The Victoria History of Leicestershire: Lutterworth

This volume in the Victoria County History series centers on the town of Lutterworth. From before the Norman Conquest to the development of the jet engine, this volume tells the history of Lutterworth, a small market town in the southwest of Leicestershire. A combination of factors ensured the town's success, including its position linking the rich agricultural land of south Leicestershire with the Warwickshire Arden and its natural resources of wood and coal. Lutterworth also played a role on the national stage, first in 1428, when the bones of the town rector, the theologian John Wyclif, were disinterred and desecrated on the instructions of the Pope. Lutterworth also made headlines between 1937 and 1942, when Frank Whittle developed the jet engine in a disused foundry in the town. This book focuses on the people of Lutterworth and the roles they played in shaping the economy, schools, hospitals, churches, and the social life of the community. The evolution and development of the town are described in these pages, from its humble beginnings to the challenges it faces today.