There has been much controversy about the origin of the name of the town. The earliest form is Scepeshefde Regis as mentioned in the Domesday Book, which means "Hill where sheep graze", but since then there have been many changes until the present form, Shepshed, was adopted in 1888. The older part of the Town is found in the vicinity of St Botolph's Parish Church, which has stood on its present site since the 11th Century.