Leicestershire Places (2) : Sileby

The town's origins date from the mid-9th century when a settlement was established by the Danes and was part of the Danelaw. One of the families were known as Sighulf which is probably where the name of the town comes from. Sileby was an agricultural settlement that developed near the river Soar later on with a cottage industry in clothing manufacture.

In latter centuries Sileby became an industrial town noted for the manufacture of hosiery, shoes and wallpaper though most of these factories have now gone. However the wealth bought in from industry helped the town treble in size in the late Victorian and Edwardian period.

The oldest building in Sileby is the parish church dedicated to St Mary which was founded in 1152CE. There are also a number of houses from the 18th century. The town is situated between Leicester and Loughborough.