Middleton, Warwickshire
Encyclopedia
Middleton is a small village in the North Warwickshire
district of the county of Warwickshire
, England
.
At the time of Domesday Middleton was under a Norman
Overlord Hugh de Grantmaisnil who had several holdings in Warwickshire
. When he died it passed to the Marmions of Tamworth
. In 1291 the estate was divided into three and Middleton was held by the de Frevilles. In the mid 15th century Sir Richard Bingham married Margaret Freville of Nottinghamshire
. There is a brass memorial to Sir Richard in the Parish Church. When Margaret died in 1493 she left the estate to her grandson (by her first marriage) Sir Henry Willughby. It then stayed in the family until 1924. Francis Willughby
was born there.
By the late 1970s Middleton Hall
and the surrounding estate came under the ownership of the Amey Roadstone Construction
(ARC) for sand and gravel extraction. The Hall and its outbuildings, with some remains dating back to the Norman
period, was in serious danger of being lost. It was saved by the establishment of the Middleton Hall Trust in 1980, a group of volunteers who are restoring the Hall with the help of local authorities and national bodies. ARC have assisted in this by renting at a low rate the Hall and surroundings to the Trust, also restoring a Tudor period
stable block for craft centre. Middleton also have a successful Sunday league team, sporting a green home shirt and an all black away kit. The village pub is the "Green Man".
By the 1980s Middleton was in the middle of a leisure 'area' with The Belfry
golf resort to the South. Aston Villa Football Club's Bodymoor Heath Training Ground
to the East, Drayton Manor Theme Park
to the North and the M6 Toll
being built to the West. Demographic change bought about by the recession of the early 1980s, which saw many local farms and businesses fail, has led to many humble buildings being expanded into luxury homes. Various public entertainment and business sites were created. A children's farm, two garden centres and numerous small industrial units now attract many people from the surrounding urban areas.
In the 1990s one farm diversified into the car boot sale
market. This now occupies several fields in the Parish throughout the year, alternating between sites at weekends. The Gravel excavation at the Eastern boundary finished in this decade, and two more leisure sites were established. Kingsbury Water Park
at Bodymoor Heath and Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve
. These have grown into busy centres in the first decade of the 21st Century.
In March 2010 the Government of the day announced plans for an extension to the high speed rail link that was already planned from London to Birmingham. This proposal, extending Northwards, places a route just 300yards to the East of the main village. An elevated track, some 80 yards wide and 20 yards high would take up to 14 passenger trains, capable of 250 mph, an hour. Many local roadways would be affected.
, of Middleton in the county of Warwick", was created in 1711 by Queen Anne as a hereditary barony in the Peerage of Great Britain for Thomas Willoughby, 2nd Baronet
, of Wollaton in the County of Nottingham (1670–1729).
The present holder is Michael Charles James Willoughby, 13th Baron Middleton (b. 1948).
His heir apparent is his son the Hon. James William Michael Willoughby (b. 1976).
Second in line to the barony is his grandson Thomas Michael Jonathan Willoughby (b. 2007)
North Warwickshire
North Warwickshire is a local government district and borough in Warwickshire, England. The main town in the district is Atherstone where the council is based...
district of the 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...
, 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...
.
At the time of Domesday Middleton was under a Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
Overlord Hugh de Grantmaisnil who had several holdings 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...
. When he died it passed to the Marmions of Tamworth
Tamworth
Tamworth is a town and local government district in Staffordshire, England, located north-east of Birmingham city centre and north-west of London. The town takes its name from the River Tame, which flows through the town, as does the River Anker...
. In 1291 the estate was divided into three and Middleton was held by the de Frevilles. In the mid 15th century Sir Richard Bingham married Margaret Freville of Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire
Nottinghamshire is a county in the East Midlands of England, bordering South Yorkshire to the north-west, Lincolnshire to the east, Leicestershire to the south, and Derbyshire to the west...
. There is a brass memorial to Sir Richard in the Parish Church. When Margaret died in 1493 she left the estate to her grandson (by her first marriage) Sir Henry Willughby. It then stayed in the family until 1924. Francis Willughby
Francis Willughby
thumbnail|200px|right|A page from the Ornithologia, showing [[Jackdaw]], [[Chough]], [[European Magpie|Magpie]] and [[Eurasian Jay|Jay]], all [[Corvidae|crows]]....
was born there.
By the late 1970s Middleton Hall
Middleton Hall
Middleton Hall is a Grade II listed building dating back to medieval times. It is situated in the North Warwickshire district of the county of Warwickshire in England, south of Fazeley and Tamworth and on the opposite side of the A4091 road to Middleton village.The Manor of Middleton was held by...
and the surrounding estate came under the ownership of the Amey Roadstone Construction
Amey plc
Amey plc, previously known as Amey Ltd and Amey Roadstone Construction, is a United Kingdom based infrastructure support service provider. It was once listed on the London Stock Exchange but since 2003 it has been a subsidiary of Spanish company Grupo Ferrovial, S.A....
(ARC) for sand and gravel extraction. The Hall and its outbuildings, with some remains dating back to the Norman
Normans
The Normans were the people who gave their name to Normandy, a region in northern France. They were descended from Norse Viking conquerors of the territory and the native population of Frankish and Gallo-Roman stock...
period, was in serious danger of being lost. It was saved by the establishment of the Middleton Hall Trust in 1980, a group of volunteers who are restoring the Hall with the help of local authorities and national bodies. ARC have assisted in this by renting at a low rate the Hall and surroundings to the Trust, also restoring a Tudor period
Tudor period
The Tudor period usually refers to the period between 1485 and 1603, specifically in relation to the history of England. This coincides with the rule of the Tudor dynasty in England whose first monarch was Henry VII...
stable block for craft centre. Middleton also have a successful Sunday league team, sporting a green home shirt and an all black away kit. The village pub is the "Green Man".
By the 1980s Middleton was in the middle of a leisure 'area' with The Belfry
The Belfry
The Belfry is a golf resort in Wishaw, Warwickshire, England, very near the Sutton Coldfield district of Birmingham, and owned since 2005 by Irish businessman Sean Quinn....
golf resort to the South. Aston Villa Football Club's Bodymoor Heath Training Ground
Bodymoor Heath Training Ground
Bodymoor Heath Training Ground is Aston Villa Football Club's training ground, at Bodymoor Heath in the North Warwickshire district of Warwickshire, England....
to the East, Drayton Manor Theme Park
Drayton Manor Theme Park
Drayton Manor Theme Park is a theme park, resort & zoo in the grounds of the former Drayton Manor, near Tamworth in Staffordshire, England.Drayton Manor is best known because it is a theme park and zoo which attracts around 1.4 million people a year. The attraction has a wide selection of rides set...
to the North and the M6 Toll
M6 Toll
The M6 Toll , connects M6 Junction 4 at the NEC to M6 Junction 11A at Wolverhampton with of six-lane motorway. The weekday cash cost is £5.30 for a car and £10.60 for a HGV...
being built to the West. Demographic change bought about by the recession of the early 1980s, which saw many local farms and businesses fail, has led to many humble buildings being expanded into luxury homes. Various public entertainment and business sites were created. A children's farm, two garden centres and numerous small industrial units now attract many people from the surrounding urban areas.
In the 1990s one farm diversified into the car boot sale
Car boot sale
Car boot/trunk sales or boot/trunk fairs are a mainly British form of market in which private individuals come together to sell household and garden goods.The term refers to the selling of items from a car's boot or trunk...
market. This now occupies several fields in the Parish throughout the year, alternating between sites at weekends. The Gravel excavation at the Eastern boundary finished in this decade, and two more leisure sites were established. Kingsbury Water Park
Kingsbury Water Park
Kingsbury Water Park is a country park in north Warwickshire, England, not far from Birmingham and lying on the River Tame. It is owned and managed by Warwickshire County Council. It has fifteen lakes situated in over 600 acres of country park. It is renowned for its birdlife, and is popular with...
at Bodymoor Heath and Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve
Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve
Middleton Lakes RSPB reserve is a nature reserve, formally opened on 19 May 2011, created and run by the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds at Middleton, Warwickshire, England, just south of Tamworth...
. These have grown into busy centres in the first decade of the 21st Century.
In March 2010 the Government of the day announced plans for an extension to the high speed rail link that was already planned from London to Birmingham. This proposal, extending Northwards, places a route just 300yards to the East of the main village. An elevated track, some 80 yards wide and 20 yards high would take up to 14 passenger trains, capable of 250 mph, an hour. Many local roadways would be affected.
Peerage
The title of "Baron MiddletonBaron Middleton
Baron Middleton, of Middleton in the County of Warwick, is a title in the Peerage of Great Britain. It was created in 1711 for Sir Thomas Willoughby, 2nd Baronet, who had previously represented Nottinghamshire and Newark in Parliament...
, of Middleton in the county of Warwick", was created in 1711 by Queen Anne as a hereditary barony in the Peerage of Great Britain for Thomas Willoughby, 2nd Baronet
Thomas Willoughby, 1st Baron Middleton
Thomas Willoughby, 1st Baron Middleton was a Baron in the Peerage of Great Britain.He was born at Middleton Hall, Middleton, Warwickshire, the second son of Francis Willughby, the famed mathematician and naturalist , and was educated at St Catharine's College, Cambridge and Jesus...
, of Wollaton in the County of Nottingham (1670–1729).
The present holder is Michael Charles James Willoughby, 13th Baron Middleton (b. 1948).
His heir apparent is his son the Hon. James William Michael Willoughby (b. 1976).
Second in line to the barony is his grandson Thomas Michael Jonathan Willoughby (b. 2007)