme last night and will watch the ones yet to be screened Knowing that my family had once lived in Kibworth and that my Great-Great Granddad had a pub there made it especially interesting...and then there you where in that pub.... You also featured someone who I suspect has to be a distantly related...maybe I'm more Viking than I thought too I'm sure that this wasn't the core intention of the programme but great for me to see a slice of my very own 'who do you think you are' Complain about this comment (Comment number 4) Loved the first episode and am a huge fan of Michael Wood Complain about this comment (Comment number 5) This sounds wonderful...any chance it will show up on BBC America?? (Along with David Tennant's "The Single Father"?) So many wonderful programs on BBC...much better than some of the network stuff on American TV...(and cable fare Complain about this comment (Comment number 6) like all others,is totallyruined by unnecessary inane and intrusive music,which adds nothing tothe programme and almost drowns out the informative dialogue.If the music addicts cannot do without music perhaps the BBC can provde the rest of us with a "red button" facility Complain about this comment (Comment number 7) when are we going to see repeats of Eric Bloodaxe et al from the 1970s That would tie in nicely with the Viking parts of the Kibworth story Complain about this comment (Comment number 8) Michael Wood has a superb and unique enthusiasm which captures the viewer and brings his programmes to life Complain about this comment (Comment number 9) As a result of background noise I am unsure of the "rare name" you mentioned Was it Maerered?I only know of one:-Husband: Llewelyn ap Iorwerth Prince of Wales (AFN:GS56-CC) b.1173 Aberffraw Castle Lord of Cardigan in Ayron.2nd Wife: Tangwystl of Rhos Tangwystl Verch Llywarch (AFN:91QG-KH) b.1168 Rhos Denbighshire PedigreeChild: Gladys Dhu m 6 Aug 1246 I am also sorry the BBC are so ill-mannered that they try to drown out your voice with unwanted noise/muzak/music? Complain about this comment (Comment number 10) I enjoyed watching this programme and I am struck by "Richard's" comments above I am not an expert but I thought it odd that you referred to the Anglo-Saxons coming to Britain and Anglo-Saxon was a specifically Britain-based construct And was the non-German language spoken pre-Angle and Saxon invasion (whose existence Richard doubts - can you give us some refs RICHARD?) really to be described as "Welsh" In places in this programme there were some lapses into English sentimentalism (e.g "finding out who we really are") We are who we are there's no "really" about it My sources are mainly reading loads of stuff about the English language e..g plus Norman Davies etc.Oh yes and CROWBOLD the "music" intrusion like in virtually everything the BBC does nowadays Someone who works at the BBC told me that they have teams who work on producing "styling" "background" etc for programmes They have a name for it like "context" or "colour" which presumably includes this awful music Complain about this comment (Comment number 11) As someone living in Kibworth I may be biased but I think the program was excellent and I look very much forward to the next installment I cannot understand the comments about the music I loved the way that at every turn where possible local people had involvement with this program It is also really wonderful when people who have little knowledge or interest in history have now become interested because this program has captured their imagination and made it come alive and relevant to them for today Complain about this comment (Comment number 12) KIBWORTHIAN; sure the local effort was great and shows that people will work together and stick with something when they have the chance to create something Just the awful BBC backup music that runs behind virtually all speech and certainly when you get to a shot of (say) a field It is as if the BBC is saying "this shot of a field is highly evocative - now come on viewers We are smart enough to spot where significance lies without the beeb playing a symphony in the background Complain about this comment (Comment number 13) As somebody living in Kibworth Harcourt and who has followed the progress of this TV series from its beginnings in the Kibworth Grammar School Hall on Saturday 25th July 2009 with Carenza giving instructions on how to dig a hole (sorry - pit!) I am so pleased by the final product.We had seen a short 3min but having a whole 60 minute episode was spellbinding I was so pleased I chose to watch it in the Coach & Horses along with friends and neighbours The atmosphere was electric as every familiar face was greeted with cheers and I personally think the music was just right.Very well done Michael We got to know you all so well over the 15 months you have been visiting The BBC have a superb series of programmes about our villages so thanks to everyone involved from the villages for helping make it Complain about this comment (Comment number 14) It adds to the atmosphere of the programme Complain about this comment (Comment number 15) through & through an avid fan of history (& a Viking); I would like to congratulate Michael Sally and everyone connected with this production It is absolutely brilliant and I can't fault it one bit All of you became part of our extended family over the past months and we will miss you all.Wishing you every success with "The Story of England" and your future productions.Thank you again and see you soon Complain about this comment (Comment number 16) A fascinating programme,I look forward to the following episodes It occured to me that the majority of families taking part seemed to fit into a pattern If their ancestry and DNA was examined I guess that very few would fit in with villagers of Kibworth who had lived there 50 Perhaps they wouldn't have much connection with the villagers of the pre 1970s The majority seemed to be a reflection of the pattern of internal movement of late 20th century England [and to a lesser extent the rest of UK rural life] -middle class incomers A few individual's names and DNA were traced back through the centuries but they did not seem to be representative of the amateur archeologists as a whole who seemed to make up the majority of participants. Complain about this comment (Comment number 17) Fantastic start to this really exciting series It was so great to see how Michael and his team brought together a focus of history that is truly unique I feel proud to be involved in a community who can call themselves English in the true sense of the word Complain about this comment (Comment number 18) It's terribly frustrating, for a Leicestershire family-history researcher such as me, to know that this series exists, without being able to view it. Is there any way of obtaining a DVD version of the series?William Skyvingtonblog https://skyvington.blogspot.com [Personal details removed by Moderator] Complain about this comment (Comment number 19) Absolutly superb programme it follows that anything Michael does is brilliant but why oh why the music.Will it be issued on DVD.Like His other programmes I like rewatching them Complain about this comment (Comment number 20) I moved to Kibworth about 10 years ago so I can just about call myself a local It's a place where I immediately felt comfortable and looking back I think that is because of it's complete Englishness As a proud Englishman I had found somewhere that represents me Michael Wood and the BBC have done a great job from what I have seen so far in bringing that Englishness to life pubs and institutions but most of all the people warmth and bloody-mindedness are all in evidence here as is,I have to say These things make me proud to be English and are of course in evidence in many places up and down the country In a globalised world it is more important than ever to keep hold of the sense of community that these shared traits and values create Thanks to the BBC for the series and I hope the rest of the country enjoys it as much as we do in Kibworth Complain about this comment (Comment number 21) the big surprise was the conversation with the ploughman a few lines of Anglo-Saxon English about a topic I knew it didn't sound so different from the voices of the pre-wireless generation that I recall from my childhood I could catch the gist of it without needing to read the subtitles.And seeing that blending of languages in the naming of the landscape I wonder if that has happened in other parts of Europe The classic example (although there's doubt it exists) is "Torpenhow Hill" There's certainly a viullage of that name near Bothel in Cumbria Complain about this comment (Comment number 22) Enjoyed the programme very much and looking forward to the rest of the series However Michael repeated the current trendy hypothesis that the Anglo-Saxons were very much in the minority in "dark age" England and that the majority of the population were British In spite of the fact that there is hardly a trace of Welsh in the English language and there are few if any Welsh place names in Leicestershire Michael maintained that by the 7th century Welsh was being replaced by English in Kibworth Can we have some evidence for this statement bearing in mind that minority invaders of England such as Vikings and Normans gave up their native tongues and adopted the indigenous language of their adopted country whereas the Anglo-Saxons most certainly did not Complain about this comment (Comment number 23) Having long been a fan of Michael's work in the medium of televised history I can only say that this programme once again demonstrates his absolute mastery of the form - his ability to fuse fact and feeling in his presentation is a unique gift and he seems to offer an insight into that distant era when history was as much the domain of the storyteller as that of the 'academic' - as he breathes life into long-dead personalities both humble and grand.The participation of present-day Kibworth residents in the unfolding story is a further sensitive gesture - and it is apparent that the entire community was swept up in the experience.A "national treasure" (to use that dread phrase) indeed.. Complain about this comment (Comment number 24) Dear michaelGreat programme but come to Minster-in-Thanet in Kent founded 697 where St Augustine landed in 597 AD from Rome Your idea of programme is excellent but we here go back to Roman My own house is at least Elizabethan with a well in our kitchen ! our church Minster is where the word Minster was coined At present they are building a dual carriageway and found bronze,& stone age burials sites At Cliffs End there was a Bronze age Princess buried and its older than Kibworth and we have Roman villas as well Near here the Gold Chalice was found worth millions This is where the Romans first landed in England at Richborough When I saw your programme I felt you are missing something You can even see the beginning of the first Roman road actually still in situ !!!!!!!So think about our area as one of the Earliset in the UK Seasalter where our ancestors first made salt comercially by boiling seawater on charcoal vats.There is so much here in ThanetCheersAlan Jones Complain about this comment (Comment number 25) Brilliant programme.Especially impressive is your pottery expert Complain about this comment (Comment number 26) If the rest of the series is as interesting and informative as this when we get to the inevitable chapter about the racial invasion of England from June 23rd 1948 this could be presented honestly and without "celebrating diversity£ meaning as an invasion that the English have been restrained from ending by disloyal elites But that history will never be written if the invasion succeeds Complain about this comment (Comment number 27) I agree with Guessedworker's point about the absolute need for honesty especially with regard to historic events - but think it has been reasonably established that there is only one extant race of humanity which originated in Africa 200,000 years ago and "invaded" the rest of the planet as circumstances allowed or demanded The parochial perception that some unspecified "local we" has a right in this vicinity to prevent some equaly undefined "foreign they" from joining us is erroneous We are all direct descendents of Black Africans however blonde or arayan we have become To deny access and hospitality to our relatives is as bad-mannered and wrong-headed as the beligerent and murderous mode of arrival of some of our historic forebears Complain about this comment (Comment number 28) especially the part where the old English and English words "loaned" from other languages came up.Some words are about the same as in Flemish or some local dialects.Shame they don't produce this kind of programme for Flemish television Complain about this comment (Comment number 29) Real fun again this week!I had stopped research into the history of my family years ago when I got to the 1860s and placed my Great-Great Granddad at the Coach and Horses as I didn't want to end up with just a list of names with no real meaning... but watching the programme last night and being shown 'my family' were also there and prominent in the map from the 1260s was a real thrill Also pleasing is that the present villagers are so involved and obviously enjoying it Complain about this comment (Comment number 30) A good programme refreshingly free from the silly gimmicks tricksy camerawork and endless repetition so common on modern TV documentaries Complain about this comment (Comment number 31) we came to live in Kibworth nearly 20 years ago and we have been involved in the making of this wonderful series I have also been researching our family history hence my surprise when I found out that 150 years ago my ggg grandfather was living less than 20 miles away as a paper maker and my husbands ancestors appear to of been living in Kibworth 350 years ago both our families were of humble beginings the "type" of people that have always lived in Kibworth This series portrays the evolution of our ancestors - the English people and how the village has evolved in consequence It has been a genuinely memorable and enjoyable experience for all of us Thank you to Michael and all at Maya Vision Complain about this comment (Comment number 32) Just reading the accompanying book and I'm afraid there's something in it I think is wrong The Grammar School did not cease as an entity in 1964 In the Leicestershire re-organisation it became a comprehensive Upper School (14-18) and moved to Oadby In the college reception are several reminders of the school's past including a board listing all of the past head teachers The school's website also states it "was formally an old-established grammar school in Kibworth dating back 600 years"The High School in the village used the old Grammar School buildings until the 1990's with the old Head Teacher's House (now converted to flats) being the music department The students used to have to walk across the village between lessons.I know this is too late to change in the book but I guess you are still putting the finishing touches to the final episode (judging by the cameraman taking sunset pictures in the High Street last night!) and so this information might still be useful to you Complain about this comment (Comment number 33) but please when is the BBC actually going to launch BBC One HD on Freeview We were told Autumn 2010 in your July press release - well here we are in the autumn but no more news Having also just read in a separate blog that all BBC programming will be produced in HD by April next year it's clear that ALL BBC programming needs to be broadcast in HD - please give us BBCs Two Three and Four HD as well on Freeview and be quick Complain about this comment (Comment number 34) I work in the upper school in Oadby that grew out of Kibworth Grammar School successful (with consistently among the best results in Leicestershire) and multi-ethnic (with over 50% of the students being Asian) you will know that much of the City's prosperity has been built on the entrepreneurial drive of Asian immigrants The Asian community started in the middle of Leicester I trust that with Kibworth being a nice place to live that movement will continue and that people from the suburbs This will confirm that Kibworth is not a historical oddity it shows that to be English is to have roots from many races Arguably it is the way that we have adapted and grown as a village that has made us strong As someone who has lived in the village for 17 years I know that increased diversity in Kibworth,in the long run Complain about this comment (Comment number 35) Excellent - superb - highly informative .I've sent iplayer links to friends in America but it dont work over there They are anxiously waiting to view it on - BBC America - I'm afraid short clips on PBS wont do justice to this program Complain about this comment (Comment number 36) Unlike 'silence-please' (Comment 7) I think the music is a wonderful backdrop to the excellent series and I'd like to know more about it please Complain about this comment (Comment number 37) What a great idea: to reveal the history of England through a microcosm I am thoroughly enjoying this series and find myself deeply moved by it in a way had I not expected.Wonderful lush landscapes and golden interiors - a feast for the eyes as well as the mind And I completely agree with Paul Barrett (comment 37) about the music and how it complements the series Complain about this comment (Comment number 38) Really enjoying the series (not least as I've been tracing my own family history back to a village in Cheshire not dissimilar to Kibworth) Please try to persuade the Beeb to post online the archive material you are referencing too I’d love to see the whole of the programme (Chronicle/Timewatch?) on the Biddle’s Repton Viking dig again Complain about this comment (Comment number 39) getting the local people involved (yes I'm biased I'm from a Leicestershire village too) Complain about this comment (Comment number 40) Hello all, thanks for your comments. Regarding a DVD of Story Of England - William Skyvington #19 and Malcolm Faulkner #20 - I found out it's being released on 22 November.CheersFionaBBC TV blog editor Complain about this comment (Comment number 41) Apologies for my late attention to the blog The final picture lock for episode six is today It has been a huge but fulfilling undertaking over little more than one year The evidence for the history of the village has continued to pour in and in the 20th century part of the story has been almost overwhelming: especially the oral contributions of the old people in Kibworth and Smeeton: memories of the thirties not to mention the new post war housing estates!Anyway thanks for all the messages of support and appreciation: the team are so glad that so many people are enjoying the series.One or two specific questions richard wrote: What is the evidence for Anglo-Saxons who were not just a continuation of the native people of England?The basic evidence is in the DNA: estimates of the Anglo-Saxon element in our DNA vary ( try eg Stephen Oppenheimer’s The Origins of the British David Miles’s terrific The Tribes of Britain; Brian Sykes’s Saxons Vikings and Celts; and the UCLA genetics team’s website etc ) but no one thinks their contribution to our DNA is likely to have been more than a ten-fifteen per cent addition So they are armed elites establishing their ‘kingdoms’ across lowland Britain and language change comes with them in the eastern and central parts of Britain over probably about 400 years.Peter Liddle’s idea in episode one means what it says: that ‘they were the same people’ simply means that the mass of the rural workforce in the 6th-7th c was presumably descended from the late Roman Welsh speaking population As a model for cultural change I find that very realistic and persuasive: remember linguistic change is not the same as ethnicity As for the length of time language change took my guess is influenced by the fact that St Guthlac still heard Welsh in the wilder fastnesses of the Fens in around 700 Crowbold wrote: As a result of background noise I am unsure of the "rare name" you mentioned Was it Maerered?It was Meriet: the most important thegn-landowner in Kibworth in 1066 was Aelfric son of Meriet: an important East Midlands local landowner who features most strongly in the Lincolnshire Domesday but who also had the manor of Wolvey on the A5 in Warwickshire More details on him in the PASE website which enables you to ref every person of whom record survives from Anglo-Saxon England.23 Jofrad wrote: There is hardly a trace of Welsh in the English language and there are few if any Welsh place names in Leicestershire Michael maintained that by the 7th century Welsh was being replaced by English in Kibworth Can we have some evidence for this statement bearing in mind that minority invaders of England such as Vikings and Normans gave up their native tongues and adopted the indigenous language of their adopted country whereas the Anglo-Saxons most certainly did not.See above: the Vikings and Normans of course kept their language for a long time but they lived in a bilingual state: in which Viking speech profoundly influenced English the other way round A propos of this I can remember being a reporter for YTV in Yorkshire in the seventies and up in the wilder parts of Yorkshire the Viking dialect words were still very strong: in Hunderthwaite some shepherds still counted in Danish: yan tan tethera etc; when Barry Hines Kes came out in 1970 it had to be subtitled in London! Cumbrian friends of mine told me long ago that the Lakeland dialect (Norse-influenced) spoken by the Westmorland fusiliers was rich enough for them to make themselves understood in Trondheim in 1940! So language change can be long and slow in more outlying places Now for Welsh: Welsh gets replaced completely in lowland Britain: it is assumed to have been still spoken in the Western Mercian subject states in the Marches like the Magonsaete and the Wrocensaete; it is thought(I am writing from memory now) to have still been spoken in the early 7th century in the Western Mercian Staffs/Shrops borderland (see Margaret Gelling’s The West Midlands) ; As for the length of time language change took my guess is influenced by the fact that St Guthlac still heard Welsh in the wilds of the Fens in around 700 Barrie Cox’s authoritative Place Names of Gartreee Hundred (recently published by the English Place Name Society) records the odd survivals in our part of Leicestershire plus place names like Walton: in English the ‘village of the Welshmen’ In Kibworth itself Cox picked up a very interesting field name in the 17th century Kibworth Beauchamp open fields ?crig or crig: Welsh for ‘hill’ and referring to an important feature ( a huge furlong?) in the open field A survival in farming speech along with all the Viking field names The survival of part of the late Roman field pattern in Kibworth was speculated by the local archaeologist Bert Aggas and recorded in Cicely Howell’s book on Kibworth Harcourt: The assumption is that the 1000 yard long Banwell furlong in particular (where Aggas excavated the medieval ridge and furrow and found Roman pottery in the ridges) was an Iron Age field which never fell out of cultivation It is discussed in my book.Thanks for all your kind comments Complain about this comment (Comment number 42) dear michael woodthank you for showing Kibworth againmy mother was born at the old swan and my granparents lived at marsh drive until they movedmy great grand dad was gordon coleman and it is nice to know that there are still colemans there and that is where i come from Complain about this comment (Comment number 43) I like Michael Wood very much but since I am not English I wish he would not address his British audience as if it consisted only of the English ('we' and 'us' etc) Complain about this comment (Comment number 44) I have always been a great fan of Michael Wood ever since one of his first programmes on Boudicca brought history to life Have already pre ordered The Story of England on DVD and ordered the book.Have also as I live in Malta been waiting for him to make a series on the Knights of St John and the Great Siege of Malta of 1565 Series material if ever was needed and what a story and of course connected with the Order in Britain Complain about this comment (Comment number 45) Without doubt the British Language survived in the Pennines Cumbria and parts of Lancashire long after it died out in the rest of England Portugal and Italy after the collapse of the Roman Empire they adopted the speech of the indigenous population albeit somewhat modified.The fact that this did not happen in England suggests to me that the Anglo-Saxons were not in the minority Complain about this comment (Comment number 46) I've just watched the programme about the civil war and industrial revolution eras at Kibworth and it had a short piece with some Australian researchers looking for information on their relative Charles Beasley.He was sent to NSW as a convict and his name sounded familiar to me Jeremiah Sullivan was assigned to when he arrived in NSW in 1814.Here I am in Brentwood watching a programme about an English village and there on the screen is a descendant of the ex-convict boss of my ex-convict gggg-grandfather!Spooky Complain about this comment (Comment number 47) I feel that when you are perusing the ancients papers you discover and report on These are precious unique documents and will decay the more you turn the pages and finger acid comes into contact with them.Your example will encourage others to respect and preserve our archives Complain about this comment (Comment number 48) with episode 6 fast approaching I thought I'd better say how excellent this series has been I hope that it wins many awards (it deserves it!!) Again I would like to thank everybody connected with it (including my fellow parishoners) I know that I am related to Cosmocyberpuss Michael we have taken your team and yourself to our hearts and you are welcome back at any time just let us know when you are on your way and we'll pop the kettle and toaster on !!!Kind Regards W Complain about this comment (Comment number 49) and am disappointed that ir's is now finished I would love to see more programmes along similar lines Complain about this comment (Comment number 50) There was one item in the final programme which is incorrect It concerns a brief mention of the 'landgirls' during the war and showed an even briefer image of a Ferguson TE20 tractor The implication was that the tractor was used during the war In fact the first TE 20 did not come off the procuction line at Banner Lane in Coventry until 1946.DavidP Complain about this comment (Comment number 51) A totally relevant and accessible way of exploring 'our' history and easy to see why Kibworth was chosen It would also be interesting to know which other locations around Britain were considered initially.Especially poignant for me in the last programme were the descriptions given of a few residents during the Victorian era The description given of Mrs Coleman was instantly recognisable to me and could easily have been a description of her granddaughter nearly 50 miles away.Wayne wondered if we may be related Complain about this comment (Comment number 52) I dont think the Angles and Saxons came to England after c450 AD but that there was a continuous movement of people from nw europe into eastern england from the time Doggerland sank so that the people of the two areas are largely one frisian is still the nearest language to English The reference I can offer is Phillip Oppenheimer The Origin of the British People (I think) My argument pre-dates my reading of his work My argument derives from Renfrew's Archaeology and Language and my growing belief that it was impossible for a small number of nw European incomers to destroy the english language in about 150 years Complain about this comment (Comment number 53) With reference to last nights Story of England 8min 5sec into the programme Prof Chris Dyer refered to an amount recorded as to the value of 2 chairs and a cupboard as 3 shillings adding the comment "They were not big spenders on furniture." Surely 3 bob was a considerable sum of money then Later reference was made by the prof to a dowry of 20 shillings giving further weight to my assertion that 3 bob was a very significant sum of money Complain about this comment (Comment number 54) What a wonderful way of recounting our peoples history the methodology of the programme is such good History Every episode has made me think wow thats us Complain about this comment (Comment number 55) Well Done BBC and Michael Woods....I've really enjoyed this series,although missed one episode as it was not on BBc 2 every week Hope the whole programme will be repeated soon and that it will come out on DVD.I'm sure the people of Kibworth must have gained so much from taking part What a good idea Michael ....such an interesting way to tell the history of England.Agree about background music....it spoils so many of the programmes I enjoy watching ...please stop doing it Complain about this comment (Comment number 56) This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain Complain about this comment (Comment number 57) Wonderful programme as always by Michael Wood....he brings history to life I bet the children of Kibworth will never forget being involved Look forward to other interesting programmes Well done Michael and the BBC for giving us quality Complain about this comment (Comment number 58) I thoroughly enjoyed the series but the last programme showing second world war soldiers singing 'we are the Leicester boys' reminded me of my former wife's description of her late father a South Derbyshire coal miner who fought in WW1 in the Leicestershire regiment He apparently told her that at some time in the past the regiment had disgraced itself and the officers kept volunteering for the most dangerous jobs to re-establish it's reputation Obviously I don't know how serious he could have been but he apparently said the no officer would go in front of his men or he ran the risk of being shot in the back However he must have fought at close quarters and could wake up screaming in the night; he said the germans have such blue eyes On Armistice day he would say 'bah' and go to the pub to get drunk which as the last few survivors fade away I don't suppose my late father-in-law's views were unique Complain about this comment (Comment number 59) Hello Michael,Thanks for the great programmes you have been consistently delighting us with This thread may not be the best place to say what I want to say but I could find no other way of contacting you - so hope you will read this one day I own the blu ray of your series 'The Story of India' and loved the wonderful history that you presented in your unique style However I did notice that there was just no mention of the North East of India the land of tea and the one horned rhino unicornis I did feel a unique part of India was left untold The NE part of India has its own unique story and an amazing biodiversity not found anywhere in India or elsewhere and some parts are indeed the fabled Shangri-la hidden from the gaze of the outside world I hope you will take up a mini series one day on this unique region and I am happy to give you all my suggestions and ideas for this Complain about this comment (Comment number 60) Is it possible to get this series in the US I follow practically everything Michael Wood does and as a media historian he's top of my list Would love to know there's some way of viewing this ASAP Complain about this comment (Comment number 61) Jump to more content from this blog For the latest updates across BBC blogs, visit the Blogs homepage You can stay up to date with BBC TV blog via these feeds BBC TV blog Feed(RSS) BBC TV blog Feed(ATOM) If you aren't sure what RSS is you'll find our beginner's guide to RSS useful complete archive These are some of the popular topics this blog covers You're using the Internet Explorer 6 browser to view the BBC website. Our site will work much better if you change to a more modern browser. It's free, quick and easy. Find out more about upgrading your browser here… A former senior employee at Kibworth Medical Centre has been jailed for 12 months after stealing over £184,000 from the surgery Kirsty Whawell defrauded the practice over a six year period between 2013 and 2019 She was sentenced at Leicester Crown Court this afternoon after pleading guilty to six charges of fraud by abuse of position and one of fraud by false representation Kirsty Whawell arrives at CourtPic Andy Carpenter was charged after a complex investigation by Leicestershire Police’s Economic Crime Unit She was sacked from her role when the crimes came to light Detective Constable Neil Edwards said: “This was a lengthy and complex investigation which first came to our attention in 2019 “Whawell abused her position of trust in the medical centre for her own financial gain believing that her crimes will never be uncovered “The evidence against her was overwhelming so she had no choice but to plead guilty to the offences.” A Proceeds of Crime hearing will take place in November There is an appeal for sightings of a missing man after his car was found in Kibworth Shaun Egan was last seen on April 15th in Loughborough although his red Nissan Duke has been discovered abandoned in the car park of Kibworth Grammar School Hall on School Lane Police think he travelled to the Harborough area and have put leaflets through the doors of homes in that part of Kibworth as part of the appeal If you have any information regarding the whereabouts of Shaun call Police on 101 quoting incident 149 of 16 April Members of the public are invited to attend an information event about road diversions required to rebuild two rail bridges in order to increase journey times between London and Sheffield Network Rail is rebuilding Station Street bridge Newton Harcourt as part of a £70m investment to speed up journey times on the Midland Main Line the new bridges will provide the extra headroom needed for trains to travel at higher speed as the forces involved mean trains tilt to one side as they pass through curved sections of track and help to accommodate future installation of overhead line equipment as part of the proposed electrification of the line between Bedford and Sheffield providing better value for money and minimising disruption An information event for the affected villages will be held at Kibworth Village Hall Members of the team from Network Rail and Harborough Council will be on hand to answer questions Network Rail acting route managing director said: “This work will deliver quicker journeys for the ever-growing number of passengers on the Midland Main Line helping to bring the region’s biggest economies closer together Our longer-term plans to upgrade and electrify the line will transform our diesel railway into one of the most modern in Europe providing more seats “We thank people in advance for their patience and will continue to work closely with Leicestershire County Council Harborough District Council and local parish councils as we continue our plans to build a better railway for the East Midlands.” Station Street / Church Road bridge in Kibworth will close temporarily to all road traffic from Monday 9 September to Sunday 22 December 2013 A temporary footbridge will be provided to maintain access the majority of the time for pedestrians and cyclists Access from the north and south to the properties located on Church Road and Station Street will be maintained throughout A diversion route has been agreed with Leicestershire County Council and signage will advise motorists to use Fleckney Road and Warwick Road to cross the railway The Square bridge in Newton Harcourt will close temporarily from Monday 9 September to Friday 13 December 2013 Network Rail has notified residents and is continuing to work with local authorities to raise awareness of the bridge closure The information event takes place on Tuesday 13 August 2013 It will be staffed by Network Rail and local authority staff to help answer questions or queries the alternative route for vehicular traffic will be:- High Street Residents and businesses are encouraged to contact Network Rail’s 24 hour helpline on 08457 11 41 41 if they have any questions or tweet @NetworkRail Network Rail is increasing the line speeds on the Midland Main Line as part of a commitment to speed up journeys and will cut up to 8 minutes between London and Sheffield Line speed increases are being made between Leicester and Trent South Junction Two bridges are also being rebuilt in the Northamptonshire area Network Rail would normally provide the additional clearance by lowering the track level under the bridges rebuilding the bridges will provide the space needed for trains to travel faster as well as room needed for future installation of overhead line equipment as part of the proposed electrification of the line between Bedford and Sheffield Network Rail plans to upgrade and electrify the Midland Main Line between Bedford and Sheffield subject to approval from the Office of Rail Regulation in October 2013 quicker journeys and cleaner and quieter trains Current plans are to electrify to Corby by 2017 Derby and Nottingham in 2019 and to Sheffield in 2020 to grow and expand the nation's railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced - a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years