The face, noise and fame of Markfield changed again with the coming of the M1. The 18 miles between Lutterworth and Markfield opened on 22 January 1965. The stretch to Kegworth opened on 3 December 1965. However, Markfield was not on the original plans for the section from Leicester Forest East to Kegworth.
There was considerable argument about the route from Leicester Forest East to Kegworth, as two alternative plans developed from 1956. One was the 'Soar Valley route', via Quorn, Mountsorrel, Loughborough and Kegworth. This would have avoided the later need to build bypasses on the A6 to take traffic away from the villages.
The other was the 'Charnwood Forest route', which would have run by Groby to Newtown Linford and then through the Ulverscroft Valley. A subsequent easterly variant would have crossed the A50 to Anstey, then between Cropston and Thurcaston, then bearing west to Swithland, following the boundary of the reservoir.
These routes caused many objections. Leicestershire County Council then put forward a 'compromise' line which the Government accepted. This is the route by Markfield that we all know today.
In August 1959, the Secretary to the Minister of Transport wrote that this finally preferred 'compromise' route:
'leaves the Consultants’ line [the Charnwood Forest route] just east of Ratby, passes west of Groby and Markfield .....This route leaves something to be desired from the engineering and traffic points of view [such as the cutting and steep climb by J22], but it is not faced with the extremely strong agricultural objections met on the Valley line nor with the amenity objections of the Consultants’ line. Although it goes through the Forest it avoids Groby Pool, Ulverscroft Priory and Newtown Linford which were threatened by the Consultants’ line.'
There were many objections and much discussion locally - particularly about the impact on farmers whose farms would be severed and land lost. Here are some headlines from 1960.
However, the motorway did of course find its way to Markfield. Here are some pictures of the construction, courtesy of the Leicester Mercury Archive at the University of Leicester.
Looking South from the Forest Road/Stoney Lane bridge, 13th October 1964:
Building the J22 roundabout, 13th July 1964. The line of the M1 runs from top to bottom of the picture, the new bridges are in place, with work to build the embankment underway. The A50 to Leicester is on the left, the new Cliffe Hill Lane entrance/exit and the A50 (now the A511) to Coalville are to the right:
The J22 roundabout in a more complete state, with new signs, 3rd February 1965:
A local resident who worked in the George Pub (now the Co-op on Main St) recalls it was busy when men were working on the construction. Many lived in caravans with their wives and they brought a lot of trade to the village.
The route of the motorway marked on an aerial photo of the hospital at the time:
And a report of drivers 'jumping the gun' on the Markfield to Kirby Muxloe section, before it opened:
Learn more:
A view from the Ministry - a record of the official discussions about the route from LFE to Kegworth.
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