Long Compton
Encyclopedia
Long Compton is a village
and civil parish in Warwickshire
, England
near the extreme southern tip of Warwickshire, and close to the border with Oxfordshire
. It is part of the district of Stratford-on-Avon
and in the 2001 census
had a population of 705.
The village is in the Cotswolds
and is located on the A3400
(formerly the A34) from Oxford
to Stratford-upon-Avon
. As the name implies it is a long village. In the centre is the large church of St Peter and St Paul, which dates from the 13th century.
Walter West, the grandfather of Fred West
, was born in Long Compton.
About one mile south of Long Compton are the Rollright Stones
, a neolithic
monument. According to local legend, the stones are the remains of a King who set out to conquer England but was hailed by a witch who told him to take seven strides and then:
The King took seven strides but instead of seeing Long Compton he saw a spur of land obstructing the view. The witch said:
Village
A village is a clustered human settlement or community, larger than a hamlet with the population ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand , Though often located in rural areas, the term urban village is also applied to certain urban neighbourhoods, such as the West Village in Manhattan, New...
and civil parish in 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...
near the extreme southern tip of Warwickshire, and close to the border with Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire
Oxfordshire is a county in the South East region of England, bordering on Warwickshire and Northamptonshire , Buckinghamshire , Berkshire , Wiltshire and Gloucestershire ....
. It is part of the district of Stratford-on-Avon
Stratford-on-Avon (district)
Stratford-on-Avon is a local government district of southern Warwickshire in England.The district is named "Stratford-on-Avon" to distinguish it from its main town of Stratford-upon-Avon where the district council is based, although this name often causes confusion .The district is mostly rural and...
and in the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
had a population of 705.
The village is in 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...
and is located on the A3400
A3400 road
The A3400 is a road in the Midlands of England, running from Hockley Heath to a junction with the A44 near Chipping Norton. At its northern end it joins up with the A34, of which it was originally one section. At its southern end it joins the A44, passing through Woodstock and joining the A34 at...
(formerly the A34) from Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
to 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...
. As the name implies it is a long village. In the centre is the large church of St Peter and St Paul, which dates from the 13th century.
Walter West, the grandfather of Fred West
Fred West
Frederick Walter Stephen West , was a British serial killer. Between 1967 and 1987, he alone, and later, he and his wife Rosemary, tortured, raped and murdered at least 11 young women and girls, many at the couple's homes. The majority of the murders occurred between May 1973 and September 1979 at...
, was born in Long Compton.
About one mile south of Long Compton are the Rollright Stones
Rollright Stones
The Rollright Stones are a complex of three Neolithic and Bronze Age megalithic monuments located near to the village of Long Compton on the borders of Oxfordshire and Warwickshire in England...
, a neolithic
Neolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
monument. According to local legend, the stones are the remains of a King who set out to conquer England but was hailed by a witch who told him to take seven strides and then:
- If Long Compton thou canst see
- King of England thou shalt be
The King took seven strides but instead of seeing Long Compton he saw a spur of land obstructing the view. The witch said:
- As Long Compton thou canst not see
- King of England thou shalt not be.
- Rise up stick, and stand still, stone
- For King of England thou shalt be none.
- Thou and thy men hoar stones shalt be,
- And I myself an eldern tree