South Croxton is a small rural village within the Borough of Charnwood, in Leicestershire. In 1975 the village was designated as a Conservation Area due to its special architectural and historic interest.
The village lies on a hill, below the 14th century church and has 90 houses, The Golden Fleece Pub, and a Village Hall, formerly the school. Its history goes back before Domesday, and even before the coming of the Vikings. So it has its origins at least in the eighth century, and possibly earlier. Nobody important or rich ever lived here, so records, other than ecclesiastical, are very few. It has always been a solid farming community up to the 1960s. Now it is a commuter dormitory village, and the price of the houses reflects this.
The late Professor W.G.Hoskins said, "Within five or six miles of leaving the city centre (of Leicester) one enters perfect countryside." It is in the middle of this countryside to the north east of the city that South Croxton is located. Professor Hoskins tells us that he loved to visit it at any time of the year.
In 2000 AD a grant was obtained to clean up the brook at the bridge, and provide seating, as well as at the top of the hill, making it a delightful spot for walkers and cyclists to stop and sit. To celebrate the Queen's Golden Jubilee in 2002, a mini obelisk was erected half way up the hill, consisting of a series of tiles produced by children of the village under the guidance of two artists.
The village continues much as it has for 1,200 years, quietly being one of the most delightful places in Leicestershire, to visit and to live in.
