View source for Syston

{{Short description|Town in Charnwood, Leicestershire, England}}
{{About|Syston in Leicestershire|Syston in Lincolnshire|Syston, Lincolnshire}}
{{more citations needed|date=August 2019}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=June 2020}}
{{Infobox UK place
|country=                 England
|official_name=             Syston
|coordinates = {{coord|52.7|-1.08|display=inline,title}}
| population = 12,804
| population_ref = ([[United Kingdom Census 2011|2011 Census]])<ref name="auto">{{Cite web|url=https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/|title=Welcome &#124; Leicestershire County Council|website=www.leicestershire.gov.uk}}</ref>
|static_image_name=     Syston.jpg
|static_image_caption=   The Green, Syston
|shire_district=            [[Charnwood (borough)|Charnwood]]
|shire_county=            [[Leicestershire]]
|region=                  East Midlands
|constituency_westminster= [[Melton and Syston (UK Parliament constituency)|Melton and Syston]]
|post_town=              LEICESTER
|postcode_area=          LE
|postcode_district=       LE7
|dial_code=      0116
|os_grid_reference=     SK621118
|london_distance=
}}
'''Syston''' ({{IPAc-en|audio=Syston_sound.ogg|ˈ|s|aɪ|s|t|ən}} {{respell|SY|stən}}) is a town and [[civil parish]] in the district of [[Charnwood (borough)|Charnwood]] in [[Leicestershire]], England. The population was 11,508 at the 2001 census, rising to 12,804 at the 2011 census.
==Overview==
There has been a settlement on the site for over 1,000 years, the earliest records being in the [[Domesday Book]] as ''Sitestone''. The [[Roman road]] known as the [[Fosse Way]] passes through Syston, which is now largely a commuter town for the city of [[Leicester]]. Only the village of [[Thurmaston]] to the south separates it from Leicester.
The large and impressive [[St Peter & St Paul's Church, Syston|Church of St Peter and St Paul]] is the most ancient building in Syston, built in pink granite and white limestone with a proud west tower topped by a lozenge [[frieze]], battlements and pinnacles.{{sfn|Pevsner|Williamson|1984|pp=402–403}}  The church mostly dates from the 15th century but there is a 13th-century [[sedilia]] in the [[chancel]] and a tomb recess in the south aisle of the early 14th century.{{sfn|Pevsner|Williamson|1984|p=403}}  The stone arcading inside the nave has striking [[Perpendicular architecture|Perpendicular]] Gothic panelling which is also seen on the tower arch and in the [[clerestory]]. The nave roof of timber is also 15th century.{{sfn|Pevsner|Williamson|1984|p=403}}  The local architect Frederick Webster Ordish (1821-1885) extensively restored the church in 1871-72 and in 1881 he extended the nave by one bay and rebuilt the chancel.{{sfn|Pevsner|Williamson|1984|p=403}}  Ordish lived at [[Queniborough]] Old Hall.{{sfn|Brodie|Felstead|Franklin|Pinfield|2001|p=289}} In 1855 he had added the upper storey, with its tower and bridge staircase, to the Corn Exchange in Leicester Market Place.{{sfn|Pevsner|Williamson|1984|p=223}}  He died as a result of an accident near the old Syston railway station in September 1885.
The [[Midland Main Line]] runs through the town. [[Syston railway station]] currently has one platform on what remains of the former goods line, served by local [[Leicester]] to [[Lincoln, Lincolnshire|Lincoln]] via Nottingham and Newark services on the [[Ivanhoe Line]].
[[Motorcycle speedway]] (1930-1931) and [[Greyhound racing in the United Kingdom|greyhound racing]] (1931-1960s) was staged at the [[Syston Sports Stadium]] (not to be confused with the Syston Sports Ground next door) on Mostyn Avenue.<ref>Jones, Alan (2004) ''Speedway in Leicester: The Hunters Era'', Automedia, p. 8</ref>
The 'Syston white plum' is well known in the Syston locality and has been grown there for well over 100 years. It is yellow, oval in shape, thin skinned and a good sized dessert plum. It normally crops in September and is emblazoned on the Syston Town welcoming signs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.systontownnews.co.uk/article.jsp?articleid=739|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070209233436/http://www.systontownnews.co.uk/article.jsp?articleid=739|url-status=dead|title=Syston Town Council News<!-- Bot generated title -->|archivedate=9 February 2007}}</ref>
Syston is the location of the headquarters of [[Pukka Pies]], which is one of the largest employers in the town, employing 250 people.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.pukkapies.co.uk/|title=Pukka Pies &#124; The People's Pie|website=www.pukkapies.co.uk}}</ref>
[[File:Melton Road, Syston - geograph.org.uk - 497773.jpg|thumb|Melton Road from the Brook Bridge.]]
[[File:Parish Church of St Peter and St Paul, Syston, Leicestershire - geograph.org.uk - 1341932.jpg|thumb|Church of St Peter and St Paul, Syston. The church is mostly of the 15th century.]]
The [[River Soar]] runs past the western edge of the town, shortly after passing under the [[A46 road]] which underwent significant improvements early in 2006 at the Hobby Horse roundabout, a popular meeting place on the [[Leicester Western Bypass]].
Syston is home to two monthly, village publications: the Syston Town News and the Syston Directory.
==Notable residents==
*Singer Dave Bartram from [[Showaddywaddy]]
*[[Mahalia (singer)|Mahalia Burkmar]], neosoul/R'n'B artist
*Actress [[Terri Dwyer]]<ref>[http://www.terri-dwyer.com/i%E2%80%99m-a-village-girl-at-heart-i%E2%80%99ll-always-comeback-to-syston/  "I'm a village girl at heart – I'll always come back to Syston" from www.terri-dwyer.com]</ref>
*[[Megan Lowe]], Test cricketer
*[[Rachel Parris]], comedian, musician, improviser and presenter
*[[Luke Thomas (footballer, born 2001)|Luke Thomas]], footballer<ref>{{cite news |last1=Blackwell |first1=Jordan |last2=Leach |first2=Tom |title=Leicester City 2-0 Sheffield United: Match report; Brendan Rodgers joins us for post-match reaction |url=https://www.leicestermercury.co.uk/sport/football/match-reports/leicester-city-sheffield-united-live-4334713 |access-date=16 July 2020 |work=Leicestershire Live |date=16 July 2020}}</ref>
*Speedway racer [[Fred Wilkinson (speedway rider)|Fred Wilkinson]] raced for England v.s Australia, and ran the Lansdowne Garage in Syston
==Twin towns==
*[[Déville-lès-Rouen]], [[Upper Normandy]], [[France]]
==Local organisations==
The Air Training Corps (ATC) is a military based youth organisation for 13- to 20-year-olds and the local squadron (No 1181 Syston Squadron) is based in the grounds of [[Wreake Valley Academy]].
The Syston Allotment Society works for the benefit of plot holders and the wider community at the allotment site on Upper Church Street, Syston.
Syston Sailing Club, in Fosse Way, runs learn-to sail courses for newcomers, and racing and social sailing for members. It is affiliated to the RYA.
==References==
{{reflist}}
==Sources==
*{{cite book |last1=Pevsner |first1=Nikolaus |author-link=Nikolaus Pevsner |last2=Williamson |first2=Elizabeth (revision) |series=[[Pevsner Architectural Guides#Buildings of England|The Buildings of England]] |title= Leicestershire and Rutland |year=1984 |orig-year=1960 |publisher=[[Penguin Books]] |location=Harmondsworth |isbn=0140710183 |pages=402–403 }}
*{{cite book |editor1-last=Brodie |editor1-first=Antonia |editor2-last=Felstead |editor2-first=Alison |editor3-last=Franklin |editor3-first=Jonathan |editor4-last=Pinfield |editor4-first=Leslie |editor5-last=Oldfield|editor5-first=Jane|title=Directory of British Architects 1834-1914, Vol.2, L-Z |year=2001 |publisher=[[Continuum International Publishing Group|Continuum]] |location=London & New York |isbn=082645514X |pages=289 }}
==External links==
{{commons}}
*[https://www.systontowncouncil.gov.uk/ Syston Town Council]
*[https://www.systontownnews.co.uk/ Syston Town News]
{{Towns and villages of Charnwood}}
{{Leicestershire}}
{{authority control}}
[[Category:Towns in Leicestershire]]
[[Category:Civil parishes in Leicestershire]]
[[Category:Borough of Charnwood]]