About Barrow Upon Soar in Leicestershire

Barrow upon Soar is a town in the English county of Leicestershire. The town lies on the River Soar, a tributary of the River Trent, and is around 9 miles (14 km) northeast of the city of Leicester. It had a population of 3,291 at the 2011 census.

The town's name is derived from the Old English meaning "hill on the River Soar". Barrow upon Soar was originally a small village, but grew rapidly in the 19th century with the coming of the railways. The Midland Railway built a station here in 1848, and the Great Northern Railway opened a station in 1852.

The town is home to Barrow-upon-Soar Parish Church, which dates from the 13th century, and to Barrow-upon-Soar Cemetery, which contains the graves of several notable people, including the explorer Sir Richard Burton and the poet A. E. Housman.

Barrow upon Soar has a number of schools, including Barrow-upon-Soar Community Primary School, Barrow-upon-Soar Academy, and Harington School. The town also has a number of shops and businesses, as well as a library and a leisure centre.