Knipton combines a distinctive landscape history with clearly identifiable historic architectural styles. The reservoir tells the story of water management in the late 18th century; the church, houses and village pump showcase different materials and periods of construction. This lets you discover Knipton through specific details rather than reducing the village’s history to a single theme.
Open Space and Reservoir
A strip of open land runs through the centre from north to south and is designated in its entirety as protected open space. This includes the land north of Nursery Lane and the grounds around the former primary school and the churchyard of All Saints. Particularly attractive mature trees shape this area. The open space is therefore a distinct aspect of the village’s character: alongside the historic buildings, the open, tree-lined landscape also takes centre stage.
Knipton Reservoir was built between 1794 and 1797 as a flood reservoir for the Grantham Canal. Covering 40 acres, with mature trees all around it, it is also a striking landscape feature. Its design followed the Brownian picturesque tradition: the aim was to create a place for recreation and beauty. This was a historic design intention, adding another perspective to its engineering history.
Church and Historic Architectural Styles
All Saints is a Grade II* listed parish church. Its west tower and chancel date from the 13th century; the nave and north aisle were added in the mid-14th century. These features bring different periods of medieval construction to life. Anyone interested in architecture can focus on how the tower, chancel, nave and aisle fit together, rather than seeing the church only as a single, unified building.
The houses also differ markedly in their materials and forms. Knipton Lodge has a brightly limewashed brick façade and a roof of graduated Cumberland slate. The Gatehouse is a Belvoir Estate house dating from around 1890; its masonry consists of regularly coursed ironstone with limestone dressings. The Cottage dates from the late 19th century and is associated with the Vernacular Revival. Projecting gable ends create its H-shaped plan, complemented by three gabled dormers.
Built around 1750, Church Cottages are Grade II listed and comprise two residential units. Regularly coursed ironstone, limestone ashlar and limestone dressings define their construction. Another example of the use of ironstone is Knipton Village Pump and Pump Shelter: the Grade II listed water pump dates from the mid-19th century and has a timber shelter with a gabled roof. Comparing the buildings makes their differences immediately visible in their features: brick and slate at Knipton Lodge, ironstone and limestone on other buildings, and wood on the pump shelter.
Two Themes to Explore
If you are particularly interested in architectural history, the church, houses and village pump offer different dates, forms and materials to compare. The reservoir, by contrast, leads to the development of water management and the historic idea of a recreational landscape designed to be picturesque. These two areas of focus offer different ways to discover Knipton: through individual architectural features or through the history and design of its open landscape.
Discover more destinations: Stathern, Sibson, Narborough, Rothley, Broughton Astley, Goadby Marwood, Markfield, Shepshed.
For the main travel guide: Leicestershire.
