Cold Overton
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2014}}
{{Use British English|date=December 2014}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country= England
|static_image= St John the Baptist Church - geograph.org.uk - 760864.jpg
|static_image_caption= St John the Baptist Church
|label_position= bottom
|coordinates = {{coord|52.6822|-0.80334|display=inline,title}}
|official_name= Cold Overton
|population=
|civil_parish= Knossington and Cold Overton
|shire_district= Melton
|shire_county= Leicestershire
|region= East Midlands
|constituency_westminster= Melton and Syston
|post_town= OAKHAM
|postcode_district= LE15
|postcode_area= LE
|dial_code= 01664
|os_grid_reference= SK809100
|london_distance_mi= 85
|london_direction= S
}}
Cold Overton is a village and former civil parish, now in the parish of Knossington and Cold Overton, in the Melton district of Leicestershire, England. It is close to the border with Rutland, and approximately {{convert|3|mi|0}} west from the market and county town of Oakham, and {{convert|1.5|mi|1}} south-west of the A606 road. In 1931 the parish had a population of 133.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10389227/cube/TOT_POP|title=Population statistics Cold Overton AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=26 December 2022}}
History
The village's name means 'farm/settlement on a ridge'. 'Cold' was added because of the village's exposed position.{{Cite web|url=http://kepn.nottingham.ac.uk/map/place/Leicestershire/Cold+Overton|title=Key to English Place-names|website=kepn.nottingham.ac.uk|access-date=19 August 2021|archive-date=19 August 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210819073044/https://ajax.googleapis.com/ajax/libs/jquery/1.7.1/jquery.min.js|url-status=live}}
Cold Overton is listed in the Domesday Book as in the Framland Hundred of Leicestershire, with 12 ploughlands, 17 households, 4 freemen, 8 villagers, 4 smallholders, and a priest. The settlement contained a meadow and woodland, both of {{convert|30|acre|km2|1}}. Lordship in 1066 was held by Ulf Fenman, transferred to Fulco in 1086, with Drogo de la Beuvrière as Tenant-in-chief.[https://archive.today/20141202230349/http://www.domesdaymap.co.uk/place/SK8110/cold-overton/ "Cold Overton"], Open Domesday. Retrieved 2 December 2014
In 1870 Cold Overton was a parish in the district of Oakham. The Syston and Peterborough Railway ran close by. The area of the parish was {{convert|1657|acre|km2|1}} in which were 19 houses and a population of 97.Wilson, John Marius. Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870–72)
In 1826 was founded an “Asylum for Female Orphans” which maintained and educated 20 girls. This orphanage had been discontinued by 1877, and in its place was established a free school for local boys and girls. Occupations in 1877 included eight graziers, four of whom were farmers, a further farmer and a market gardener. Also listed was a schoolmistress, the parish rector, and Frewen family occupants of Cold Overton Hall.White, William (1877); History Gazetteer and Directory of the counties of Leicester and Rutland, pp. 191, 192
On 1 April 1936 the parish was abolished and merged with Knossington.{{cite web|url=https://visionofbritain.org.uk/unit/10389227|title=Relationships and changes Cold Overton AP/CP through time|publisher=A Vision of Britain through Time|accessdate=26 December 2022}}
St John the Baptist Church
The Grade I listed village church is dedicated to John the Baptist. Originating in the 13th century, there were additions during the following two centuries and a restoration in 1889[http://www.achurchnearyou.com/cold-overton-st-john-the-baptist/ "St John the Baptist, Cold Overton"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304061521/http://www.achurchnearyou.com/cold-overton-st-john-the-baptist/ |date=4 March 2016 }}, The Church of England, Retrieved 2 December 2014{{NHLE |num = 1075150|desc = Church of St John the Baptist|accessdate= 2 December 2014}} Inside the Church the north and south arcades have notable Early English carved capitals, showing people, animals and motifs from nature.{{cite book|author=Cantor, Leonard|title=The Historic Parish Churches of Leicestershire and Rutland| publisher=Kairos Press| year=2000| isbn=9781871344257| page=16}} There are medieval paintings on the south and east walls; the images include St Catherine holding a wheel, the Assumption of the Virgin, the Nativity, the Funeral of the Virgin, complete with pall-bearers, and St John the Baptist.{{cite book|author=Rosewell, Roger| year=2008| title=Medieval Wall Paintings| publisher=The Boydell Press| isbn=9781843833680|page=264}}
Cold Overton Hall
{{main|Cold Overton Hall}}
File:The Hall in Cold Overton - geograph.org.uk - 760692.jpg
At the centre of the village is the Grade I listed Cold Overton Hall, a country house of c. 1664 with early 19th-century additions.{{NHLE |num = 1075147|desc = Cold Overton Hall and Adjoining Garden Walls, Main Street|accessdate= 2 December 2014| fewer-links=x}}
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References
{{reflist}}
{{Leicestershire}}
External links
- {{commons category-inline| Cold Overton}}
- [http://www.genuki.org.uk/big/eng/LEI/ColdOverton/ “Cold Overton”], Genuki
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{{Leicestershire|state=collapsed}}
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Category:Villages in Leicestershire