Welby is a ‘depopulated village’ and ancient parish in north-east Leicestershire, two
miles north-west of the market town of Melton Mowbray. In 2016 it remains one of the
six chapelries of the ecclesiastical parish of St Mary’s in Melton Mowbray.1 Welby had
42 taxpayers in 1377,2
but the medieval village was depopulated in c.1605 by the lord of
the manor, William Digby, and only seven or eight households remained.3 Since 1875 the
southern part of the parish has been transformed by industrialisation, and a failed attempt
at coalmining between 1986 and 1997.
The site “sits within a historically rich landscape with close proximity to prehistoric and
Romano-British activity that could extend within the area of the site.”
So much so the Mercian Archaeological Services CIC are doing a Welby Archaeological Training Excavation in June & July.
More information about Welby can be found here: https://meltonmowbray.churchinsight.com/Publisher/File.aspx?ID=171260
Only the church of Welby still exists today sitting on its own.
This is a small 2 - 3 mile circuit which can be done 2 ways.
One full circuit is on a suitable for wheelchairs and pushchairs as it
follows a tarmac drive but it does have a steep hill to go up no matter which way round you do it.
The spur off through the field isn't suitable for pushchairs or wheelchairs.
Some beautiful views here and you get a small idea of the way the area is really getting into renewable energy. (The Solar Farms are private propety & covered by CCTV, so please don't enter)
Easy circuit of different types of caches.