Ingarsby
Ingarsby is a deserted village site in Leicestershire, about six miles to the East of Leicester, and a little to the North of Houghton-on-the-Hill.
It is one of the most spectacular, and most accessible, of these former village sites in England, another being Hamilton, which is closer to Leicester.
The well delineated site, with hollow ways and house platforms, lies on a Westward facing slope immediately to the East of the lane running Northwards from the Leicester to Uppingham road.
There is also, off a footpath on the other side of the lane, a nettle covered hillock known locally as Monks Grave, which is actually the moated mound of a motte and bailey castle. This is one of the adulterine castles that proliferated in the lawless reign of King Stephen.
Ingarsby was a Danish settlement founded around the 9th century, which grew to being a substantial village in Norman times.
It was deserted, not because of the Black Death, as people usually assume, although like everywhere else that pestilence reduced the population. The desertion was for the far more common reason that sheep were much more profitable to the big religious establishments than people. Leicester Abbey turned the villagers out, and introduced sheep farming instead.
Ingarsby Old Hall is a moated manor house. Most of the hall dates from the 17th century, but one range, known as the chapel, is the 15th century remains of the grange of Leicester Abbey.
There was once a railway running through Ingarsby. Surviving tell tale signs include cuttings, a viaduct, a bridge over the lane, and the old station, now converted into a private house. The station would have served the villagers of Keyham and Hungarton.
Nearby, on a hill, is the outstanding 17th century Quenby Hall.
Blue Badge Guide Colin Crosby is available to lead Guided Walks around Ingarsby for groups.