1881 Census of Sileby.

These records are taken from the transcription of the 1881 U.K. Census made available to the public by the Church of the Latter Day Saints (L.D.S.). I have tried to reproduce them as they appeared, complete with spelling irregularities in the original records and any transcription or interpretation errors (of which there are several). Please refer to the original census records if you have any queries about their accuracy.

The 1881 Census shows Sileby as it was in the days of our great grandfathers, before cars, electricity or any large industry came to the village. Even the Boot and Shoe industry, which had such an effect on the village in later years, had not yet arrived in any strength. Agriculture and home-based framework knitting looms provided the great majority of employment, along with shirt stitching for many of the female population.

The village was based on the same four streets that still form it’s heart – High Street, King Street, Swan Street and Brook St/The Banks, with Barrow Road being very similar to it’s present size. Ratcliffe Road and Seagrave Road each consisted of but a few dwellings, Mountsorrell Lane was Church Lane, and Cossington Road was divided into Cossington End, Cossington Road and Cossington Lane.

The  population of the village in 1881 was given as 2,037.

I have divided the records into 5 pages to decrease download times –

• 1.      The Vicarage, Mill Villa, Church Lane and Barrow Road.
• 2.      King Street, Quebec Farm, Belle Isle Farm, Seagrave Road and Swan Street.
• 3.      South Field, Cossington Lane, Cossington Road, Cossington End, High Street and South Church Lane.
• 4.      Brook Street, Back Lane, Mount Pleasant, Banks.
• 5.      Orchard Terrace, Rose Villas, Peas Hill Lodge, Brick Yard, Ratclif Road, Lacy Lodge, Canners Barn and Telemara Lodge.