Welcome to the Great Bowden Village Website
The beautiful village of Great Bowden lies on the edge of the Welland Valley and has a past history dating back to Anglo Saxon times.
Great Bowden still enjoys a village way of life and to this day has retained itself by largely remaining within its ancient boundaries. Surrounded by attractive countryside and separation of settlements land, Great Bowden has a unique relationship with its larger neighbour, Market Harborough.
The village’s picturesque centre consists of beautiful greens, shops, pubs, the village hall and our historic church.
With a population of approximately 1000, Great Bowden has an active Parish Council, a variety of services, a host of clubs/groups, a pre-school and a primary school.
If you would like to know more about the history of Great Bowden and its Heritage, please visit the Groups page. The Historical Society or Archaeological & Heritage Group can provide a wealth of information.
Please view the current Newsletter-2012-Summer which includes articles and news items from local residents.
Great Bowden Events Calendar
Select event for venue & further information. If you'd like an event added please tell us about it here.
News & Information
Deadline for next village newsletter (Summer edition) is May 7th for diary dates and copy.
* Great Bowden Village Festival 2012 - PAGE includes Gallery of events
Wimbledon Is Only Around The Corner!
Tennis Lessons
Tennis lessons are available for children aged 3 upwards
and Adults.
* beginners and more experienced players welcomed *
Market Harborough Leisure Centre / The Dome
and
Market Harborough Tennis Club – Great Bowden Recreation Ground
Contact: Gordon
01858 432192 or 07801 929844
Email: info@minisports.net
FESTIVAL NEWS
Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee Celebrations
June 5th,
Tuesday Bank holiday
Festivities start from 2.00pm onwards
Come and join the village festivities to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond
Jubilee. We will have a fun packed afternoon for you to enjoy with an
excellent programme of activities for all.
Queen of The Village
The festivities will start by choosing our very own Queen for the
afternoon, so wear your most regal outfit and join in the competition.
All ages welcome to take part.
Tug-of War
Next will be a tug-of-war competition between the two village pubs,
The Red Lion and The Shoulder of Mutton. There will also be an
opportunity for anyone to have a go on the day.
Dancing on The Green
The local Ceilidh band ‘Strung Out Sisters’ will be here to lead us in
dancing with a caller to keeps everyone on their toes. Great fun for all
ages. This will be followed by music from another local band to end
the proceedings.
Throughout the day
There will be a bouncy castle on the green and we are holding a
balloon race competition with special Diamond Jubilee balloons.
A variety of food will be provided by Weltons, The Shoulder of Mutton
and The Red Lion throughout the afternoon.
There will be a limited number of tables available for hire from
Weltons (see posters nearer the event) otherwise bring your own,
bring your family and friends and let’s make this an afternoon to
remember.
ʻBEST BEFORE 1066ʼ
FESTIVAL OF BRITISH ARCHAEOLOGY 2012
Sunday 22nd July
Village Hall - 1pm to 4.30pm 
Come along to Great Bowden Village Hall on Sunday 22 July for an afternoon of ancient food.
Great Bowden Heritage have gathered together facts about and recipes used in the
Roman, Anglo Saxon and Viking periods of history. We may try to cook some of the
recipes ourselves for you to taste on the day.
How did they cook food, what did they eat and what archaeological evidence has been
discovered in the way of cooking pots etc? We have some of our own pottery sherds to
show you from the different periods.
We also have tea and homemade cakes for sale, definitely made after 1066!
We want you to take part too and so come along to the childrenʼs fancy dress parade and
competition. Judging is at 3.30 p.m. A prize for the best dressed Roman, Anglo Saxon or
Viking. And you can all do your own excavating in our sandpit archaeology.
Have you found old pottery or metalwork in your garden? Please bring
your finds along and we will identify them for you.
The event will be open from 1.00 p.m. and will close at 4.30 p.m.
August Bank Holiday Weekend Festivities
The Climax of the Great Bowden Festival Year will be the events taking
place throughout the weekend of 24th-27th August.
Friday 24th August
As tradition has it the proceedings will kick off on Friday evening with
Bell Ringing and ‘Walking the Village Bounds’. A pleasant evening stroll
around the village boundary.
Saturday 25th August
Saturday will start with another tradition of ‘Breakfast on the Green’
followed in the afternoon with the Grand Village Fete. The central
greens will be full with stalls of all kinds, dedicated to fun and finding
the most ingenious way of getting folks to part with their money! Craft
stalls will also be present along with traditional fairground rides, other
entertainments and afternoon teas.
Sunday 26th August
On Sunday morning James Shakespeare will be holding a special
festival church service and then the Cricket Club have organised an
‘Alternative Olympics’ - a fun & games afternoon on the recreation
ground for everyone to take part in. There will also be a good
selection of craft stalls to browse and refreshments will be available.
Throughout the Weekend
As well as these events there will be exhibitions on all weekend. The
Visual Arts group will be holding their annual exhibition of local artists’
work. There will also be displays by both the Historical &
Archaeological groups, plus a superb display of flower arrangements in
the church.
As you can see everything is set for a splendid few days. So make sure
you are in the village that weekend or you will miss a real treat.
Great Bowden Pre-School Fundraising
Appeal
Any old clothes or blankets?
Great Bowden pre-school is trying to raise funds for new equipment.
We are working with the Fire Fighters Charity (Charity Registration
Number: 1093387) to collect clothes, blankets, duvet sand shoes,
which they weigh after collection and donate money to the pre-school.
We would welcome any items you may have at all.
They can be dropped off at the Church Hall, Dingley Road during preschool
hours,
Mon, Tue, Thurs 9am – 3.15pm and Wed, Fri 9 am – 12
noon.
If you have any questions please call the pre-school on 0779 047 0411.
Nine Trees Felled
The value of trees
An extract from Harborough District Council’s Great Bowden Conservation Area Character Statement reads: ‘At Nether Green, another of the greens but away from the Main Street, are the buildings of the former kennels of the Fernie Hunt. Nether Green is separated from the main village centre of the Church and Rectory House by a large tree-fringed paddock, bounded by brick and mud walls and forming an important open space’.
No longer is this the case, the development of the old Fernie Hunt Stables has resulted in the destruction of 17 mature trees. Nine of these trees, mature Common Limes, have been felled without planning permission, allegedly, and we await HDC’s investigation into this matter.
These trees were about 90 years old and a few minutes with a chain saw has destroyed a valuable eco system.
Trees provide shelter and shade. Trees filter out atmospheric pollutants. Trees shade out harmful solar radiation and have a positive effect on the incidence of asthma. Trees can assist in the cleaning up of contaminated land. Trees, it has been estimated, can increase property values by as much as 18%, with houses and homes in tree lined avenues much desired and sought after. Ask any estate agent. Trees also mask the intrusive nature of many developments where space is at a premium. Trees provide valuable environmental habitats for a myriad of creatures both large and small. Trees bring the countryside into town. Trees enhance the character of local areas. Trees soften the landscape of hard edged towns, making them greener and more attractive. Trees provide long lived memorials to those no longer with us. John Henry Stokes planted these trees about 90 years ago, providing a living legacy for everyone to enjoy and benefit from today - but no longer.
For the bean counters amongst us we can put a financial value on all of this. A valuation method called CAVAT (Capital Asset Value for Amenity Trees) has been developed and adopted by most councils to put a price on trees. It allows an assessment of a tree's worth, according to its size, health, historical significance and how many people live near to enjoy it. It assesses worth in actual money terms. Using this calculation the monetary value of the nine limes allegedly removed without permission is approximately £330,000.
Unfortunately the maximum penalties that can be imposed in a Magistrates Court is a fine of £20,000 per tree – a pittance in comparison with its true worth, although at Crown Court it’s unlimited.
We can only wait and see what HDC’s action will be. If you wish to contact HDC and raise the profile of the issue please quote planning reference 11/00988/TCA.
Tree Warden
Parish Council News
Clerk to the Council; Mr P Baildon,
14 Jerwood Way, Market Harborough, LE16 8AL
Tel: 01858 446300 harbail@ntlworld.com
VACANCY
Following the District and Parish Elections in May 2011, five of the six seats have been filled.
One casual vacancy therefore remains on the parish council and can be co-opted.
Meetings are every 2 months on the 3rd Thursday and convene at the Community Pavilion off Station Road at 7.30pm - 9.30pm.
Minutes of the last meeting are placed on the Parish Notice-board and Parish Council web site: greatbowden.leicestershireparishcouncils.org {minutes archive}
Please enquire further to the Clerk at the above address.
Meetings for 2012 are:
Thursday 17th May & AGM
Thursday 19th July
Thursday 20th September
Thursday 15th November
LRWT Great Bowden Group
Leicestershire & Rutland Wildlife Trust
www.greatbowden.org/GreatBowdenNaturalHistory - dedicated page for this group
Autumn Programme
Wednesday 19th Sept 2012 - TBA
Wednesday 17th Oct 2012 - 'In search of Rutland's Ospreys in West Africa' Tim Mackrill, Rutland Osprey Project Officer
Wednesday 21st Nov 2012 - 'Tree Identification' Andy Lear, LRWT Conservation Officer
Meetings held at 7.30 pm in the Village Hall
Entrance fees (include refreshments) £1.50 for Wildlife Trust members £2.00 non-members
Bruce White on Tel: 01858 467976, Email bruceywhite@yahoo.co.uk
If you spot any wildlife or anything interesting near your home please contact Gerald Mitchell who is recording all the information. Thank you. Gerald Mitchell - Tel: 01858 462393, Email mtchg6@btinternet.com
Dance Lessons - Great Bowden
LFG Dance offers fun and energetic dance classes where street and contemporary dance styles are combined.
All classes run on Friday evenings at the following times:
4pm-4.45pm (6-10 years)
5pm-5.45pm (11-14 years)
Great Bowden Village Hall.
Classes are £3 each or £30 for 12 sessions.
Laura Green, Tel: 07886 269270 Email: laura@lfgdance.co.uk or visit www.lfgdance.co.uk
Great Bowden - Looking out for all - Neighbourhood Watch
If you see anyone who you think is acting suspicious or vehicles in the village that seem unusual please do call, Crime prevention on 0116 222 2222 or by visiting the Force
website at www.leics.police.uk
If the sighting is of an innocent nature it can be validated. Being vigilant can stop crime.
- Description of the individual/s and location.
- Vehicle registration plate,description and location.
Read all about it!
Since 2003, Great Bowden Heritage and Archaeology Group has been collecting evidence to illustrate the life
and times of the village before the Norman Conquest. We have built a picture from digs, field walking,
metal detection, local records and wider history, compiling three booklets to give you a flavour of the
village in those times.
Free copies have been donated to local schools, but there is a charge to the public to contribute towards printing costs.
£2.50 per booklet or a set of three for £5
Contact Liz Thomas on 01858 466003
A History of Great Bowden School
A very interesting history of our school from 1839-2009 with archive material and photographs leading through to live memories and the present day.
To order a copy please click on the image below to view application form.
Books cost £6 (Book £5.00 + £1.00 P&P)
All proceeds go to the School and the Great Bowden Historical Society.
Lorries Using Village Centre
It is noticeable that heavy lorries are continuing to use the village as a through-route and in particular ignoring the lorry restriction on Dingley Road. The only way for the village to make an impact on this problem is to complain and the more people that do so the better the effect.
All that is required is to provide in written form to the Police Inspector, MH Police Station is a short note providing:
Date/time of incident
Description of lorry: type / colour of vehicle, owners name and if possible the registration number.
Direction of Travel: from or to Corby
Road being used: particularly Dingley Road
View up Station Road
Archive
* Population figures taken from the 2001 census give a total of 954 residents within Great Bowden Parish. Since 2001 new properties have been built on the site of the old Countryman pub as well as on Langton Road and more recently the conversion of Bishops House into apartments. Great Bowden Parish 2001 Census of Population.
The Village Web site
Great Bowden’s village web site was created by volunteers who are members of the Compass Group.
Information has been provided by groups and individuals within the village as well as suggestions which have shaped it into the web site we have today.
www.greatbowden.org hopes to provide information on groups and services within the village as well as information or links to, travel, tourism etc which may be of use. The much loved Village Newsletters are also available to view.
News items on meetings and events may be submitted to the details below for inclusion.
We endeavour to ensure the information on the site is up to date and accurate but if you do discover that there is a broken link or an error with information provided, please do let us know so that it can be addressed.
Contact us here or email greatbowden@aol.com
Documents available to download on this site are saved in PDF format. You will need Adobe Reader to view them. Click the link below to download the software.
