Place:Appleby Magna, Leicestershire, England

source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names

source: Family History Library Catalog

NOTE: References to Appleby in Leicestershire have been redirected here.

the following text is based on an article in Wikipedia

Appleby Magna is a village and civil parish in the North West Leicestershire District of Leicestershire, England. Until 1889 the parish was simply known as Appleby. Between 1894 and 1974 it was part of the Ashby-de-la-Zouch Rural District.

The civil parish includes, as well as the village of Appleby Magna, the small hamlets of Appleby Parva and Little Wigston (not Wigston Parva located elsewhere in Leicestershire). Since 1974 the neighbouring parishes of Snarestone and Swepstone have been absorbed into Appleby Magna. The parish has a total population of 1,076, with the village of Appleby Magna (or Appleby) being the largest settlement. Historically Appleby was one of the largest and wealthiest parishes in Leicestershire, and the large church is testament to this fact; the village and its population, however, have always remained fairly small.

The village lies on the edge of the ancient boundary between the kingdom of Mercia and the Danelaw but the land has been inhabited from the early Neolithic period. The village developed in the pre-Saxon era.

The village sits on the outskirts of The National Forest and is bordered by the Gopsall Park Estate.

The Ashby-De-La-Zouch Canal passes within a mile of the village, as do the M42 and A444.

Research Tips

• The Ashby-de-la-Zouch Rural District page includes a map illustrating the civil parishes of the district. Appleby Magna is #1 on the map.