Barrowby - History

History

The first written records of Barrowby are in the Domesday Book of 1086 where the village is referred to as Bergebi which is thought to be derived from Scandinavian languages 'berg-by' meaning 'village by the hill'. It is therefore assumed that the Vikings founded the village, although this remains unproven. The Domesday records show that there was a church with a priest and 60 acres (240,000 m2) of meadow. The church referred to in the Domesday Book was probably built of wood. The village belonged to the historical wapentake of Winnibriggs and Threo.

The Anglican parish church, dedicated to All Saints, represents the focal point of the village. The church which was originally built between the 13th and 14th century from ironstone and limestone, is in the Early English and Perpendicular Gothic styles. The church was extensively restored in 1852 and 1870. There are some interesting features including an ancient door at the south side of the chancel, a humerus corbel at the foot of a south window depicting a head that seems to have been pinched out of place by the adjacent buttress, and a blocked north door. Some of the internal features are of note including several stained glass windows that can be viewed at the gallery at the church's own web site.

The modern village of Barrowby combines old buildings, cottages and manor houses with the newer buildings in the housing estate built within the last 30 years. The new housing estate and the original Barrowby centre are linked by two main roads called High Road and Low Road. Some of the surrounding road names echo the names of patrons and residents who have established and shaped the village.