Wistow, Leicestershire
| Wistow | |
|---|---|
St Wistan's church, Wistow | |
Location within Leicestershire | |
| Area | 1.421875 sq mi (3.68264 km2) |
| Population | 62 (2011) |
| • Density | 44/sq mi (17/km2) |
| OS grid reference | SP643960 |
| • London | 82 mi (132 km) |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LEICESTER |
| Postcode district | LE8 |
| Dialling code | 0116 |
| Police | Leicestershire |
| Fire | Leicestershire |
| Ambulance | East Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
| Website | Wistow cum Newton Harcourt Parish Council |
Wistow is a deserted medieval village and civil parish in the Harborough district, in the English county of Leicestershire, and lies seven miles south-east of the city of Leicester in the valley of the River Sence. Since 1 April 1936 it has included most of the former civil parish of Newton Harcourt which was a chapelry of Wistow. The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 256.
The village was named as Wistanestou in the Domesday Book and is thought to derive from Wigstan (OE male personal name) + OE stow 'a holy place'; 'The holy place of Wigstan'. It is thought to be the site of the martyrdom of Saint Wigstan, a Mercian prince. Wistow was part of the royal multiple estate of aet Glenne (Great Glen). Wistow is listed in the Domesday book of 1086 as a settlement of many households owned by Robert the bursar.