Conservation Areas in Harborough district - Kibworth Beauchamp Conservation Area

Kibworth Beauchamp Conservation Area embraces the historic core of the village which has now been surrounded by extensive 20th century development. The increased population, which the housing estates contribute to the settlement, influences the character of the Conservation Area. The majority of the many services, shops and facilities for the settlement are located in the Conservation Area such that it has almost the characteristic of a small town. The Conservation Area excludes the 20th century housing estates and the late 19th century ``development to the west, but includes the former Grammar School (founded 1726) and its grounds now developed for housing. It also extends across the railway line to incorporate the Villas, (3 pairs of large Victorian semi-detached dwellings) facing south across an area of open land to the village and not fronting any road. The existence of the railway has influenced the development and function of the village. The former railway station (now closed) and station yard are included in the Conservation Area. Kibworth church, shared with Kibworth Harcourt but physically detached from the village core, though now within the the continuous built-up area, is not included There are no farms or apparent former farmsteads in the village centre although a number of the larger houses on the south side of the High Street, as No. 66 or No. 14 may have been farmsteads and still have outbuildings leading back from the High Street. The south side has a number of large 18th century red brick houses fronting the street. The 16th century rendered Manor house, though also fronting the street actually faces southwards away from it. These all overlook large gardens and grounds behind them.

The focal point of the village is The Bank, an area where the three principal roads meet, having in its centre a raised circular planted area within a granite wall and a distinctive multi-headed lamp post in its midst. On its south side facing it are the large red brick 18th century houses characterising Kibworth, on its east side curving round are a group of multi-dated buildings, now shops and services, which merge into a row of ornate late 19th century terrace cottages leading to the former railway station. On the west side in a key visual position is the public library in the form of an unattractive flat roofed temporary-type building. Curving to its west is a group of humbler red brick cottages, and to its east the early Victorian red brick former village school (now a doctors’ surgery) with distinctive cast iron lattice windows and a central lantern.

A second node is further east where the Smeeton Road and School Lane meet the High Street. These junctions are far less open than the Bank, that to the Smeeton Road turning round the blank wall of the stables to the Manor House. This building with its prominent clock turret, together with the Manor House and No. 33 opposite, impart the character of a village, rather than small town, to the settlement. No. 33, also rendered is a formal 5 bay 18th century house set back high behind its garden. In this area of the High Street there are young trees planted in the pavements.

Kibworth Beauchamp is a village with the services of a small town, its core serving the surrounding rural area. Its character is the mixture of village and small town; the village shown by the large 18th century houses and earlier fronting the High Street together with smaller dwellings and outbuildings; the growth of the village in the 19th century by the terraces of early cottages in Smeeton Road with large first floor windows indicating their former use by outworkers for the Leicestershire knitting industry. The influence of the railway is seen in extensive growth northwards to the railway. This includes the terraced houses of Station Road with their elaborate brickwork, the Railway Arms public house and extending northwards across the railway line to The Villas. The element of the small town is indicated by many functions and services. Stuart House, a large stone and brick house of 1627 stands half hidden behind the later buildings of Station Road. In its grounds is a large sheltered accommodation complex. This is characteristic of Kibworth Beauchamp - a substantial village centre development.  There are two areas of open space and greenness - the area around the former Grammar School and the space in Smeeton Road, opposite the Health Centre, where road straightening has resulted in a green with mature 19th century houses behind it.

Kibworth Beauchamp Conservation Area map