Slawston

Population graph for Slawston 1801-2011

The earliest census records date back to 1801 with the total population at 266 people. Between 1811 and 1851 the population fluctuated but after 1851 the Parish saw a significant decrease in population, the population went from 281 in 1851 to 145 in 1901. In the early 19th century the population slowly decreased to 124 in 1951, 10 years later in 1961 the population was 105 people.[5] According to the 2011 census, Slawston had a population of 191 people.[6]

Occupational graph for the population of Slawston in 1881.

This was the most detailed parish-level occupation data ever published by the census as it included information on the precise occupations of the workers. In 1831 the information from the first three censuses was a three-way categorisation of families. A more detailed categorisation was produced although it only was limited to males aged 20 and over, although it does include numbers if male and female servants under 20. The census divides 63 males into nine categories; in 1831, 23 males worked as Agricultural Labourers which was the highest employed occupation from the census. 13 males were employed in Retail and Handicrafts followed closely with Manufacturing employing 10 males. In Slawston there are not any workers in the Capitalists, Professionals or Non-Agricultural Labourers categories but 3 other males were employed but there occupation is classed as unknown.[7] In the 1881 census data it gives information on the occupational orders in Slawston. Although in the 1881 census there are more people employed in each category there was a lower number of people employed in total. In 1881 Agriculture still had the highest number of employees with 26 men working in that category. Across the nine other categories, one to two males were employed in each category. For females, there were none working in Agriculture, Transport and communications, House, furniture and Decorations and dress but 34 females worked in an Unknown occupation, many of these categories combine 'Worker and Dealers' in different marketable items so it is hard to distinguish workers in manufacturing and services. In Slawston in 1881 there were two female professionals and 11 females working in Service or Offices which is a significant difference from males in Slawston.[8]

An Anglican Parish Church which dates back to 1559 and is dedicated to All Saints in the church's register. The church which seats 168 was restored in 1864. A congregational chapel was built there in 1779 and rebuilt in 1850.[10]

Slawston bridge, at grid reference SP783934, is about 16 miles (26 km) south-east of Leicester and about one and a half miles down Slawston Road. The bridge is the abutments of a former railway bridge from which the span has been demolished. The bridge has become popular for rock climbing. As a climbing area it has of three types of rock; ironstone, gritstone and smooth blue engineers bricks, offering the best local climbing with some vertical 7 metres (23 ft) heights.[11] The nearby Wheel & Compass pub accommodates climbers.[12]

The village is characterised by Slawston Hill at SP782941, 131 metres (430 ft) in height. Slawston Hill is also known as Burrough Hill.