Swithland (St. Leonard)
SWITHLAND (St. Leonard), parish, in the union of Barrow-upon-Soar, hundred of West Goscote, N. division of the county of Leicester, 3 miles (S. W. by W.) from Mountsorrel; containing 306 inhabitants. It consists of about 1600 acres. The soil in some parts is clay, resting upon marl, and in others a light cold earth, underlaid with sand and stones. The surface is pleasingly undulated, and the scenery is beautiful, comprising rocky projections ornamented with wood, and the romantic outline of the Charnwood Forest hills, which, with neighbouring parks and plantations, embrace nearly two sides of the parish. Some of the inhabitants are employed in slate-quarries. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £10. 4. 7., and in the gift of the Crown, with a net income of £300: there is a parsonage-house, with about 210 acres of land. The interior of the church was handsomely fitted up by Sir John Danvers, late lord of the manor.
Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.