Kegworth

Kegworth (the w is sometimes silent by locals) is a large village (population of approximately 3,500) and civil parish in Leicestershire, England. The population at the 2011 census was measured at 3,601.

Lying on the River Soar, it is situated on the A6 near junction 24 of the M1 motorway and is also close to East Midlands Airport and East Midlands Parkway railway station. The village is served by a primary school which was rated good at its last ofsted inspection, which takes children from ages 4 to 10 years and has both Anglican and Baptist churches. Beyond the primary school age, most children attend schools in Castle Donington and Shepshed. Shops in the village include a supermarket, butcher, pharmacy, post office and optician. There are a number of cafes, restaurants and takeaway food outlets including Indian and Chinese cuisine. Kegworth has several public houses, a doctors surgery and a village hall that hosts village events and the local playgroup. Kegworth has thriving sports clubs which include the Kegworth Imperial football club, Kegworth Town Cricket Club and Kegworth Bowls Club. There are two parks with play areas for younger children and a skate park. The village has a library and a museum of local history.

Nearby places include Long Eaton, Castle Donington, Sutton Bonington, Ratcliffe on Soar, Zouch, Kingston on Soar, Hathern and Loughborough. The post town is Derby.

The site of Kegworth was situated well within the territory of the Coritani (or Corieltauvi), one of the most powerful Ancient British tribes. A date cannot be put on the foundations of the first settlement, although Anglo-Saxon burials have been found in Kingston-on-Soar and at Hathern, a pin from the 7th century was also found near the hermitage which may indicate the date and location of the earliest settlers. The name of Kegworth comes from two languages, Old English and Danish, so it must date from some time between 874 and 1086. It means 'worth' or 'enclosure' of a man named Kaggi, the Danish name for redbeard. However, some sources claim it may mean locked enclosure, from caega "key", an Old English word. It was recorded in the Domesday Book as being held by Earl Harold Godwin, who became the last of the Saxon kings. After Harold's defeat at the Battle of Hastings in 1066 the Earl Hugh of Chester was given the land by William the Conqueror. It was known in those days as Cachworde, Caggworth and Cogga.

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