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An Introduction to Lutterworth -
Brief History 1687 - 1996
 The
seventeenth century was a time of traumatic change, not
only for the nation as a whole, but also for the market
town of Lutterworth situated near the southern boundary
of Leicestershire. The first records of the town
establish that the name comes from an early Saxon
settler named 'Lutter'. The area must have been known to
the Romans, as the intersection of the Fosse Way and
Watling Street is within walking distance of, what was
then, a small settlement in a well-wooded countryside.
With the coming of
the Normans, the next few centuries saw the Settlement
of Lutterworth develop into the Market Town of
Lutterworth, serving the scattered villages, hamlets and
isolated homesteads of the neighbourhood. Lutterworth
never achieved prominence as a regional market town,
although some trading of a less local nature did
develop. Before the sixteenth century the
populace, if it can be called that, existed by means of
subsistence-farming. Very few owned any land, they
depended on commonland for grazing their livestock and
supplying fuel. Strip farming was the limited method for
the cultivation of crops. Naturally, from Norman times,
it was subject to the power and whims of the Lords of
the Manor, although none of their Manorial Homes were
close to the town. Some established what might be termed
'Town Houses' in the town, and the Feildings (the local
cottage hospital still bears this name), were a family
who had a house in Ely Lane between 1403-1418 and they
were the ancestors to the Earl of Denbigh. The Parish Church
pre-dates all this. John Wycliffe, the reformer, serving
as its Rector until the time of his death in 1384.
During his life Wycliffe received a certain degree of
protection from John of Gaunt, although this did not
prevent the exhumation of his bones to be thrown into
the River Swift. The Parish Church remains under royal
patronage to this day. The sixteenth
century saw a large increase in the population of the
town, which led to a shift in the way life was
structured. The development of more intensive farming
methods caused a decrease in the amount of labour
required, so the process of 'enclosure' took place,
forcing people from their rural way of life to a more
urban life-style. During this period Lutterworth began
to take dominance over some of the surrounding villages,
becoming not only an area for local trade, but also a
market for exporting wool. This led to the development
of a regular Thursday Market, several shops and the
establishment of several trades eg Tailors, Millers,
Carpenters, Bakers etc. Alongside this industrial and
commercial development, the sixteeneth century was also
a period of politcal change and religious development -
a natural consequence of the social unrest caused by the
displacement of so many people. The development of trade
created a new middle class who were not so beholden to
the gentry or the establishment. The political debate
and civil conflict between Royalist and Parliamentarians
mixed with the religious problems caused a split, with
the Romans adding to the complications. This led to
dragonian measures leading to the Act of Uniformity in
1662. As a result of this over a thousand ministers
refused to confirm - hence the birth of non-conformity
in our land. With this mass expulsion it was natural for
many to turn to commerce and trade. It also led to many
devoted Christians finding ways to express their
convictions despite all the efforts at persecution. Some
compromise had to be found, so the system of licensing
private houses as meeting places for religious purposes
was established. Records show at least five such
premises in the vicinity of Lutterworth and, no doubt,
from these roots came the Independent Chapel, followed
by the Congregational Chapel, and much later, the URC.
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chapter > '1689 to 1720' |
