HINCKLEY

hinckley, a market town in the bosworth parliamentary division of leicestershire, england, 14(1/2) m. s.w. from leicester on the nuneaton-leicester branch of the london & north-western railway, and near the ashby-de-la-zouch canal. pop. of urban district (1901), 11,304. the town is well situated on a considerable eminence. among the principal buildings are the church of st mary, a decorated and perpendicular structure, with lofty tower and spire; the roman catholic academy named st peter's priory, and a grammar school. the ditch of a castle erected by hugh de grentismenil in the time of william rufus is still to be traced. hinckley is the centre of a stocking-weaving district, and its speciality is circular hose. it also possesses a boot-making industry, brick and tile works, and lime works. there are mineral springs in the neighbourhood.