496 LOtrGl:t:BORO'OGK (0. N. WlUe:a:~' •. .

11

LOUGHBOROUGH is a thriving and rapidly in­ 1555 to 1559, and at several subsequent times, a creasing borough, it having recently been made a sweating sickness and the plague carried off many of Muuicipality, the second in size, population, and the inhabitants. In 1622 and 1666 there were great importance in the county, the head of a union, fires, which burnt many houses and consumed much Petty Sessional aud County Court district. Here are produce. During the civil war between the King and station on the main line of the , and the Parliament, Loughborough suffered considerably one on the railway, from Lough­ for its loyalty. The King was here in 1643, also in borough to , , and . 1645, with his army, and in the latter year the town The town is pleasantly situated on the western side was plundered by the Parliamentarians, the rector of the Soar, near the border of the county, 11! miles ejected from his living, and the church used as a N. from , 16! S.E. from Derby, 15 S. by W. barrack by the soldiers. In the same year a hailstorm from Nottingham, and 108 N. N. W. from London. did much damage to the town and the corn in the Loughborough, which is in the rural deanery of neighbouring fields, some of the hailstones being as Akeley, and hundred of West Goscote, is a polling large as hens' eggs. There were also violent thunder­ place for the Loughborough division. The navigatiou storms here in 1735, 1747, and 17RO. In the first of of the Soar is brought to the east side of the town by these years the flood was a yard high in the Market a canal, cut about 1776, and communicates with the place. In 1761 a great fire burnt down 13 houses in Trent, Leicester, and the Union Canals. The town is an hour. The manor of Loughborough was held by mainly indebted for its rapid increase to the intro­ five Thanes in the time of Edward the Confessor. duction of the worsted manufacture, by the late Mr. It was subsequently held by Lord Beaumont, Lord Joseph Paget and Mr. John Cook; to the spinning Hastings, the Crown, Lord Bardolph, the Marquis of of angola, for which a patent was iaken out by the Dorset, the Duke of Suffolk, Baron Hastings of late Mr. Cartwright, and to the introduction of the Loughborough, Earl of Huntingdon, and the Earl of lace machine by Messrs. Heathcoat and Lacey, in Moira, who in 1801 sold his estates here to various 1809. The manufacture of lace has been for several persons, and the manor to Mr. T. Denning, on whose years given up in the district, but it is still a death in 1847 it became the property of Mr. Thomas flourishing centre of the hosiery trade, and the factory Cradock, of Quorn Court. In 1780 Alexander Well­ of Messrs. Cartwright and Warners, on the N otting­ derburn was created Baron Loughborough of Lough­ ham road, is one of the largest in the Midland borough, in the county of Leicester, and in 1795 of district, and employs over a thousand hands. The Loughborough in the county of Surrey. The former Nottingham Manufacturing Company and Messrs. title became extinct on his death, but the latter is J. & R. Morley have also large factories, and other held by the Earl of Rosslyn. Courts Leet and Baron influential firms are actively employed in the staple for the manor are held every October at the King's trade, which gives wealth and influence to the town. Head Hotel, when the Constables, &c. are chosen. There are in the town and vicinity many stocking Loughborough parish, which was divided in 1838, frames and framesmiths, several iron foundries, one comprises the townships of Knightthorpe and Lough­ or two corn mills, commodious wharves, and one borough; acreage about 5460. In the township of of the principal bell foundries in the kingdom. Loughborough the acreage is about 4015; rateable In the neighbonrhood are many pleasant walks and value, £72,580, the whole union being £158,662 ; drives, notably those of Charnwood forest and Quorn the population 1881, 14,611, and in 1891 was 18,488. wood. Before tho opening of the railway in 1839, The principal landowners are Mrs. S. P. Herrick, Mr. more than thirty coaches, besides other conveyances, J. D. Cradock (lord of the manor), Mr. W. B. Paget, daily passed through the town. In 1759 an Act was Mr. E. M. Phillips De Lisle, and Mr. E. Warner. obtained for enclosing the open fields, &c., in the A Charter of Incorporation was granted, and a Muni­ lordship of Longhborough, and for the commutation cipality formed in 1888, the following gentlemen con­ of tithes, and much advantage has been derived lily stituting the new Corporation of Loughborough :- the district from the cultivation of large portions of BOROUGH OF LOUGHBOROUGH.-Mayor, Alderman Charnwood forest, which lies to the south and west, A. A. Bumpus; Aldermen, Messrs. Jph. Griggs, J.Y., Two rivulets run from the forest towards the town, M. Barrowcliff, J. Griggs, T. Handley, H. Coltman, and as the surface is generally low, forming the water­ W. E. Burder, and H. Godkin ; Gm~ncillol'S, Messrs. shed of the largest range of hills in the county, G. Adcock, H. C. Adcock, J. G. Cotton, W. Corah, the fertile and extensive meadows on the east side G. Chester, A. Faulks, E. Moss, W. Moss, W. Morris, are liable to inundation in wet seasons. Z. Onions, W. Rowland, W. Tidd, W. H. Wootton, In the Saxon era Loughborough was a Royal vill, H. Beeby, A. D. Bartlett, Wm. Clarke, G. T. Leivers, and according to Leland in 1539, the town was built and W. Hanford; Town Olerk, Mr. J. Jarratt; of tymbre, and was in largeness and good buildillg Borough Accountant, Mr. C. H. Adams; Treasurer, next to Leyrcester of all the markette tounes yn the E. Warner, Esq.; 1lfedical Officer of Health, Dr. shire, and possessed 4 fair well pavid strates. Cam­ Corcoran; B01'ough Surveyor, Mr. A. W. Cross; den in 1586 calls it the ~argest and best built town in BOl'ough Auditors, Messrs. J. Peer and A. P. Noble; the county, next to Leicester, and Burton in 1622 Market Toll Oollector, Mr. T. W. Handford; Rate says: "This town is great and large, well seated by Oollector, Mr. J. Newman; Inspector of Nuisances, reason of the wood and water, adorned with many Mr. W. P. Claridge ; Oaptain of the Fire Brigade, Mr. fair buildings: and a large church." In 1551, from G. Clements.