INDUSTRY

Detailed sources of information are limited but, from documents held at the University of Leicester, an early reference to Osgathorpe is found in Pigot's Directory of 1822. This details a Carriers departure from Leicester, Thomas Harris from the Shoulder of Mutton every Wed & Sat and from the Hare and Pheasant every Saturday to Osgathorpe. By 1827 this service was being provided by a Mr Hutchinson. The requirement for such regular deliveries and or collections indicates a growth in the village's commercial needs.

The 1861 E.S.Drake Commercial Directory of Leicestershire is much more detailed. Page 258 includes a description of the village of Osgathorpe and details of the financial arrangements for landownership and population, listed as 345 inhabitants. J.B.Story of Lockington Hall is Lord of the Manor. The following are listed by name and occupation.

Asher John. Victualler The Gate

Ault Mary. Schoolmistress (infant)

Black Samuel. Wheelwright

Bland Rev Thomas. Rector

Branson Josiah. Schoolmaster

Branson Elizabeth. Victualler Story Arms

Goodman William. Shoemaker

Oldacres John. Tailor

Rennocks Henry. Victualler Royal Oak

Rennocks William. Shoemaker

Walker Drayton. Corn Dealer

Warner Chas Edwin. Schoolmaster

Two Blacksmiths are listed Bailey Stephen and Gilbert William.

Three Shopkeepers are listed: Branson John (maybe also schoolmaster) Goodman William (listed as Shoemaker) and John Roe.

King and Varnam are listed as Carters.

Ten people are listed and named as Farmers and 36 as Agricultural Labourers

AGRICULTURE

Up until the late 1600s it is likely that the majority of residents were employed principally in agriculture of some kind either growing crops commercially or producing food for themselves and family. As farming practices improved about the early 1700s, with innovations such as crop rotation, better land drainage and more scientific breeding methods, outputs increased and there was a growth in population.

COTTAGE INDUSTRIES

As with many rural villages, a number of small and cottage industries existed in Osgathorpe in the 18th and 19th Centuries that gradually declined over the years. The Leicestershire Gazetteer of 1846 records a bootmaker, butcher, lime burner, brick and tile maker, and 2 blacksmiths, but the majority of the inhabitants worked in agriculture.

LIMESTONE INDUSTRY

We know that Limestone burning was being carried out at Osgathorpe in 1846. However, the quarrying of limestone and subsequent burning in kilns to produce quick lime at Barrow Hill and Osgathorpe never reached the extent of their neighbour Cloud Hill

THE CANAL

The Charnwood Forest Canal runs through Osgathorpe and was opened in 1794 to transport coal and limestone from nearby mines and quarries to the river Soar in Loughborough, Leicestershire and beyond.