Binton
Encyclopedia
Binton is a village and civil parish
in the Stratford district of Warwickshire
, England
. It is about five miles (8 km) west of Stratford-upon-Avon
. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 272.
in 1670 and the title remains in his family. In the 19th century, the Conways possessed most of the village and proceeded to build the present church in 1875, on the site of a much older one. A picture of the original church can be seen at the back of the current church. Between the Norman Conquest and the Conways' buying of the Manor, it had belonged to many different families. The Wyncote family held it for the longest period: from 1325 until 1531.
The name Binton probably derives from Bina’s Ton (or town), Bina being a former Anglo-Saxon owner of the village.
Binton is unusual in that it has four entries in the Domesday Book
of 1086. There were four major landholders named William, Gerin, Urso and Hugh. The total value of all their property was £8 and 10s, a lot of money at the time. Adding together the figures given gives an area of 1538 acres (6 km²), whilst the modern parish is only 1300 acres (5 km²). This is because some of the original manor is now in Temple Grafton
parish. Therefore, according to the Domesday Book, in 1086, Binton had a population of 29 families with 150 people working seven ploughs and three mills. Altogether, this is very impressive for an eleventh-century manor.
This agricultural activity appears to have continued down the centuries. In the 19th century, a rector of Binton, trying to raise money for the church, said that most of the inhabitants were agricultural workers and were therefore unable to contribute. He was therefore required to ask the local gentry instead.
In the 19th century Binton gained many new facilities. In addition to the church and rectory, there was the village spring
across the road from the church, and, in the main street, a school, a village shop, a post office
, and a pub (The White Horse). There was a forge
and, on the main Evesham Road, there was the railway station. The school, shop, post office, pub, forge and railway station no longer exist, due to the process of gentrification
, where agricultural workers have been replaced by retired people and commuters who work in the surrounding area.
There is a parish council. In local government, the village was put in Stratford Rural District Council at its inception in 1894, and then, 80 years later, was absorbed into the larger Stratford District, which is where it is today.
, Warwickshire
and the Cotswolds
. It was mainly paid for by the Marchioness of Hertford.
Signs of the original church remain, however. There is a fifteenth-century font and cover and a mediaeval parish chest with three locks and bound with iron bands. Furthermore, there is a stained-glass window in memory of Sir John Greville, who died in 1480 and was an MP
in five Parliaments. He is buried in Weston-on-Avon. The window depicts the arms
of the Greville family of Milcote. There is also a piece of wood depicting the royal coat of arms. It must date from 1714-1801 as it includes the white horse of Hanover. Finally, by the gate to enter the churchyard, there are steps built into the wall, so as to avoid using the gate. The purpose of these was for people arriving to church by horseback could easily dismount,there is still a ring by these steps where the horses would be tied.
The main feature of the church of St Peter is a memorial window by Kempe
(1915), dedicated to Robert Falcon Scott
and his co-explorers who died in their failed attempt to return from the South Pole. The window shows four scenes of the 1912 expedition. Scott had married Kathleen Bruce
, sister of the Reverend Lloyd Harvey Bruce, Binton's rector 1906-24. Scott frequently visited the Rectory (now The Grange). Alongside the window is a memorial cross for the Revd Bruce, with a bronze sculpture of Christ designed by Kathleen.
The church has one bell
, cast by Henry Bagley of Chacombe in 1669.
Just to the right of the church porch
is the tomb of William Jackson and his wife, who lived in "Springback", now The Old Wellhouse. Jackson provided the stone wellhead
known as “Buckwell” or “Lion’s Mouth" by piping water from a well
in his own garden.
and Alcester
.
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
in the Stratford district of Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. It is about five miles (8 km) west of Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 272.
History
Binton Manor was bought by Edward Viscount Conway of Ragley HallRagley Hall
Ragley Hall is located south of Alcester, Warwickshire, eight miles west of Stratford-upon-Avon. It is the ancestral seat of the Marquess of Hertford and is one of the stately homes of England.-The present day:...
in 1670 and the title remains in his family. In the 19th century, the Conways possessed most of the village and proceeded to build the present church in 1875, on the site of a much older one. A picture of the original church can be seen at the back of the current church. Between the Norman Conquest and the Conways' buying of the Manor, it had belonged to many different families. The Wyncote family held it for the longest period: from 1325 until 1531.
The name Binton probably derives from Bina’s Ton (or town), Bina being a former Anglo-Saxon owner of the village.
Binton is unusual in that it has four entries in the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
of 1086. There were four major landholders named William, Gerin, Urso and Hugh. The total value of all their property was £8 and 10s, a lot of money at the time. Adding together the figures given gives an area of 1538 acres (6 km²), whilst the modern parish is only 1300 acres (5 km²). This is because some of the original manor is now in Temple Grafton
Temple Grafton
Temple Grafton is a village and civil parish in the Stratford district of Warwickshire, England, situated about east of Alcester and West of the county town of Warwick. The place name is misleading, the Knights Templar never having any association with the place but owing to a naming error made...
parish. Therefore, according to the Domesday Book, in 1086, Binton had a population of 29 families with 150 people working seven ploughs and three mills. Altogether, this is very impressive for an eleventh-century manor.
This agricultural activity appears to have continued down the centuries. In the 19th century, a rector of Binton, trying to raise money for the church, said that most of the inhabitants were agricultural workers and were therefore unable to contribute. He was therefore required to ask the local gentry instead.
In the 19th century Binton gained many new facilities. In addition to the church and rectory, there was the village spring
Spring (hydrosphere)
A spring—also known as a rising or resurgence—is a component of the hydrosphere. Specifically, it is any natural situation where water flows to the surface of the earth from underground...
across the road from the church, and, in the main street, a school, a village shop, a post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
, and a pub (The White Horse). There was a forge
Forge
A forge is a hearth used for forging. The term "forge" can also refer to the workplace of a smith or a blacksmith, although the term smithy is then more commonly used.The basic smithy contains a forge, also known as a hearth, for heating metals...
and, on the main Evesham Road, there was the railway station. The school, shop, post office, pub, forge and railway station no longer exist, due to the process of gentrification
Gentrification
Gentrification and urban gentrification refer to the changes that result when wealthier people acquire or rent property in low income and working class communities. Urban gentrification is associated with movement. Consequent to gentrification, the average income increases and average family size...
, where agricultural workers have been replaced by retired people and commuters who work in the surrounding area.
There is a parish council. In local government, the village was put in Stratford Rural District Council at its inception in 1894, and then, 80 years later, was absorbed into the larger Stratford District, which is where it is today.
St Peter's Church
St Peter's Church is the Anglican church in the village and there has been a church on the site since at least 1286. The current church was built in 1875 and has views south over the river AvonRiver Avon, Warwickshire
The River Avon or Avon is a river in or adjoining the counties of Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Warwickshire, Worcestershire and Gloucestershire in the Midlands of England...
, Warwickshire
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
and the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
. It was mainly paid for by the Marchioness of Hertford.
Signs of the original church remain, however. There is a fifteenth-century font and cover and a mediaeval parish chest with three locks and bound with iron bands. Furthermore, there is a stained-glass window in memory of Sir John Greville, who died in 1480 and was an MP
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in five Parliaments. He is buried in Weston-on-Avon. The window depicts the arms
Coat of arms
A coat of arms is a unique heraldic design on a shield or escutcheon or on a surcoat or tabard used to cover and protect armour and to identify the wearer. Thus the term is often stated as "coat-armour", because it was anciently displayed on the front of a coat of cloth...
of the Greville family of Milcote. There is also a piece of wood depicting the royal coat of arms. It must date from 1714-1801 as it includes the white horse of Hanover. Finally, by the gate to enter the churchyard, there are steps built into the wall, so as to avoid using the gate. The purpose of these was for people arriving to church by horseback could easily dismount,there is still a ring by these steps where the horses would be tied.
Charles Eamer Kempe
Charles Eamer Kempe was a well-known Victorian stained glass designer. After attending Twyford School, he studied for the priesthood at Pembroke College, Oxford, but it became clear that his severe stammer would be an impediment to preaching...
(1915), dedicated to Robert Falcon Scott
Robert Falcon Scott
Captain Robert Falcon Scott, CVO was a Royal Navy officer and explorer who led two expeditions to the Antarctic regions: the Discovery Expedition, 1901–04, and the ill-fated Terra Nova Expedition, 1910–13...
and his co-explorers who died in their failed attempt to return from the South Pole. The window shows four scenes of the 1912 expedition. Scott had married Kathleen Bruce
Kathleen Scott
Kathleen Scott, Baroness Kennet, FRSBS was a British sculptor.-Early life:Born Edith Agnes Kathleen Bruce at Carlton in Lindrick, Bassetlaw, Nottinghamshire, she was the youngest of eleven children of Canon Lloyd Stuart Bruce and Jane Skene Kathleen Scott, Baroness Kennet, FRSBS (27 March...
, sister of the Reverend Lloyd Harvey Bruce, Binton's rector 1906-24. Scott frequently visited the Rectory (now The Grange). Alongside the window is a memorial cross for the Revd Bruce, with a bronze sculpture of Christ designed by Kathleen.
The church has one bell
Church bell
A church bell is a bell which is rung in a church either to signify the hour or the time for worshippers to go to church, perhaps to attend a wedding, funeral, or other service...
, cast by Henry Bagley of Chacombe in 1669.
Just to the right of the church porch
Porch
A porch is external to the walls of the main building proper, but may be enclosed by screen, latticework, broad windows, or other light frame walls extending from the main structure.There are various styles of porches, all of which depend on the architectural tradition of its location...
is the tomb of William Jackson and his wife, who lived in "Springback", now The Old Wellhouse. Jackson provided the stone wellhead
Wellhead
A wellhead is a general term used to describe the component at the surface of an oil or gas well that provides the structural and pressure-containing interface for the drilling and production equipment....
known as “Buckwell” or “Lion’s Mouth" by piping water from a well
Water well
A water well is an excavation or structure created in the ground by digging, driving, boring or drilling to access groundwater in underground aquifers. The well water is drawn by an electric submersible pump, a trash pump, a vertical turbine pump, a handpump or a mechanical pump...
in his own garden.
Education
The nearest primary school is in Temple Grafton. The nearest secondary schools are in Stratford-upon-AvonStratford-upon-Avon
Stratford-upon-Avon is a market town and civil parish in south Warwickshire, England. It lies on the River Avon, south east of Birmingham and south west of Warwick. It is the largest and most populous town of the District of Stratford-on-Avon, which uses the term "on" to indicate that it covers...
and Alcester
Alcester
Alcester is an old market town of Roman origin at the junction of the River Alne and River Arrow in Warwickshire, England. It is situated approximately west of Stratford-upon-Avon, and 8 miles south of Redditch, close to the Worcestershire border...
.