This is the latest of a series of articles written by popular historian Arthur Tomlin more than 25 years ago. Mr Tomlin sadly died a couple of years ago. He was extremely well-known in the area as an artist and historian
THIS compact picturesque little village is near two streams which eventually wind their way to the River Soar. One is known as Watery Gate, where the stream culminates into a ford when it crosses the main road to Earl Shilton.
Thurlaston and neighbouring hamlet Normanton Turville have a combined acreage of 2,980, which makes it one of the largest parishes in the county.
During its long history the village has been blessed with numerous names including Turchitelestone, Thurkelestone, Thurlestone, Thurlstone, Thulston and finally settled as Thurlaston.
There is very little reference to Thurlaston for almost nine centuries from the Roman invasion up to the Saxon period, although it became apparent that the Romans had taught the existing inhabitants many agricultural skills and also the arts of dress, building and the construction of roads.
The first Saxon monarch of England was Egbert whose grandson was known as Alfred the Great. It was from Alfred’s grandson that the village obtained its first name of Turchitelestone, which is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086.
William II became very much indebted to the great Norman Baron Hugo De Grentemaisnell for all the help he had given him.
In recognition of this, he was made Viscount of Leicester, Baron of Hinckley, High Steward of England, and also had bestowed upon him 67 lordships in the county including the lordship of Thurlaston.
Hugo died in 1094 and was buried in France at the monastery of St Ebrulph.
This monastery was founded by some influential barons one of whom was Osmund Bassett who was the ancestor of that noble family who came to reside in Thurlaston at that magnificent mansion known as Bassett House.
In 1265 Simon De Montfort issued a writ for a national assembly and so brought into existence for the first time the House of Commons and a chamber for the Lords.
At this period Lord Ralph Bassett, although residing at Thurlaston also held the lordship of Sapcote, obeyed the writ and attended the first meeting of Parliament.
In 1280, Thurlaston, Peckleton and Normanton Turville answered collectively as one village, and the manors were held jointly by Robert De Champaine and Nicholas De Turville.
By the end of the 14th century there were four distinct manors attached to the parish of Thurlaston, Normanton Turville, Bassett House and New Hall.
After his accession in 1461 Edward IV issued a decree that every Englishman should possess a bow of his own height with which he should practise on every holiday and by not complying he would: “lose a half-penny and some honour”.
The practice ground was the meadow through which the footpath passes from Thurlaston to Normanton Hall.
In 1635, when Charles I came to power the spirit of Puritanism, with its hatred of all places of worship, is believed to have caused great havoc in the village.
Normal crime in villages was seldom experienced but in 1880, Henry Davies, who had just got married, murdered his wife in Church Street and shortly afterwards took his own life.
His wife belonged to an old Thurlaston family but he was a stranger to the village.
The usual morbid curiosity was evidenced on the day of the funeral and an enormous crowd gathered to witness the proceedings.
A great deal of preparation was made in the village to celebrate Queen Victoria’s jubilee in 1887 but a very sad occasion followed in 1889 when the rector’s eldest son, Edward Townsend, passed away at the age of 13 after a very short illness.
Thurlaston, like most other villages, agriculture was the main source of employment but eventually the stocking frame came into existence.
Many of the older cottages, although some have been demolished, resorted to this kind of employment.
During the Second World War a hosiery factory came into being which employed around 20 people.
On the west side of the village was The Holt, a Georgian mansion of some character which was built as a refectory by the Reverend Bruscner in 1845 and occupied by the Bruscner family until 1922.
During the Second World War it was taken over by nuns of a Roman Catholic Order known as Perpetual Adoration, whose premises in London had been bombed.
The parish church at Thurlaston is dedicated to All Saints and has a large tower containing six bells. The first rector was Henry.
In 1220, the village was under the patronage of Robert De Champaine who it is believed was the founder of the church.
The original church may have been a wooden structure but the present building has indications that it was built during the midNorman period.
The tower staircase is very fascinating as it has no outer projection.
The three bays have massive piers and the capitals have many leaf crockets which date back to the 13th century.
The staircase in the pier indi- cates that in the past the ancient chancel once had a roof loft. In the north aisle are tombs in memory of John Turville and his wife (1509).
In the north wall is the effigy of the founder of the church who lies full-length under the arch.
Elizabeth Turville was the last lineal descendent of the Turville family and died in the Hospital for Widows at Ravenstone.
Having survived the destruction of the Roundheads, the church was almost rebuilt in 1778, the south aisle had been demolished, the walls in the nave and north aisle were lowered and the high pitched roofs were then covered by slates.
A new church clock was installed in 1866 which was made by Bensons of London, and prior to this in 1838 the tower was struck by lightning.
At the present time the interior has been cleared of its many coats of whitewash and the beautiful stonework has been skilfully pointed up.
In the churchyard is a remarkable monument to John Riddll who came from Israel on a tour of England in 1861 and on arrival at Thurlaston became ill and died. He was of Jewish origin and was buried just outside the church with a beautiful headstone with the Star of David – the emblem of Israel – curved in a neat circle.
He is believed to be the only Jew to be buried in a Church of England Cemetery in the whole of the country.
Another unusual monument is made entirely of cast iron and is in memory of Florence Wardle who died in 1877 at the age of one. It appears cast iron memorials are very popular in France.
The chapel in Thurlaston was originally baptist and was built in 1787 although hither too from 1837 services were held in a farm barn.
In the late 1970s the chapel became an independent Evangelical Free Church having its first residential vicar, the Rev Nigel Harrison, for 200 years.
The first school in the village was opened in 1800 by Mr and Mrs Hall as a private day school.
This was followed by a national school which was built by the Reverend Joseph Arkwright whose ancestors ere the wealthy Derbyshire woollen textile manufacturers whose mills created the “spinning Jenny” frame.
In 1853, a new £1,000 schoolroom as added and was later followed by an infant school. The school is now Church of England – aided.
The church keeps the building in order and the local authority provides the teachers and the internal effects.
The village once had three public houses but the Blacksmith’s Arms closed in the 50s.
Normanton Hall, which once had its own private chapel, has been demolished while the only remains of Bassett House are its chapel, which has been converted into a private house.
The village hall was erected mainly due to the efforts of exservicemen in memory of comrades who fell in the 1914-18 First World War and was opened in 1928.
Electricity was brought into the village in the 50s and was followed by water mains which were piped to the village in 1953.