Luddington, Warwickshire
Encyclopedia
Luddington is a small village
and civil parish
in the English
county of Warwickshire
in the United Kingdom
. It is located about five kilometres (three miles) outside the town of Stratford-upon-Avon
on the banks of the river Avon
and has views south over the Cotswolds
. Facilities and communications include a phone box, a 19th-century church, a post box
, a marina
with a 17th century lock
, a village green
and a recently refurbished village hall
originally built in 1953. The parish encompasses Dodwell (/ˈdɒdwɛl/) Caravan Park to the north of the village.
bird flu outbreak in the UK, when a dead swan was found in Scotland
, samples were sent to Luddington for testing. Bomfords has frequently been at loggerheads with the village residents, who took the company to court to prevent its vehicles driving through the village. The Dodwell Trading Estate offers another source of employment. Within the village, there is also a farrier and an organ building and repair business.
The village was originally accessed via a road running from the Evesham
road down through Dodwell. This then continued through a ford in the river to Milcote. This first part of this road is now a footpath and the second part no longer exists. The village was part of the Ragley estate belonging to the Marquis of Hertford.
The oldest building in the village is part of Boddington Farm, which dates from the 17th century. It marks the eastern boundary of the village's conservation area. During the English civil war
, Robert Simcock's (Simcox) barn was emptied of its "carefully stored" apples by marauding troops.
Other important buildings include Sandfields Farm (now Luddington Grange), The Manor and The Cottage (now named The Old House). The Cottage's front garden is shown on some maps to have been the original site of the church, where it is rumoured that the playwright and poet William Shakespeare
may have married Anne Hathaway
. He may have waited in The Cottage before the ceremony. The current church is not the church that stood in the village in Shakespeare's time, but is a 19th-century replacement and is on a different site.
There are numerous half-timbered buildings. The former Methodist Chapel was opened in August 1932, in a farm building owned by Thomas Higginson, a local farmer and Methodist Local Preacher. Other more recent buildings have been allocated to the farm estates. The village green is the only remaining land belonging to the Marquis of Hertford of Ragley Hall
at Arrow.
Until the 1980s Luddington was home to Luddington Experimental Horticulture Station (EHS), one of several such establishments around the country undertaking field research for the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF).
The village has a several annual events including carols on the village green on Christmas Eve
with a brass band and mulled wine
. There is an annual village fête
in the summer and quiz nights and dance classes in the village hall. Other activities include fishing
, boating
and canoeing
. The route of the Stratford Marathon passes through the village. Dodwell Farm, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the village hosts occasional motocross
events during the summer.
There is no pub and The Cottage, formerly a pub, has a clause in the deeds stating that alcohol may not be sold on its premises. The television channel five cannot be received in the village.
, usually either in Stratford-upon-Avon or Alcester. There are few facilities for young people, apart from the swings on the green. There are no schools in the parish.
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
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 English
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...
county 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...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is located about five kilometres (three miles) outside the town 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...
on the banks of the river Avon
River 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...
and has views south over 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...
. Facilities and communications include a phone box, a 19th-century church, a post box
Post box
A post box is a physical box into which members of the public can deposit outgoing mail intended for collection by the agents of a country's postal service...
, a marina
Marina
A marina is a dock or basin with moorings and supplies for yachts and small boats.A marina differs from a port in that a marina does not handle large passenger ships or cargo from freighters....
with a 17th century lock
Lock (water transport)
A lock is a device for raising and lowering boats between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. The distinguishing feature of a lock is a fixed chamber in which the water level can be varied; whereas in a caisson lock, a boat lift, or on a canal inclined plane, it is...
, a village green
Village green
A village green is a common open area which is a part of a settlement. Traditionally, such an area was often common grass land at the centre of a small agricultural settlement, used for grazing and sometimes for community events...
and a recently refurbished village hall
Village hall
In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a city hall does within cities.In the United Kingdom, a village hall is usually a building within a village which contains at least one large room, usually owned by and run for the benefit of the local...
originally built in 1953. The parish encompasses Dodwell (/ˈdɒdwɛl/) Caravan Park to the north of the village.
Economy
The village is largely a dormitory village, with the majority of the inhabitants working elsewhere, but there is a Veterinary Laboratory Agency and Bomfords industrial farm, which supplies some major retailers. Farming is the main activity within the village. Following the first suspected H5N1H5N1
Influenza A virus subtype H5N1, also known as "bird flu", A or simply H5N1, is a subtype of the influenza A virus which can cause illness in humans and many other animal species...
bird flu outbreak in the UK, when a dead swan was found in Scotland
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
, samples were sent to Luddington for testing. Bomfords has frequently been at loggerheads with the village residents, who took the company to court to prevent its vehicles driving through the village. The Dodwell Trading Estate offers another source of employment. Within the village, there is also a farrier and an organ building and repair business.
History
The name Luddington is of Anglo-Saxon origin meaning Luda's farmstead. Dodwell is also of Anglo-Saxon origin and means Dodda's well or spring.The village was originally accessed via a road running from the Evesham
Evesham
Evesham is a market town and a civil parish in the Local Authority District of Wychavon in the county of Worcestershire, England with a population of 22,000. It is located roughly equidistant between Worcester, Cheltenham and Stratford-upon-Avon...
road down through Dodwell. This then continued through a ford in the river to Milcote. This first part of this road is now a footpath and the second part no longer exists. The village was part of the Ragley estate belonging to the Marquis of Hertford.
The oldest building in the village is part of Boddington Farm, which dates from the 17th century. It marks the eastern boundary of the village's conservation area. During the English civil war
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
, Robert Simcock's (Simcox) barn was emptied of its "carefully stored" apples by marauding troops.
Other important buildings include Sandfields Farm (now Luddington Grange), The Manor and The Cottage (now named The Old House). The Cottage's front garden is shown on some maps to have been the original site of the church, where it is rumoured that the playwright and poet William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare
William Shakespeare was an English poet and playwright, widely regarded as the greatest writer in the English language and the world's pre-eminent dramatist. He is often called England's national poet and the "Bard of Avon"...
may have married Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway (Shakespeare)
Anne Hathaway was the wife of William Shakespeare. They were married in 1582. She outlived her husband by seven years...
. He may have waited in The Cottage before the ceremony. The current church is not the church that stood in the village in Shakespeare's time, but is a 19th-century replacement and is on a different site.
There are numerous half-timbered buildings. The former Methodist Chapel was opened in August 1932, in a farm building owned by Thomas Higginson, a local farmer and Methodist Local Preacher. Other more recent buildings have been allocated to the farm estates. The village green is the only remaining land belonging to the Marquis of Hertford of Ragley Hall
Ragley 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:...
at Arrow.
Until the 1980s Luddington was home to Luddington Experimental Horticulture Station (EHS), one of several such establishments around the country undertaking field research for the Agricultural Development and Advisory Service (ADAS) of the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAFF).
Village life
Christmas Eve
Christmas Eve refers to the evening or entire day preceding Christmas Day, a widely celebrated festival commemorating the birth of Jesus of Nazareth that takes place on December 25...
with a brass band and mulled wine
Mulled wine
Mulled wine, variations of which are popular in Europe, is wine, usually red, combined with spices and typically served warm. It is a traditional drink during winter, especially around Christmas and Halloween.-Glühwein:...
. There is an annual village fête
Fête
Fête is a French word meaning festival, celebration or party, which has passed into English as a label that may be given to certain events.-Description:It is widely used in England and Australia in the context of a village fête,...
in the summer and quiz nights and dance classes in the village hall. Other activities include fishing
Fishing
Fishing is the activity of trying to catch wild fish. Fish are normally caught in the wild. Techniques for catching fish include hand gathering, spearing, netting, angling and trapping....
, boating
Boating
Boating is the leisurely activity of travelling by boat, or the recreational use of a boat whether powerboats, sailboats, or man-powered vessels , focused on the travel itself, as well as sports activities, such as fishing or water skiing...
and canoeing
Canoeing
Canoeing is an outdoor activity that involves a special kind of canoe.Open canoes may be 'poled' , sailed, 'lined and tracked' or even 'gunnel-bobbed'....
. The route of the Stratford Marathon passes through the village. Dodwell Farm, about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) north of the village hosts occasional motocross
Motocross
Motocross is a form of motorcycle sport or all-terrain vehicle racing held on enclosed off road circuits. It evolved from trials, and was called scrambles, and later motocross, combining the French moto with cross-country...
events during the summer.
There is no pub and The Cottage, formerly a pub, has a clause in the deeds stating that alcohol may not be sold on its premises. The television channel five cannot be received in the village.
Dodwell
The civil parish also includes the Dodwell caravan park about 1 miles (1.6 km) north of the village proper. The construction of this park effectively doubled the parish's population and means that the parish has two separate centres of population. Dodwell was originally a farming hamlet on the Evesham Road from Stratford to Bidford west of Bordon Hill.Youth
The young people of the parish all reside in the village proper with no children living in Dodwell. Those of school age tend to attend schools within Stratford-on-Avon districtStratford-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...
, usually either in Stratford-upon-Avon or Alcester. There are few facilities for young people, apart from the swings on the green. There are no schools in the parish.
Transport
There are limited bus services for both the village and Dodwell, but not between the two.External links
- Luddington Parish Plan contains detailed information about life in the parish, facilities and future improvements.
- Rewlach Methodist History article on the origins of Luddington Methodist Chapel