Home to about 700 people, the village of Barrowden is a terrifically close-knit community which loves to take action to benefit the whole area. Its residents have already created a village shop, they’ve refurbished the church in 2019 and next on the list is the village hall!

It certainly is a pretty village, but Barrowden’s beauty isn’t superficial. There’s a true sense of community and plenty going on, creating a happy, healthy place to live. If anyone should know that, it’s villagers Sarah and Steve Preston. The two worked for Natural England, and whilst Steve specialised in protected landscapes, Sarah’s professional area of expertise was promoting access to the natural environment as a way of maintaining health and wellbeing.

What village could be a better example of a place to live that’s pretty, has a close-knit feel and residents who all look out for one another, for everyone’s wellbeing, than Barrowden?

“We came to the village 20 years ago and quickly settled in,” says Sarah. “We retired a couple of years ago but honestly, we’re involved with so much in the village that I don’t know how we found time to work!”

“Barrowden is a beautiful village both to look at and live in.  It is a classic English village, with golden stone houses and cottages, extensive village greens, and its duck pond, overlooked by the village pub.”

“Everyone is very welcoming, friendly and helpful with many people very active in the village making it a vibrant place with plenty of community spirit.”

“Newcomers to the village are given a Welcome Pack to make them feel at home, listing all the facilities, services, organisations and key people in the village, with something happening to interest everyone. There are plenty of opportunities to volunteer and get more hands on, too.”

One example is the village’s Community Shop, which Sarah helped to set up as part of a committee 14 years ago. Today the community enterprise endures and there’s a team of directors running the shop, for the benefit of everyone in the village.

“It is a tremendous asset offering the day-to-day basics through to more specialised locally produced items.”

“It’s also excellent value as a recent exercise demonstrated with a typical basket of provisions actually cheaper in the shop than at the supermarket… and that’s without taking into account any fuel costs.”

“The shop not only sells food and basic groceries but stationery and newspapers, plus greeting cards and a wide range of locally made crafts and gifts.”

“The shop also has a cafe, popular with villagers as well as passing cyclists, walkers and tourists; Barrowden is on the Jurassic Way.”

“It sells sandwiches made on the premises and cakes and scones made in the village. Currently it is acting as a Warm Hub on Tuesday afternoons to help beat the cost of living crisis and rising heating costs.”

“The vulnerable and needy are supported in their purchases at the shop through the Barrowden Charity.”

“The shop has a paid manager but relies on volunteers for additional staffing support. Volunteering is a great way to meet new people and the shop welcomes new recruits in a number of different roles.”

Close to the shop is probably the smallest Doctor’s Surgery for miles around; a satellite from Uppingham, offering three sessions per week, it’s very much valued by villagers and surrounding settlements.

“Living in the village it’s easy to get involved in various clubs, and many of these are held in the Village Hall, next to the shop.”

Regular activities include the village’s cinema club, lunch club, open mic night and WI, each of which take place monthly. Fitness and even Scottish country dancing classes are offered weekly and the hall is used for many meetings, parties, and local interest talks to list a few.”

“The hall was built in 1927 and time is taking a toll on its structure, so the village is looking to replace it with a building fit for the next 100 years. An active group of committed volunteers is heading up this initiative developing plans for a new hall on the same site, and it has just started fundraising.”

The village’s Grade II* listed 11th century Church of St Peter was reordered in 2019 with a new floor, WC and servery and the removal of the Victorian pews.

“The result is a light, airy and welcome space for quiet contemplation and religious services, and it also provides a fantastic acoustic space for musical concerts, talks and larger social events.”

“A keen group of bellringers keep the bells active on a weekly basis and the bell tower is the next part of the church which will benefit from some refurbishment.”

For the more active Barrowden resident, the village has an active cricket club on the recreation ground with its play area for the little ones and some fitness equipment too.

The adjacent allotments provide a haven for green-fingered villagers who spend many happy hours growing wonky vegetables.

For those who prefer their food on a plate, not in the ground, the Exeter Arms pub is set in an idyllic position overlooking Barrowden’s village green.

Featured in Pride’s November edition, we admired publicans Mark and Kate’s work refurbishing the pub and creating a menu of British pub classics… the outdoor bar and kitchen will also be very busy too, once the temperature picks up.

“There are plenty of other opportunities for the community to come together with the annual village bonfire and firework display, the biennial open gardens, the vintage car meet on the green, carols round the tree and Advent windows at Christmas time to name a few.”

“We have lived here for over 20 years, and it would be hard task to find anywhere that lived up to what Barrowden has to offer. For a village of 700 it’s amazing what is on offer!” says Sarah.