Why Thringstone is worth a visit

I have always been proud of my hometown. Its strong mining heritage and small population has created a sort of community feel around the place. Our weekly markets and high street prove a great place to see the same faces and build up relations (I am now on speaking terms with my local Greggs and Home Bargains staff). It was only when doing research for this article that I discovered that my hometown actually has a lot to do for tourists.

I live in a small village called Thringstone. There probably isn’t enough to do here to fill an entire article, so I’ll talk about what’s here first and then move on to nearby Coalville.

On the surface, my hometown seems very ordinary, we have two pubs, a church, a fish shop, a corner shop, a local football team and a few hairdressers, everything a normal village has. But you will be shocked to hear that we also have a few hidden spots too.

As well as this, the priory also has a darker history. According to some locals, it is the site of paranormal existence

One of the best things to do in the village is to take a trip to Grace Dieu Priory. This was an independent Augustinian priory founded around 1235 and dissolved in 1538. After dissolution, the site was granted to Sir Humphrey Foster who sold it to John Beaumont, the Master of the Rolls (second in command to the Lord Chief Justice), in 1539. It then passed through a series of different owners, including Charles March Phillipps (a radical politician) and the De Lisle family (a prominent land owning family in the area) before becoming a Catholic School. Today, the priory exists as ruins. Many locals across the area often come here for walks, walking through the local Grace Dieu woods, a 4km hike that takes about an hour and a half to complete. If in the area, it is definitely worth a visit, just to see the beautiful natural beauty of the nearby woods and to see the remains of the once majestic building with so much history.

As well as this, the priory also has a darker history. According to some locals, it is the site of paranormal existence. There is a mythical ghost that has been spotted around the site called the White Lady. Legend has it that the White Lady is a victim of murder or suicide who died before she could tell the location of some hidden treasure. Personally, I have never seen it, but others claim to have done and a book of recorded sightings has been compiled dating back to 1926. Some explanations for these paranormal claims are that the Priory is on the Thringstone Fault and fault areas have unusual electromagnetic fields which interfere with the normal cycles of the atmosphere or that the site is located near a standing stone meaning the Priory could have been built on a prehistoric sacred site. Whatever the reasons for the presence of the White Lady, if you are someone who believes in paranormal presences, it is definitely worth a visit, especially at night, in the hopes that you may catch a glimpse of the White Lady.

Most notable is its Fish and Chip Shop which was established in 1895 and is actually currently run by my family

A little side note, for those who are studying History or anything similar, you may fancy visiting Thringstone’s graveyard. Here, you can see the grave of Charles Booth. A prominent philanthropist was mentioned in my first year history modules for his innovative philanthropic studies on working class life in London. Thanks to Booth, the government was influenced to introduce Old Age pensions and free school meals. He also popularised the idea of a poverty line, setting it at 10 to 20 shillings a week for a family of 4 or 5. He also created poverty maps to illustrate the conditions of the lives of the people of London. He moved to Grace Dieu Manor (now a football academy) in 1886 till his death in 1916. So, if you like to develop connections with people mentioned in your studies (I have done so with others like Michael Foucault and Robert Jervis), then a visit to Booth’s grave, might be one of those things that you just have to tick off your bucket list.

As well as exploring the woods, ruins, and visiting Booth’s grave, Thringstone is also known for its good food. Most notable is its Fish and Chip Shop which was established in 1895 and is actually currently run by my family. It is an award winning fish shop, winning Best Fish and Chip Shop in Leicestershire in 2025 and 2017, as well as the UK’s Favourite Family Business in 2023. The shop delivers high quality food which includes traditional fish and chips as well as an array of other items, such as a large range of burgers. It also has a prominent social media presence, with over 15,000 followers on TikTok. Shifts are livestreamed and videos are made. The most popular video series is one where the staff batter different food items. Past battering experiences include a Big Mac from McDonald’s and a block of cheese! A visit to Thringstone, is really not complete without a visit to the Chippy. And many people agree with this with customers coming from far and wide to try the food including from Scotland and the USA!

And if you come on a Saturday, you may even be able to watch the local football team (Ingles FC) in action!

I said at the start of this article that I would move on to talk about my local town, Coalville, after I ran out of things to say about my village, but as I was writing the article, I got carried away with how much there actually is to do in my village, that I in fact ran out space to even mention my local town! A day trip to Thringstone will most certainly be a great day out! You can explore the local woods and ruins, walk about the local area and eat at the chippy. And if you come on a Saturday, you may even be able to watch the local football team (Ingles FC) in action! All in all, I’d definitely recommend a visit to my village!