MOUNTSORREL, a market-town and chapelry, partly in the parish of ROTHLEY, but chiefly in that of BARROW-upon-SOAR, western division of the hundred ojF GOSCOTE, county of LEICESTER, 7 miles (N.) from Leicester, and 104 (N. N. W.) from London, containing 1422 inhabitants. The name of this place, prior to the Qonquest, appears to have been Soar-hill, which, with its present appellation, is evidently derived from its situation on a mount or hill near the river Soar. On the highest of a range of hills, impending above the town, and called Castle hill, a fortress once stood, which is mentioned in the reign of Stephen, when it was assigned tq Robert le Bossu, Earl of Leicester, and his heirs, on condition that Ralph, Earl of Chester, who also laid claim to it, should, with his family, be amicably received within the borough, bailiwick, and castle, whenever they might choose to reside there. In 1167, Robert Blanchmains, Earl of Leicester, on his rebellion against Henry II., was dispossessed of it with his other estates; the latter were subsequently restored to him, but the king retained the castle, and governors were appointed to hold it duringthis and succeeding reigns. In 1215,it was garrisoned by Saer de Ghiincey, its governor, for the Dauphin of France, whom the barons had invited to their assistance} and when the royal cause became triumphant, in the beginning of the reign of Henry III., was taken and razed to the ground. This small town is rather romantically situated, amidst rocky and variegated scenery, and consists principally of one street, which extends about three-quarters of a mile along the high road, and is paved with red granite from the adjacent cliffs; the houses in general are constructed of the same material. Worsted-hose and net-lace are manufactured here; and the Soar canal affords facility for the conveyance of stone for the repair of roads throughout the neighbourhood. The market, which is almost disused, is on Monday; and there is a fair on the 29th of July, during which a court of pie-powder is held. There is a small stone bridge over the Soar. The markethouse, a small building in the centre of the town, was erected in 1793, at the expense of Sir John Danvers, Bart., who at the same time removed a curious and ancient cross, which occupied a portion of the site, into his own ground. In addition to the usual manorial courts, a court of pleas is held every three weeks, for the recovery of small debts within the eastern and western divisions of the hundred of Goscote, having the same jurisdiction over that district as a county court has over the county at large. The chapel, dedicated to St. Peter, is a chapel of ease to the vicarage of Barrow. There are places of worship for Baptists, Presbyterians, Unitarians, and Wesleyan Methodists. A free school, for educating twelve boys, was founded in 1742, by Sir John Danvers; the endowment is about £ 12 per annum. There are several considerable benefactions for the relief of the poor.