The Domesday Book of 1086 records the village,[2] when its population was about 140.[citation needed] The toponym may be derived from Old English: gilden (or gylden) meaning "golden",[3] and morton, "town on the moor".[4]
In 1303 Roger de Martivall was permitted to alienate land and property at Noseley, Gilmorton and Stretton to create an income for four chaplains at a chantry chapel at Noseley.[5]
The west tower has a ring of eight bells. Thomas I Eayre of Kettering cast the sixth bell in 1738 and the tenor in 1749. Joseph Eayre of St Neots, Huntingdonshire, cast the fourth bell in 1766. John Taylor & Co of Loughborough cast the seventh bell in 1861, the fifth bell in 1871 and the treble, second and third bells in 1909 when the tower was rebuilt.[8]
A tower mill at Gilmorton was built early in the 19th century. The brick tower survives and has been restored, but neither the cap nor any machinery survives.[10]
In 1942 RAF Bruntingthorpe was opened just east of the parish. In 1953 its main runway was extended by 4,800 feet (1,500 m), bringing it into Gilmorton parish and within 1⁄4 mile (400 m) of the village. The air station was decommissioned in 1962, sold for civilian use in 1965 and is now Bruntingthorpe Aerodrome.
Gilmorton has three pubs: the Crown Inn,[11] the Grey Goose[12] and Mortons,[13] a Village Hall, and a combined Village Store, Post Office and Tea Room.[14]
Gilmorton Chandler Church of England primary school serves Gilmorton and six neighbouring parishes.[15]
