Quorn’s Local History

20/10/2026

We often hear stories of the more affluent residents from the villages past but not so much of those from the poorer sector. Sue Templeman has recently added a fascinating artefact that she has researched for the Quorn Village museum. It is titled ‘The story of Eliza Ryder and William Brown of Quorn’. It can be found by following the link: https://www.quornmuseum.com/display.php?id=2653 It tells the story of Eliza Ryder (nee Brown) who was born in Quorn in 1838, and her blind son. They are both pictured in the centre of this old photograph outside their Bank cottages c1900.

19/10/2026

Quorn Conservation Area was designated in August 1977 and extended in January 1991. It covers an area of about 47.5 ha. Village conservation areas are legally protected zones designated for their special architectural or historic interest, where local authorities work to preserve or enhance the unique character and appearance of the locality. Quorn was described in Pigot’s Commercial Directory of 1841 as “a neat and thriving village” and the boundaries of the Conservation Area generally define the extent of the settlement as it existed at the start of the 20th century. The Area includes much of the historic core of the village, focussing on the spread of ribbon development along the four principal roads from the staggered crossroads at Quorn Cross, running east–west along Station Road and Meeting Street, and north-south along the High Street and Leicester Road. There is a broad range of residential and commercial development within this historic core that is representative of the settlement from the medieval period through to the Victorian and Edwardian expansion of the village in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

The conservation area can be a good thing but it needs to be managed. In Quorn there has been and continues to be breeches of the extra property development restrictions in place. Some reported others not. The Quorn Conservation Area also contains an exceptionally high number of Listed buildings. The controls do help prevent ugly or out-of-character developments, protecting green spaces, historic buildings, stone walls, and traditional street layouts. All trees in the conservation area have automatic protection, meaning you need Borough council permission before cutting down, lopping, or pruning them. The protected picturesque, environment helps to make Quorn a sought-after place to live, and therefore increases property values. The designation should help to highlight the local heritage and encourages careful, long-term stewardship of historic architecture and rural charm.

On the down side for residents, there are tighter rules on home improvements such as replacing windows or doors, adding satellite dishes, EV on road charging, building extensions, or altering boundary walls—frequently require planning permission. This often means higher costs for repairs, materials and maintenance often demand specialised, traditional building materials (like lime mortar, timber frames or Mountsorrel granite) and skilled craftspeople, making work more expensive and take longer waiting for planning and heritage officers to review them. Failing to maintain a property properly in the Conservation Area can lead to the Borough Council issuing an urgent works notice, legally compelling owners to carry out repairs.

The Quorn Conservation Area is shown in the map and more information can be found on the CBC website: https://www.charnwood.gov.uk/pages/quorn_conservation_area

18/10/2026

ON THIS DAY - 18 OCTOBER 1922 🇬🇧

The BBC was born.

On this day, a group of leading wireless manufacturers - including Marconi - founded the British Broadcasting Company in London. It was formed at Marconi House on the Strand.

Less than a month later, on 14 November 1922, Britain heard its first ever national radio broadcast.

From a crackly radio in a tiny studio to the world's most famous broadcaster, watched and trusted by billions.

103 years later, the BBC is still the voice of Britain.

Do you remember your first BBC memory? Radio, TV, or News? 🎙️

17/10/2026

15/10/2026

George Gartshore – Quorn Farrier
George was born in 1830 and was a farrier in the days of the stagecoaches. His work took him all over the country and later he became farrier to Lord Stamford, Master of the Quorn Hunt (1856 to 1862), which is what brought George and his family to Quorn. Later he had a blacksmith's shop at the back of the White Horse pub. When the shop was demolished in the 1960’s, they found his old anvil still there. He lived in a cottage opposite Soar House with his wife for over 50 years. The photograph shows him having just finished shoeing Lord Lonsdale's horse, held by a groom. Lord Lonsdale was Master of Quorn Hunt (1893 to 1898). Originally from Wolverhampton, he was employed as farrier to the then Earl of Stamford, and worked for the Quorn hunt for some 40 years. He came from an old farrier family. His father was Sergeant farrier to the 7th Queen's Own Hussars for 14 years, and for 39 years was farrier at Sommerford Hall, Staffs. One of George’s sons served as sergt. shoeing smith with the Royal Artillery, another served for seven years as sergt. farrier In the Prince Albert's Own Yeomanry, C Squadron, under Capt. W. Martin.
It is said that, George Gartshore was a big, strong man and that he was as strong as the shires that he used to shoe. In his prime he could throw a bale of hay onto the top of a stack. It was reported that at the unveiling of the village’s temporary WW1 Memorial on The Cross, in 1917, as the unveiling cloth fell to the ground, someone standing at the side of him was heard to remark that the whole thing was a waste of money. George grabbed the man by the collar with one hand and lifted him a foot off the ground. He pulled his face close to the mans and said, "Don't say that again", and then dropped the man in a crumpled heap at his feet. George died later that year aged 87 apparently remaining in good health up to the end.

Compiled with thanks, using information from the Quorn Village Museum, Old Quorn Tales by Harry Limbert and the British Newspaper Archives.

14/10/2026

This exhibition is well worth a visit…….And only a couple of days left!

Closes Sunday 18th October, limited tickets still available.

14/10/2026

Quorndon was, in the heyday of horse drawn coaches, a busy place, situated on the London to Carlisle highway. There were over 30 stage coaches passing through during the day and night as well as the local traffic. Thanks to Lynne Dyer and her blog (https://lynneaboutloughborough.blogspot.com/2022/03/the-race-of-stagecoaches.html) we were reminded that on Sunday August 7th 1808, two rival horse drawn coaches that operated the 26 miles between Leicester and Nottingham participated in a race.
The ‘Patriot’ coach belonged to Mr. Hart, the master of the Bell Inn in Leicester, the ‘Defiance’ (not to be confused with the Royal Defiance that operated through the village on the London to Leeds service) was operated by highly celebrated rival coach operators and Leicester hoteliers Messrs Pettifore and Co.
Organised public coach races had become popular spectacles at the time, drawing thousands of spectators from all over the region. The people of Quorndon had the chance to view the spectacle and no doubt have a wager. The route required both coaches to change teams of horses half way at Loughborough.
This is how the Saint James' Chronicle (London) of 18th August described it:
"COACH RACE”
On Sunday the 7th (August) a coach called the Patriot, belonging to Mr. Hart, of the Bell, Leicester, drawn by four blood horses, started against Messrs. Pettifore and Co.'s celebrated coach call the Defiance, from Leicester to Nottingham, a distance of 26 miles, both coaches changing horses at Loughborough. Thousands of people from all parts assembled to witness the event, and bets to a considerable amount were depending. Both coaches started exactly at eight o'clock; and after the severest contest ever remembered, the Patriot arrived at Nottingham first by two minutes only, performing the distance of 26 miles in two hours and ten minutes, carrying twelve passengers, Whatever praise may be due to the proprietors of these coaches, for the goodness of their cattle, and the soundness of their vehicles, we cannot compliment them on their humanity."

11/10/2026

The old Bulls Head is one of Quorn’s most iconic buildings, it was built in the early 18c as an inn, which meant the keeper was obliged to provide food and accommodation for people and horses. Stage coaches called here to take advantage of refreshments and horse team changes. It continued in use as a hotel until 1939 when its license ceased.

A slate plaque with initials on the building front are thought to be those of a stage coach operator and showing the date 1744. The cobbled entry and internal court yard and remains of the stabling arching which can still be seen. The over door ornate lamp, is now repositioned into the court yard an important feature of coaching inns.

Quorn was on the turnpike and a stagecoach hub for over 100 years but by May 1840 the Midland Railway had arrived via Barrow upon Soar. Although a few coaches continued to operate, business declined rapidly and by August 1842 the Old Bulls Head is to be sold. (Leicester Advertiser 6/8/1842). The glory days gone….