Bitteswell
{{Short description|Village in Leicestershire, England}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2022}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2022}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name = Bitteswell
| civil_parish = Bitteswell with Bittesby
| country = England
| region = East Midlands
| coordinates = {{coord|52|28|05|N|1|12|42|W|region:GB_scale:20000|display=title}}
| os_grid_reference = SP536858
| post_town = LUTTERWORTH
| postcode_area = LE
| postcode_district = LE17
| dial_code = 01455
| shire_district = Harborough
| shire_county = Leicestershire
| population = 554
| population_ref = (2011)
| static_image_name = Bitteswell Village - geograph.org.uk - 713581.jpg
| static_image_caption =
| constituency_westminster = South Leicestershire
| website = [https://www.bitteswell.org.uk/ Bitteswell Parish Council]
}}
Bitteswell is a small village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Bitteswell with Bittesby, in the Harborough district of Leicestershire in England. It is situated just north of the town of Lutterworth, and in the 2001 census had a population of 454 (including Magna Park).{{cite web | url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=795934&c=Bitteswell&d=16&e=15&g=466015&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1241804431129&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 | title=2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Bitteswell CP (Parish) | work=Neighbourhood Statistics | publisher=Office for National Statistics | accessdate=2009-05-08 | archive-date=26 May 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110526053916/http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadTableView.do?a=7&b=795934&c=Bitteswell&d=16&e=15&g=466015&i=1001x1003x1004&m=0&r=1&s=1241804431129&enc=1&dsFamilyId=779 | url-status=live }} The population had increased to 554 at the 2011 census.{{NOMIS2011|id=1170215255|title=Bitteswell Parish|accessdate=8 March 2018}} It was recorded in the Domesday Book as Betmeswelle.{{cite web | url=https://opendomesday.org/place/SP5385/bitteswell/ | title=Bitteswell | Domesday Book }} The village's name means 'the spring/stream in the broad valley'.{{Cite web|url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Leicestershire/Bitteswell|title=Key to English Place-names|website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk|access-date=14 August 2021|archive-date=30 June 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210630213740/http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Leicestershire/Bitteswell|url-status=live}}
History
The village contains two thatched houses and a number of Georgian dwellings alongside modern houses.{{cite web|url=http://www.visitoruk.com/Rugby/bitteswell-C592-V29409.html |title=Bitteswell |website=visitoruk.com |publisher=VisitorUK |date= |accessdate=2022-02-04 }} Population figures have not altered much since records began in 1801 with a population of 398 was recorded as against around 380 today. In 1841 there was a big increase caused by the building of Bitteswell Hall, north of the village. This brought employment and new families as it had its own farms, gas installation etc., but in the 1920s it was demolished, the land and buildings split up.
The village also had its own airfield; a RAF station called RAF Bitteswell.{{Cite web |url=http://www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk/marg/flying_units.htm |title=Aviation Archaeology - flying units (search for Bitteswell) |access-date=29 March 2012 |archive-date=2 April 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402201739/http://www.aviationarchaeology.org.uk/marg/flying_units.htm |url-status=live }} The construction of the grass airfield started in March 1940 and by August 1941 night flight training was able to commence using Vickers Wellington bombers. By 1943, three concrete runways were completed with connecting perimeter track and hard standings.{{cite book |title=Aviation in Leicestershire and Rutland |location=Hinckley |publisher=Ian Allan Publishing Ltd. |page=36 |date=2001 |first=Roy |last=Bonser |isbn=1-85780-089-3}} After World War II, Hawker Siddeley built a factory next to the airfield, where Vulcan bombers (and many other aircraft) were built and maintained.{{Cite web|url=http://www.controltowers.co.uk/B/Bitteswell.htm|title=RAF Bitteswell airfield|website=www.controltowers.co.uk|access-date=29 March 2012|archive-date=3 September 2012|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120903111110/http://www.controltowers.co.uk/B/Bitteswell.htm|url-status=live}}
Bitteswell has a Grade II* listed Church,{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1292319 |title=Church of St Mary (1292319)|website=historicengland.org.uk |publisher=Historic England |date= |accessdate=2022-02-04 }}{{Cite web|url=https://www.leicestershirechurches.co.uk/bitteswell-church-st-mary |title=Bitteswell Church St Mary |website=leicestershirechurches.co.uk |publisher=LeicesterPhoto LTD |date= 2 July 2014|accessdate=2022-02-04 }} with 13 domestic buildings, two memorials and a village telephone box that are Grade II listed,{{Cite web|url=https://historicengland.org.uk/sitesearch?searchType=site&search=Bitteswell |title=Bitteswell Grade Listed buildings |website=historicengland.org.uk |publisher=Historic England |date= |accessdate=2022-02-04 }} a Church of England Primary School, and two pubs (The Man at Arms{{cite web | url=https://king-henrys-taverns.co.uk/our-pubs/the-man-at-arms | title=King Henry's Taverns }} and The Olde Royal Oak{{Cite web|url=http://theolderoyaloakbitteswell.co.uk/|title=Welcome to The Olde Royal Oak Bitteswell, Lutterworth, Leicestershire, A Country Pub And Restaurant For Eating And Dining Out|website=theolderoyaloakbitteswell.co.uk}}).
Sport
= Cricket =
Bitteswell Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club, established in 1903, that is situated north of the village on Ullesthorpe Road.{{cite web |url=https://bitteswell.play-cricket.com/Aboutus |title= Bitteswell CC |website=bitteswell.play-cricket.com |publisher=bitteswell Cricket Club |accessdate=2022-02-04 }} Bitteswell have 2 Saturday senior XI teams that compete in the Leicestershire & Rutland Cricket League,{{cite web |url=https://leicestershirescl.play-cricket.com/home |title=Leicestershire & Rutland Cricket League |website=leicestershirescl.play-cricket.com |publisher=Leicestershire & Rutland Cricket League |accessdate=2022-02-04}} a Sunday XI team, and a junior training section that play competitive cricket in the Leicestershire Youth League.{{cite web |url=https://leicsyouthlge.play-cricket.com/home |title=Leicestershire Youth League |website=leicsyouthlge.play-cricket.com |publisher=Leicestershire Youth League |accessdate=2022-02-04}}
= Rugby =
Lutterworth RFC was established in 1872, and their ground is situated on the northern edge of the parish boundary on Ashby Lane{{Cite web|url=https://www.pitchero.com/clubs/lutterworthrfc |title=Lutterworth RFC |website=pitchero.com |publisher=Lutterworth RFC |accessdate=2022-02-04 }} and they claim to be the oldest rugby union club in Leicestershire.{{cite book |title=Lutterworth RFC Handbook & Fixtures 2021/22 (version 2) |location=Lutterworth |publisher=Lutterworth RFC |page=9 |date=2022 |isbn= |url=https://s3-eu-west-1.amazonaws.com/files.pitchero.com%2Fclubs%2F6805%2F90SjBXWFQmuLH3yHhcYM_2021-22+Lutts+RFC+Handbook+-+FINAL+version+2.pdf }}
= Tennis =
Lutterworth Tennis club is based on Hall Lane and has a clubhouse with 5 tennis courts and floodlights. The club plays competitive matches in the Leicestershire and Rugby leagues for adults and juniors.{{Cite web|url=https://clubspark.lta.org.uk/LutterworthTennisClub |title=Lutterworth LTC |website=clubspark.lta.org.uk |publisher=Lutterworth LTC |accessdate=2022-02-04 }}
Notable people
- Frederic Watson (1840–1885), cricketer
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category-inline|Bitteswell}}
- [https://www.bitteswell.org.uk/ Bitteswell Parish Council]
{{authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Bitteswell}}
Category:Villages in Leicestershire