Glen Parva

Glen Parva Manor

Glen Parva is a civil parish in Leicestershire with a population of over 5,000. The population of the civil parish was measured at 6,189 in the 2011 census.[1] To the north it runs into Aylestone, and to the east Eyres Monsell and South Wigston. To the south and west it is not immediately surrounded by development.

It is a largely residential area with no main shopping or leisure centres, although it is situated next to Fosse Shopping Park, which is one of Britain's largest out-of-town shopping parks. There are a few small shops located in Glen Parva itself, mainly being located at 'Carvers Corner'. Here there is a Newsagent, Off Licence, Post Office, Chemist, Barbers, Cob Shop and Accountant. In the surrounding area there is a beautician and another off licence as well as a working men's club which is for members only.

History

The original settlement was undoubtedly near The Ford by the River Sence, which is known locally as Glen Ford; and there is strong evidence of the existence of a medieval village in this area. Glen Parva ("little Glen") is called so to distinguish it from Great Glen (rarely Glen Magna). Under the Local Government Act 1894, Glen Parva became a civil parish within the rural District of Blaby; previously it was included in the Aylestone Ecclesiastical Parish. Glen Parva Barracks, which became an important military installation in the 1960s, were opened in 1881.[2]

Carver's Corner is named after the Carver family, specifically Stephen James Harold Carver & his eldest son Stephen Graham Carver, who owned the row and ran the Post Office & newsagent until the late 1980s.

Amenities

On the local park there are several facilities including recreational equipment, an astroturf pitch with a football goal and basketball hoop, a library and a recently extended and modernised memorial hall. The hall can now host parties, wedding receptions and other events with its improved facilities. There is also a Scout hut located around the back of the hall which is home to the local 62nd Leicester Scout group.

The village has two nurseries and Glen Hill Primary School, which was once split into two campuses: One based at Cork Lane and the other on Featherby Drive, but it was decided that they would be combined on the Featherby site, and Cork Lane's was sold off for housing development.

The village has a young offenders' institute, HMYOI Glen Parva. Although this falls within the boundaries of Glen Parva in Blaby district it is separated from the main village by the Birmingham to Peterborough Railway Line and can only be accessed from Tigers Road South Wigston in the borough of Oadby and Wigston. The Knightsbridge Road estate was built as accommodation for the prison officers working at HMYOI Glen Parva. It now has nothing to do with the young offenders' institute and the houses are all privately owned. There is still a footbridge over the railway which can be accessed via an overgrown footpath behind the houses at the end of Knightsbridge Road. This bridge was used to access the young offenders institute from the estate but it is no longer in use and has a locked security gate halfway across preventing access to the prison's perimeter fence.

Landmarks

The Grand Union Canal and the River Sence both pass to the south of the village. To the west is the River Soar. The Great Central Railway used to pass through Glen Parva. The route has now been made into a paved Shared path, being part of the National Cycle Network - route 6 which leads directly into Leicester's city centre, which is popular for walking and cycling and is also used by horse riders.

Glen Parva Local Nature Reserve is east of the village.[3]

Well-known residents

Sue Townsend who wrote the Adrian Mole books grew up here. It is speculated that many of the locations and characters in her books were based on local places and people. Snooker player Tom Ford, was born in Glen Parva. WW1 VC winner Robert Cruickshank, lived for many years in Glen Parva until his death.

References

  1. ↑ "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 12 June 2016.
  2. ↑ "Billets and Barracks". Green Tiger. Retrieved 18 April 2014.
  3. ↑ "Glen Parva". Local Nature Reserves. Natural England. Retrieved 4 February 2011.
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Coordinates: 52°35.2′N 1°09.7′W / 52.5867°N 1.1617°W / 52.5867; -1.1617

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