Aylestone | |
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Bridge over the canal at Aylestone Meadows |
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Aylestone shown within Leicestershire | |
Population | 11,151 (2011) |
OS grid reference | SK573009 |
• London | 101 mi (163 km) S |
Unitary authority | |
Ceremonial county | |
Region | |
Country | England |
Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
Post town | Leicester |
Postcode district | LE2 |
Dialling code | 0116 |
Police | Leicestershire |
Fire | Leicestershire |
Ambulance | East Midlands |
EU Parliament | East Midlands |
UK Parliament | |
Aylestone is a suburb of Leicester, England at grid reference SK572008. It is south-west of the city centre, but to the east of the River Soar. It was formerly a separate village, but the growth of the city has meant that it is now part of the urban area, largely surrounded Victorian housing close to the city centre (known as Aylestone Park) and by 20th-century housing towards the Aylestone Village Conservation Area. This area, around the parish church, retains much of the former village character and is referred to as 'the village' or 'old Aylestone' by local residents. The parish church of St Andrew dates mostly from the 13th century. The electoral ward of Aylestone (Leicester City Council) covers Aylestone Village, the Gilmorton Estate, the south and west of Aylestone Park (the remainder is in Freemen ward) and the south west side of Saffron Lane (to Knighton Lane). The ward borders Freemen and Eyres Monsell wards and is in the parliamentary constituency of Leicester South. Aylestone had a population of 11,151 as of the 2011 census. The ward has two elected councillors: Councillor Adam Clarke (Labour) and Councillor Nigel Porter (Liberal Democrat).
Aylestone was recorded in the Domesday Book as Ailstone, held in the reign of Edward the Confessor by Alveva, Countess of Mercia. In 1086 it was held by Robert de Beaumont, 1st Earl of Leicester. The manor passed from Robert to his son Robert le Bossu, thence to Bossu's son Robert Blanchemains and finally to Blanchemains' son, Robert FitzPernel. FitzPernel died without issue, and his estates were divided between his two sisters, the manor of Aylestone passing to Margaret, who married Saer de Quincy, 1st Earl of Winchester. The manor passed by marriage into the hands of the Harcourt family, and then the Pembrugge family of Tong, Shropshire. On the death of Fulke de Pembrugge IV in 1409, the manor passed to his wife Isabel. Fulke and Isabel having no issue, the manor eventually passed to the grandson of Fulk's sister Juliana, Richard Vernon III. Aylestone remained in the hands of the Vernon family until the death of Sir George Vernon in 1565. His daughter Dorothy having married John Manners, second son of the 1st Earl of Rutland, Aylestone passed to the Manners family, who later became the Dukes of Rutland.