Kegworth is a vibrant Leicestershire village with a population of approximately 3500 people
And many local businesses. Situated just off Junction 24 of the M1, Kegworth is ideally situated to have close links with Nottingham, Leicester, Derby and East Midlands Airport. The village is close to the River Soar and boasts beautiful country walks and scenery.
The village population is made up of over 800 students who study at the University of Nottingham Sutton Bonington campus just up the road, whilst also providing a home for young couples, families and the elderly. The wide range of clubs and societies, as well as a brilliant local school, playgroups, park, playing fields and tennis courts provides ample facilities for everyone to enjoy.
In the centre of the village is the Market Place, which is surrounded by a range of local businesses including the Co-op, butchers, opticians and more. The Market Place is dominated by the beautiful spire of St Andrew's Church, which dates back to 1250 in some parts of it's architecture. Kegworth has a rich history, with many of it’s buildings dating back to the 18th century. If you want to learn more about Kegworth's history you can visit the Kegworth Heritage Centre.
The name "Kegworth" comes from Old English and Danish languages and is roughly translated as "worth" or "enclosure" of a man named Kaggi, which is the Danish name for "redbeard". We have incorporated this into One Kegworth by creating our mascot Kaggi, the red-bearded Viking. You might have already seen him wandering around the village and at our events.
Did you know?
- In 1989, a Boeing 737-400 crashed just outside the village on the M1 motorway embankment killing 47 people and seriously injuring 74 people. There is a memorial to the “Kegworth Air Disaster” still to this day.
- Biologist Keith Campbell and one of the people responsible for cloning Dolly the sheep lived in Kegworth.
- Bill Tidy the British cartoonist lived in Kegworth during the 1980's and 1990's.
- Engineer William Edward Bryan opened up his own garage in Kegworth in 1920 and made the first slot machine petrol pump, which was manufactured by Slack and Parr.
- Kegworth was mentioned in the Domesday Book in 1066.
