Upper Broughton brings together traces of the medieval past, a clearly dated memorial site and a distinctive landscape. The village lies on the southern slope of a broad hill and faces the Belvoir Escarpment; its location offers panoramic views across the Vale of Belvoir. Those who see cultural history and landscape as equally important aspects of a stay will find both here, in distinct themes.
Church and Architectural History
The Church of St Luke preserves the remains of a south arcade dating from around 1200. Its porch also contains a fragment of a Norman tympanum. A tympanum is an architectural panel in the entrance area; together with the remains of the arcade, it draws attention to different forms of medieval church architecture. The churchyard contains listed gravestones dating from the early to mid-18th century, mostly made of slate. At one site, medieval architectural elements and considerably later gravestones can thus be understood as distinct layers of history.
Remembrance and Local History
The Upper Broughton War Memorial is a Grade II listed memorial, unveiled in 1920. It commemorates eight men from the village who were killed in the First World War, as well as a soldier killed in the Second World War. The inscription thus links two separate wartime periods in a single memorial and gives the site of remembrance a clearly defined historical context.
A cross stands on Cross Green, probably a remnant of a village market. Near Upper Broughton there is also a distinctive medieval stone cross shaft. According to local tradition, it was erected in gratitude for the village having been spared the plague. One probably points to a village market, while the other relates to a traditional story about the plague.
The chapel in Upper Broughton was founded by Baptists from East Leake Chapel and opened in 1795. Its burial ground has notable gravestones. The village’s history therefore also includes a Baptist foundation from the late 18th century, alongside its churches and memorial sites.
Landscape and Village Character
Open fields were farmed in Upper Broughton in the Middle Ages. The Upper Broughton Conservation Area was designated in 1973. The history of rural land use and the later designation of the Conservation Area provide two distinct points in time from which to view the village. Together with its hillside setting and views across the Vale of Belvoir, they connect the village’s history with its landscape without making the two themes tell the same story.
Getting There and Finding Accommodation
Upper Broughton is served by bus route 19 between Melton Mowbray and Nottingham. Check the timetable before travelling. Another cultural activity is bell ringing: a bell-ringing group in Upper Broughton offers lessons to people with no previous experience. This adds a practical topic to the architectural and memorial history for anyone especially interested in bell ringing.
If you are looking for a holiday rental in Upper Broughton, you can start by weighing up a simple question: are historical sights or the landscape more important to you? The village combines both, so you can plan your trip around what interests you most.
Discover more destinations: Eastwood, Calverton, Trowell, Torworth, Carlton, Mansfield Woodhouse, Nottingham, Haughton
For the main travel guide: Nottinghamshire.
