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| Kilsby | |
|---|---|
 Kilsby Main Road | |
.svg)  Kilsby Location withinNorthamptonshire | |
| Population | 1,268 (2020 est) |
| OS grid reference | SP562712 |
| Civil parish |
|
| Unitary authority | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | RUGBY |
| Postcode district | CV23 |
| Dialling code | 01788 |
| Police | Northamptonshire |
| Fire | Northamptonshire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
| |
Kilsby is a village andcivil parish in theWest Northamptonshire unitary authority area ofNorthamptonshire, England.[1] It is situated a short distance south of the border withWarwickshire, approximately 5 miles (8 km) southeast ofRugby. The parish of Kilsby, which includesBarby Nortoft, was estimated to have a population of 1,268 in 2020.[2]
Kilsby's name comes fromAnglo-Saxoncildes +old Norsebýr, literally meaning "child's dwelling", but "child" here probably means "young nobleman".[3] Its church, St Faith's, may originally have been the daughter chapel of the neighbouring parish ofBarby.[citation needed]
The parish's eastern side is bounded by the old route of the RomanWatling Street, and the village itself is sited on the crossing of two former mediaeval drove-routes.[4]
One of the earliest armed confrontations of theEnglish Civil War took place at Kilsby in August 1642: TheRoyalist CaptainSir John Smith led a group of soldiers to disarm the villagers, after the news was heard that they wereParliamentarian supporters. The villagers put up resistance, and in the ensuing fight, several villagers were killed.[5]
Kilsby gives its name to theKilsby Tunnel; a railway tunnel on theWest Coast Main Line. The construction of the tunnel between 1835 and 1838 caused considerable disruption to the village, as more than 1,200navvies lived in ashanty town on the edge of the village, using 200 horses and thirteen steam engines to construct it. The navvies were known for their heavy drinking in the local inns, and on one occasion, troops from the nearbyWeedon barracks were called in to quell ariot.[5] The tunnel measures 1 mile 666 yards (2,216 m).[citation needed]
"Kilsby Jones" is the name by whichJames Rhys Jones is usually known. He was a Welsh congregationalist minister and writer in Kilsby from 1840 to about 1850, when he moved toBirmingham.[6]
The village has grown moderately since the 1960s, with a mix of new housing developments and a degree ofin-filling. It retains a historic core of attractive buildings including some fine examples of Northamptonshire rubble stone construction, and a number of thatched properties. A Conservation area was designated in the village in 2018, and many of the village's more attractive properties are listed for their historic interest.[citation needed]
Amenities in the village include anOfsted "Good" rated primary school, two pubs, The Red Lion and The George and two churches -Church of England andURC.[citation needed]
The Village also has a volunteer-run, community-owned shop in the car park of the Red Lion pub. This warm community spirit is also evident in a number of thriving community groups, including Womans Institute, Brownies, Girl Guides, as well as a good neighbour community support scheme born out of the 2020 COVID-19 lockdown and the Kilsby Kronicle village newspaper.[citation needed]
The two 1830s ventilation shafts of the Kilsby Tunnel designed byRobert Stephenson are topped with circularcrenelated turrets. These structures, visible from the A5 road, arelisted buildings.[7][8]
The village is circa 10 minutes from both Long Buckby and Rugby stations, the latter offering direct services into London Euston in 49 minutes. Between 1881 and 1960, the village used to have a railway stationKilsby and Crick station but this was on theNorthampton Loop about a mile (1.5 km) from the village.[citation needed]
One of the village's more unusual claims to fame is that theA361 road terminates here at a junction with theA5. The A361 runs toIlfracombe inDevon making it the longest 'three-digit' road in Britain. A consequence of these roads is that the majority of through traffic bypasses the heart of the village ensuring the main road through the village is relatively quiet.[citation needed]
Frank Whittle briefly lived at 'Laurelcroft', 1 North Street, until 1949.[9][10]
