Great Glen, sometimes spelled 'Great Glenn,' is a small village six miles south east of the city of Leicester. The soft hills that surround it add to it's scenic charm and it is seen by many as a super place to dwell. Perhaps one it's most prestigious property owners, is none other than the flamboyant Engelbert Humperdinck. Despite owning a home in an elite area of the US, he still classes his Great Glen property as 'home.'
Winding through the village is the 'River Sence.' 'Sence' comes from the old English meaning 'cup' and hopefully it's a never ending one! As with the majority of small villages dotted around the country, all seem to portray immense historical value and Great Glen rises to the occasion admirably. In 1877 it was portrayed as follows:
".......it's township contains 767 inhabitants and 2010 acres of land, chiefly in pasturage; but it's parish is in Billesdon Union, Leicester County Court District, and Gartree Hundered, comprises also Stretton Magna Chapelry, and was enclosed in 1759, containing 800 persons and having 2510 acres of land. .....The Church (St. Cuthberts), in the Decorated style, has a nave, chancel, north aisle, and a square tower, containing five bells. The register dates back to 1585"
{White's History, Gazetteer and Directory of the Counties of Leicester & Rutland, 3rd Edition. 1877}
Vivien herself has historical ties to Great Glen, and although now a resident of Wales, her heart still firmly rests within her village of birth. She kindly shared with me the following:
"My Great Grandfather Thomas Cappell, was born in High Street 14 June 1837, and died 10 March 1939. He was the Parish Clerk, Sexton, Grave digger, Lamplighter, Bell ringer, Birdscarer (paid 4d a week), Framework knitter and Stover (the man who fumigated the houses.) On his 100th birthday, the children from the village school sang to him.
The old village school in Main Street was built in 1846. Sadly it is no longer there having been pulled down in 1967. The crest on the front of the building was the crest of 'The Packe Family.' The Packe Family were wealthy landowners whose motto was 'Liberatas sub Pio' - 'Liberty under a pious king.' Charles William Packe had his initials - C.W.P. displayed on his property, and they can still be seen today on the house of Thomas Cappell. As for the crest of the Packe Family, it now rests on the new primary school.
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