Knaptoft

Knaptoft is a civil parish in the Harborough district of Leicestershire, England, with a population of around 50. It is also a deserted village in this parish. Knaptoft is just off the A5199 near Husbands Bosworth. Knaptoft House Farm is a nearby bed and breakfast and stud farm. The medieval fish ponds were restored from 1976 to 1982 and are now run commercially.

History

The village was deserted in the 17th century, and the only visible remains are some farm buildings and a ruined parish church. It is recorded in the Domesday Book as Cnapetot. Cnape could refer to either a personal name, or derive from either the Old Norwegian word Knappr meaning a hilltop or the Old English word Cnap meaning a young servant boy (Old Norse Knapi). Toft is believed to derive from the Old Scandinavian toft which means homestead.

In 1301 the village was known to comprise a manor, a windmill, 2 fish ponds and 20 tenants. By 1624 only the manor and 5 labourers remained. The depopulation was due to the enclosure of the land for sheep pasture, which required less labour.