Barkby

---

title: "Barkby" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["villages-in-leicestershire", "civil-parishes-in-leicestershire", "borough-of-charnwood"] description: "Village in Leicestershire, England" topic_path: "general/villages-in-leicestershire" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Barkby" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Village in Leicestershire, England ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox UK place"]

Field	Value
country	England
coordinates
london_distance_mi	109
static_image_name	Barkby, near Leicester - geograph.org.uk - 42131.jpg
static_image_caption	Main Street
population	316
population_ref	(2011 Census)
civil_parish	Barkby
shire_county	Leicestershire
region	East Midlands
post_town	Leicester
postcode_district	LE7
postcode_area	LE
dial_code	0116
os_grid_reference	SK6340409818
constituency_westminster	Charnwood
::

| country = England | coordinates = | london_distance_mi = 109 | static_image_name = Barkby, near Leicester - geograph.org.uk - 42131.jpg | static_image_caption = Main Street | population = 316 | population_ref = (2011 Census) | civil_parish = Barkby | shire_county = Leicestershire | region = East Midlands | post_town = Leicester | postcode_district = LE7 | postcode_area = LE | dial_code = 0116 | os_grid_reference = SK6340409818 | constituency_westminster = Charnwood

Barkby is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is situated north-east of Leicester, and only a short way from Leicester's urban sprawl in Thurmaston and Syston. Nearby villages are Beeby and Barkby Thorpe. Barkby Brook is the main watercourse which flows through Barkby. The parish has a population of around 300.

In the 1870s John Marius Wilson stated that Barkby,

:"lies on an affluent of the river Wreak, 1½ mile S by E of Syston r. station, and 4½ NE of Leicester; and it includes the hamlet of Hambleton."

History

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/05/Historical_Map_of_Barkby.PNG" caption="url-status = live}}"] ::

St Mary's Church

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/17/St.Mary's_church_-geograph.org.uk-_2262904.jpg" caption="[[St Mary's Church, Barkby"] ::

St Mary's Church is the parish church, dedicated to St Mary. Earliest records state that the church was built in the late 13th century but its ground undertook extension in 1887. The grade I church was officially listed in June 1966. The church itself contains six bells and a two-aisle nave. The church also consists of a tower made up of four stages and a gothic organ case. Built primarily from ironstone, granite was infused into the buildings structure during restoration work in the 19th century. The presence of the Pochin family is also noticeable within St Mary's church as a number of memorials of past family members can also be found around the church.

Occupations

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/20/Occupation_data_in_Barkby,1881.jpg" caption="url-status=live}}"] ::

However, a significant disparity in occupation between males and females was evident. In fact the 1881 Census showed that females were only present in five occupational sectors within Barkby; the majority being in domestic service or offices. The most male dominated industry at this time was the agricultural sector, where 60 males in Barbky were employed compared to 0 females. However the number of individuals working agriculture decreased significantly by 2011, with only seven Barkby residents now working in the sector. In 1881, the majority of females in Barkby (100) had no specific occupation compared to just 5 males with the same situation, however, this statistic does not necessarily indicate unemployment. In comparison, the disparities in occupation are not as noticeable in 2011, where the majority of both males (16) and females (20) can be found working in the wholesale and retail trade industry.

Population

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fc/Barkby_population_time_series_1801-2011.jpg" caption="url-status=live}}"] ::

Geography

Barkby is situated approximately 5 miles from the centre of Leicester.

Education

Pochin school is the only school situated in Barkby. The primary school was initially founded by the Pochin family in the 1700s, who sought to provide education for the poorest children living in Barkby. The subjects taught in the school at this time were very different to what can be expected in the modern day education system. Needlework, singing and drilling were all subjects taught in the school's earliest days. During this time, the local church helped to fund and run the school, however, due to the Education Act 1944 responsibility for the school was handed over to the education authority.

As a primary school, Pochin school educates children aged between 4–11 years old. In 1869 the main building, which now contains 5 classrooms in total was built. A total of 142 children currently attend the school, from Barkby as well as surrounding villages such as Thurmaston and Queniborough due to its popularity. The school received an "Outstanding" rating on its latest Ofsted report in May 2014.

North east of Leicester sustainable urban extension

The north east of Leicester sustainable urban extension (NEoLSUE) is a proposed development set in the area surrounding Barkby. Described as "locally distinctive, sustainable and thriving new community" the project will entail constructing up to 4500 new homes as well as health and school facilities. A number of green spaces are also proposed to be placed within the new community. The main purpose of this development is to facilitate the ever increasing urban sprawl of Leicester and its surrounding villages such as Thurmaston, reducing housing price pressures in the process. However, many in Barkby are very much against the development. One of their main arguments is the significant increase in traffic pressures on the roads in and around Barkby as a result of the development. All in all locals believe that such a development would threaten the rural idyll identity of the parish.

Notable residents

• Violet Mary Doudney (1889–1952) - teacher and militant suffragette was born in the village

References

References

1. (1870{{ndash}}72). "Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales". A. Fullerton & Co.
2. "Barkby".
3. "Barkby".
4. "Barkby Hall, Beeby Road, Barkby (Grade II)".
5. "Barkby Hall, Barkby". British Listed Buildings.
6. "Barkby".
7. "Church of St Mary, Main street, Barkby (Grade I)".
8. "Church of St Mary, Main Street, Barkby (Grade I)".
9. {{NHLE
10. "Barkby CP/AP through time: Population Statistics".
11. "Occupation (minor groups), 2011 (QS606EW)".
12. "Barkby CP/AP- Current theme: Industry".
13. "Industry, 2011".
14. "Population tables. England and Wales. Vol. I. Index, 1861 Page 65".
15. "Barkby CP/AP: Total Population".
16. "Watercourse Management".
17. "School History".
18. "Our Pupils".
19. "The Pochin School".
20. (December 2013). "A Sustainable Urban Extension to the North East of Leicester: Planning Statement".
21. "Controversial plan allowing 9,000 homes in Leicestershire given go ahead".

::callout[type=info title="Wikipedia Source"] This article was imported from Wikipedia and is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 License. Content has been adapted to SurfDoc format. Original contributors can be found on the article history page. ::