Groby

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Groby (pronounced "Grooby") is a medium-sized English village in the county of Leicestershire, to the north west of the city of Leicester. It is most notable for being the primary residence of Andy Black, the well-known karting icon.

The village has expanded in recent years. The southern side is dominated by new housing estates, but the old village centre still retains some character, with some cobbled lanes and thatched cottages. The main church dates from 1840 and stands on the site of Groby Castle. No remains are left of the castle, other than a slight rise in ground to the east of the main church building.

Groby Hall and Castle are linked to the Grey family, of Bradgate Park - the childhood home of Lady Jane Grey, who was Queen of England for nine days in 1553.

The village was built on the A50 near Leicester, but this road has now bypassed much of the village due to two road schemes in the 1980s and 90s. The village also has easy access to the A46 Leicester Western Bypass and the M1 (J22 North and J21a South).

The village centre

Shopping

The village centre has a few shops, including a new Co-op supermarket, Pricegate, Chaplins (traditional family butcher), a bakery, greengrocers, Cathy Stevens Jewellery, Gordon Davis Chemists, Mark Jarvis, Wilson & Sons Newsagent, Barclays Bank, Alliance and Leicester. There is also a fish and chip shop as well as other takeaways, a pub (the Stamford Arms) and various other shops. The Lawnwood shopping parade has Henson's hardware shop as well as a newsagent, hairdresser etc.

The old quarry in the village centre is now an industrial estate - mostly owned by the company GE Druck Ltd, which makes pressure transducers.

Education

There are various schools, including Lady Jane Grey Primary, Elizabeth Woodville Primary and Martinshaw County Primary. Brookvale High School and Groby Community College are located on a campus to the west of the village, and attract students from Groby and the surrounding villages. There is also a very successful scout troop based on the edge of Martinshaw Woods.

Quarrying

Groby Quarry is located on the narrow lane which leads through to Newtown Linford, and is still used to quarry granite. Lawn Wood Quarry, on the A50, is now largely disused and is being filled in with landfill.

Groby Pool

Groby Pool is located opposite Groby Quarry on Newtown Linford Lane. It is privately owned, by the owners of Pool House. However, there is a public car park (often closed due to threat of itinerants) and it is possible to walk along the side nearest the road, which has been opened. Feeding the ducks at Groby Pool has long been a tradition for local people.

Local Villages and Towns

Leicester - the nearest city, 5 miles along the A50.
Glenfield - 1 mile along the A50 towards Leicester, a county town of Leicestershire.
Newtown Linford (and Bradgate Park - small tourist "honeypot" in Charnwood); 2 miles away.
Field Head - on A50 towards Markfield, part of Groby Parish.
Markfield - 3 miles along A50 towards Coalville. M1 Junction 22.
Ratby - 1/2 a mile away along Ratby Lane / Sacheverell Way, the other side of the M1.
Anstey - Large village along Anstey Lane or A46 LWB.

Field Head

Groby Parish also includes the village of Field Head, which is just before Markfield on the A50, and has a large hotel (the Field Head hotel) built from local stone, that dates back to 1672.

External links

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