Melton Mowbray is a town in Melton borough, in northeastern Leicestershire, England. The River Eye flows through Melton Mowbray. It becomes the River Wreake at Sysonby Lodge. Melton Mowbray has a population of around 28,000 people (2012 estimate).
Human habitation in the Melton Mowbray area goes back to the Bronze and Iron Ages. Archeological excavations have yielded remains of ancient windmills and ironstone foundaries. The site also bore remains from Roman times, when the Romans had a number of roads built passing through the area. Many of the villages here got their names during the Saxon and Danelaw period, between the 8th and 9th centuries.
By the time of the Norman Conquest, Melton Mowbray had grown into a sizable village of some 200 villagers. It was recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086 as the only market town in Leicestershire, making it the third oldest market town in England. The market has been established by 1077, and a royal charter of 1324 established market day as Tuesday, which is still so.
St Mary's Church, Melton Mowbray: Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Meltonmowbray.jpg Author: Kev747
Melton Mowbray remains a village into the 20th century. It hosted a Royal Air Force base from 1942 until 1964. Today it remains a small market town renowned for its rural delights such as pork pie and Stilton cheese.
Melton Mowbray claims to originate the term "paint the town red". This goes back to 1837, when the Marquess of Waterford and his men, having returned from a successful hunt, and founding several tins of red paint, decided to paint it on the buildings along High Street. Traces of the red paint can still be seen on doors of the older buildings today. The claim that that term comes from Melton Mowbray is however disputed, as some dictionaries claim that it originated in the United States in the 19th century.
From London, take the M1 motorway to Junction 21, then continue on the A5460 road to Leicester. From Leicester, take the A607 road heading north to reach Melton Mowbray.
Places of Interest in Melton Mowbray
Melton Carnegie Museum: Museum occupying the former Andrew Carnegie Library that was built in 1905. Opened in 2002, it exhibits items related to the social and economic history of Melton, including things to do with Stilton cheese, pork pie and fox hunting.
St Mary's Church, Melton Mowbray: Anglican parish church, the largest and most elegant parish church in Leicestershire. It dates back to the 13th century.
Stapleford Miniature Railway: Miniature train built in 1958 at Stapleford, near Melton Mowbray.
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