Skeffington

The derivation is from the Sceaft tribe, whose name may possibly have derived from sceap, meaning sheep. The first written record of the village appeared as Scifitone in the Domesday Book in 1086, when it was under royal ownership and housed 186 villagers, 112 smallholders, 204 freemen and 1 priest.[2] It was recorded as "Sceaftinton" in 1192.[3]

The village's church is dedicated to St Thomas Becket and is a Grade II* listed building. It dates from the 13th century, but underwent a rebuild in 1860. There is jumbled medieval stained glass in the east chapel window, with damaged figures from a monument to Thomas Skeffington, M. P., sheriff of the county in Elizabethan times. There is also a 1651 monument to Sir John Skeffington, and several floor slabs commemorating other members of the family.[4]

Skeffington Hall, adjacent to the church, is also Grade II* listed. It has some Tudor features. The estate passed in 1786 to an Irishman named Farrell who took the name Skeffington. He pulled down 21 houses in the village to improve his view from the Hall, but overspent, so that the estate was sold again in 1811. In 1860 it was bought by William Tailby, who founded the Billesdon fox hunt, of which he became master.[5]

The village lay historically in the hundred of East Goscote.

The Anglican church is part of a group benefice with Keyham, Billesdon, Goadby, Hungarton and Rolleston.[6] There are no commercial facilities. The nearest nursery school, primary school, public houses, shops, filling station and sports facilities are at Houghton on the Hill (4 miles/6.4 km).

There is an hourly daytime bus service from Skeffington Turn to Leicester and Uppingham, Mondays to Fridays.[7] The nearest railway station is at Leicester (10 miles/16 km). The nearest scheduled air services are at East Midlands Airport (30 miles/48 km).

In order of birth:

• Sir William Skeffington (c. 1465–1535), Lord Deputy of Ireland
• Leonard Skeffington or Skevington (fl. first half of 16th century), son of William, was Lieutenant of the Tower of London and inventor of Scavenger's Daughter or Skevington Maiden, an instrument of torture.
• Anthony Skeffington, cousin of William, (died after 1535), Master of the Rolls in Ireland
• Sir John Skeffington, 2nd Baronet (c. 1590–1651), Staffordshire landowner and Royalist politician, died at Skeffington. His wife was Cicely Skeffington, who came from the parish.

Media related to Skeffington at Wikimedia Commons

• Skeffington on the Leicestershire Villages website
• 2001 census data