Kegworth – Architectural History and Riverside Walks

Kegworth combines historic buildings and local collections with walking routes along the River Soar. If you’re looking for a hotel for a stay in the village, these themes can shape your visit: architectural history, local history or a route through the riverside landscape. The themes differ in date, former use and landscape, making it easy to choose the focus that interests you most.

Architectural history across different periods

St Andrew’s Church shows why it’s worth distinguishing between individual architectural features. The lower part of the tower dates from the 13th century, while the clerestory belongs to the 14th and 15th centuries. A clerestory is the upper section of a church wall. The dates highlight different periods within the same building, rather than giving a single construction date for the entire church. If you’re interested in architecture, you can compare the different building phases in the tower and clerestory.

The Great House in Kegworth is dated to 1698 and was built for the Sutton family. It is a Grade II listed building. The Old Rectory in Kegworth is a former rectory, probably dating from the mid-18th century, and is also Grade II listed. Together, the two buildings show two different ways of interpreting local history: at the Great House, the precise date and the family associated with its construction take centre stage; at the Old Rectory, its former use and a probable date are the key clues.

Collections and local history

The Kegworth Heritage Centre focuses on local and historical artefacts. The Robert Williams Collection contains around 200 objects, including Roman and medieval coins, pieces of jewellery and other archaeological finds. Unlike the dated buildings, history here is encountered through individual objects; the collection therefore offers a distinct focus alongside architectural history. After closing for necessary and extensive building work, the centre recently reopened in a refreshed form.

Walking routes along the River Soar

The River Soar walk in Kegworth runs for 0.5 miles along Side Ley Road and over a bridge to a scenic riverside path. The Red Hill Marina walk follows the River Soar, crosses a footbridge and leads into large, open fields. The first route focuses on the transition from road to riverside path; the second is characterised by the river, footbridge and open fields. Please keep dogs on a lead if livestock are present on the Red Hill Marina walk.

A river crossing is also part of Kegworth’s history: a bridge has crossed the River Soar at this spot since around 1315. It adds a different historical perspective to the architectural history of the houses—the crossing of the river.

Discover more destinations: North Kilworth, Sapcote, Higham on the Hill, Market Harborough, Redmile, Melton Mowbray, Shepshed, Old Dalby

For the overview of the wider area: Leicestershire.