Bottesford – Historic Traces and Landscape

Bottesford combines impressive historical traces with a landscape that can be explored in a variety of ways. Market Cross dates from the 15th century and is made of limestone. The Church of St Mary the Virgin dates back to 1170. Together with bridges, almshouses and earthworks, these features create a destination where history is visible not just in a single building, but at various prominent sites.

Historic Places in Bottesford

Among the notable structures is Fleming's Bridge, a footbridge over the River Devon dating from no earlier than the 17th century. It was built for Samuel Fleming, who was the rector from 1581 to 1620. At Fleming's House, parts of the original ironstone almshouses have been preserved on the ground floor; they date from 1620. Anyone interested in regional architectural history will therefore find several different details here: limestone at Market Cross, a historic bridge and preserved structural elements of a social building.

The hospitals also tell the story of the area's history. The Duke of Rutland’s Hospital is also known as the Bedehouse. The Earl of Rutland’s Hospital is a separate almshouse, founded in 1591.

Easthorpe and Beacon Hill

Easthorpe offers another historical perspective. The settlement includes the earthworks of a medieval village and a high-status manorial complex. The medieval earthworks of Easthorpe are located on the eastern side of Bottesford; an associated ditch system is situated on the western side. This precise spatial arrangement also makes the site interesting for visitors who want to learn about historic landscapes not only through individual buildings, but also through traces of earlier forms of settlement.

Beacon Hill represents the landscape aspect. At 61.37 metres, it is the highest point in the Parish of Bottesford and offers views in all directions. In addition, Bottesford Friendly Garden is a landscape garden created from disused railway land. This means that Bottesford offers both a viewpoint and a landscape garden created from former railway land.

Accommodation and Trip Planning

When choosing a holiday apartment in Bottesford, it helps to first distinguish between a holiday focused on history and one focused on the landscape. Those interested in regional history can select the buildings and traces of settlement specifically as themes for their trip planning. Those who prefer landscapes and views can tailor their explorations accordingly to the outdoor areas and viewpoints mentioned above.

The Bottesford Station Walk begins at Bottesford railway station on Station Road. This information may help you include the starting point of the walk in your trip planning. For families with different interests, it may be helpful to consider the historical and landscape themes separately and then put together suitable ideas for day trips, without combining all the sites into a single route.

Compare Other Places

If you would like to compare other destinations in addition to Bottesford, you can also visit Knipton, Sapcote, Sibson, Croxton Kerrial, Market Bosworth, Melton Mowbray, Castle Donington and Woodhouse Eaves.

For the higher-level travel overview: Leicestershire.