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Braunstone Park Visitor Centre

© Elizabeth Batt

Braunstone, established in the late 8th or 9th century, stood at the southern edge of the Leicester Forest. First records of the village can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it is referred to as Brantestone or Branstun.

Hugh de Grantmesnil, one of William I barons, was the first lord of the manor. At this time, the village consisted of 8 households and was worth just 60 shillings - approx. $4.80! For 60 shillings today, you could probably enjoy a pint and a half of ale at the local "Shakespeare Inn."

A survey taken in 1299 shows a slight growth from eight to twenty-four households and from the 13th to the 16th century, the Harcourt or Horecut family held the major interest in the estate.

In the 14th century, Braunstone was visited by the plague, several out breaks affected the area and although it's effect on Braunstone is unrecorded, the nearby village of Glenfield was seriously affected.

In the 16th Century, several areas of Braunstone were sold off. In 1579, 150 acres of arable land was sold to the Manner's family and a further 100 acres went to the Bennett family ten years later. The Hastings family who owned the estate in 1596 converted 240 acres of land to pasture, and in 1628 Leicester Forest was fully enclosed, with villagers of Braunstone being compensated for their loss of forestry rights.

The Winstanley family came to Braunstone in the mid 17th century. James Winstanley purchased the estate from the Hastings family in 1650. He paid six thousand pounds - approx. $9,600, considerably more than the $4.80 that Braunstone was originally worth! Winstanley's name is still evident in Braunstone life today - it rests with the "Winstanley Arms," a local tavern.

The Winstanley's went on to be the lords of the manor for nearly 300 years and the majority of the structures present on the park today can be attributed to them.

The 18th century was a period of prosperity for Braunstone. The largest estate at that time was owned Compton and comprised 68 ewes, 25 lambs, 14 cows, 6 heifers, 4 calves and 6 pigs.

During the second World War, Braunstone was utilized for agricultural purposes and what is now the "Memorial Gardens" was used as a military camp. (See Part 2, Braunstone at War.) After the war, due to a severe shortage in housing, people were allowed to occupy the camp until they found homes of their own.

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