Barkby is a village and civil parish in the Charnwood district of Leicestershire, England. It is situated north-east of Leicester, and only a short way from Leicester's urban sprawl in Thurmaston and Syston. Nearby villages are Beeby and Barkby Thorpe. Barkby Brook is the main watercourse which flows through Barkby. The parish has a population of around 300. In the 1870s John Marius Wilson stated that Barkby, "lies on an affluent of the river Wreak, 1½ mile S by E of Syston r. station, and 4½ NE of Leicester; and it includes the hamlet of Hambleton." History The 1086 Domesday Book records Barkby as "Barcheberie". The name Barkby itself has an Old Norse origin meaning "Barki's farm/settlement". Barkby Hall, home and seat of the Pochin family since 1604, is a grade II listed building situated next to St Mary's Church. The country house has 3 storeys and 8-bay frontage, constructed in rendered brick c.1810. St Mary's Church The parish church situated in Barkby is dedicated to St Mary. Earliest records state that the church was built in the late 13th century but its ground undertook extension in 1887. The grade I church was officially listed in June 1966. The Church itself contains 6 bells and a 2 aisle nave. The church also consists of a tower made up of 4 stages and a gothic organ case. Built primarily from ironstone, granite was infused into the buildings structure during restoration work in the 19th century. The presence of the Pochin family is also noticeable within St Mary's church as a number of memorials of past family members can also be found around the Church. Occupations 1881 gave birth to the most organised classification of occupation within a UK Census. The total population in Barby was revealed to be 579 in this year, 305 of which were of an age able to have a form of occupation. This can be compared to 2011 where 179 individuals were at employment age. Occupation sectors which were present in Barkby at this time included, Transport & Communications, Textile Fabrics and Local government. However, a significant disparity in occupation between males and females was evident. In fact the 1881 Census showed that females were only present in 5 occupational sectors within Barkby; the majority being in Domestic Service or Offices. The most male dominated industry at this time was the agricultural sector, where 60 males in