A Taste of Syston History

Syston probably came into existence during the Anglo Saxon period. In spite of its position next to a major Roman road, the Fosseway, and proximity to two sizable rivers there is little evidence of earlier habitation.

The origin of the name Syston is in dispute but some believe it may have been after the Angle, Sigehae who gave his name to a farmstead on the site which later grew into a village. It is possible he came to the area in the sixth century as there is evidence of colonisation in the Wreake Valley at this time.

At the time of the Viking invasions in the 9th century there are clear signs of them joining the Anglo-Saxons in colonising the Syston area. There are a number of villages with names ending in by evidence of Viking occupation. The name of this original settlement changed several times in the next ten centuries having been variously known as Sideton, Sireston, Sison, Siterton and Sitestone.
When the survey known as the Domesday Book was carried out in 1086 the village was known as Sitestone.

The landowner for most of Leicestershire was Hugh de Grentemaisnil, a favourite of King William, his tenant in Syston was Suain. This is an Old English name and it seems likely that Syston was one of the few villages to have an English lord in 1086. The likely population at this time may have been about 120.