Offchurch
Encyclopedia
Offchurch is a village
and civil parish on the River Leam
, 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Leamington Spa
in Warwickshire
.
, who was King of Mercia from 757 to 796. King Offa had a church built in the village (hence the name Offchurch, which comes from "Offa's Church"). That church has since gone, but a church has been rebuilt on the supposed site of Offa's church. King Offa's son was killed in an ambush nearby and it is suggested that the church was built by Offa to commemorate his son's death. A stone coffin is on display in the current church, but there is no direct evidence that this dates from that time. It is said if you go to the top of the church and jump off, King Offa will rise from the ground and catch you.
Offchurch lies just off the Fosse Way
, a Roman Road
, and the Welsh Road
, an important mediaeval drovers' road also passes through the village.
The area around Offchurch was associated with a monastery
, which was dissolved
by Henry VIII
. The estate was purchased and remained in the Knightley family until the First World War
. The estate was then purchased together with other estates by Joseph Watson
(d.1922), a soap manufacturer from Leeds, created in 1922 1st Baron Manton
. At this time some development took place in the building of a series of cottages for estate workers during the 1920s (New Cottages, Bridge Cottages, Ford Cottages, Ham Barn Cottages, etc.) to similar designs. After the death of Baron Manton in 1922 on the hunting field, his widow resided at Offchurch Bury
manor house
, 1 miles (1.6 km) northwest of the village, until her death in 1936. The manor was then purchased by Harry Johnson, a textile manufacturer from Coventry and Macclesfield, whose descendants today retain much of the estate in 2011 and reside at Offchurch Bury
.
of St. Gregory, a redeveloped village hall
(part of the former village school) and the Stag's Head public house
, now renamed "The Stag at Offchurch".
The trackbed of the former railway between Leamington and Rugby
, the Grand Union Canal
and a network of footpaths make Offchurch a focus for walks in this part of rural Warwickshire.
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 on the River Leam
River Leam
The River Leam is a river which flows through eastern and southern Warwickshire. It is a small river about 25–30 miles long. The town of Leamington Spa lies on, and is named after, the River Leam....
, 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
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...
.
History
There is a possibility that it was home to OffaOffa
Offa may refer to:Two kings of the Angles, who are often confused:*Offa of Angel , on the continent*Offa of Mercia , in Great BritainA king of Essex:*Offa of Essex A town in Nigeria:* Offa, Nigeria...
, who was King of Mercia from 757 to 796. King Offa had a church built in the village (hence the name Offchurch, which comes from "Offa's Church"). That church has since gone, but a church has been rebuilt on the supposed site of Offa's church. King Offa's son was killed in an ambush nearby and it is suggested that the church was built by Offa to commemorate his son's death. A stone coffin is on display in the current church, but there is no direct evidence that this dates from that time. It is said if you go to the top of the church and jump off, King Offa will rise from the ground and catch you.
Offchurch lies just off the Fosse Way
Fosse Way
The Fosse Way was a Roman road in England that linked Exeter in South West England to Lincoln in Lincolnshire, via Ilchester , Bath , Cirencester and Leicester .It joined Akeman Street and Ermin Way at Cirencester, crossed Watling Street at Venonis south...
, a Roman Road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
, and the Welsh Road
Welsh Road
The Welsh Road, also known as the Welshman's Road or the Bullock Road, was a drover's road running through the English Midlands, used for transporting cattle from North Wales to the markets of South East England....
, an important mediaeval drovers' road also passes through the village.
The area around Offchurch was associated with a monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, which was dissolved
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The Dissolution of the Monasteries, sometimes referred to as the Suppression of the Monasteries, was the set of administrative and legal processes between 1536 and 1541 by which Henry VIII disbanded monasteries, priories, convents and friaries in England, Wales and Ireland; appropriated their...
by Henry VIII
Henry VIII of England
Henry VIII was King of England from 21 April 1509 until his death. He was Lord, and later King, of Ireland, as well as continuing the nominal claim by the English monarchs to the Kingdom of France...
. The estate was purchased and remained in the Knightley family until the First World War
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. The estate was then purchased together with other estates by Joseph Watson
Joseph Watson, 1st Baron Manton
Joseph Watson, 1st Baron Manton was a prominent English industrialist and philanthropist.Watson was the only son of George Watson, soap manufacturer, of Donisthorpe House near Moor Allerton, Leeds, Yorkshire...
(d.1922), a soap manufacturer from Leeds, created in 1922 1st Baron Manton
Baron Manton
Baron Manton, of Compton Verney in the County of Warwick, is a title in the Peerage of the United Kingdom. It was created in 1922 in recognition of war services for the Leeds industrialist Joseph Watson...
. At this time some development took place in the building of a series of cottages for estate workers during the 1920s (New Cottages, Bridge Cottages, Ford Cottages, Ham Barn Cottages, etc.) to similar designs. After the death of Baron Manton in 1922 on the hunting field, his widow resided at Offchurch Bury
Offchurch Bury
Offchurch Bury is a manor house located one mile to the north west of the village of Offchurch, Warwickshire, England.It was originally built in the 17th century, but most of the current house dates from the 19th century. In 1954 approximately 75% of the house was demolished. It is in private...
manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
, 1 miles (1.6 km) northwest of the village, until her death in 1936. The manor was then purchased by Harry Johnson, a textile manufacturer from Coventry and Macclesfield, whose descendants today retain much of the estate in 2011 and reside at Offchurch Bury
Offchurch Bury
Offchurch Bury is a manor house located one mile to the north west of the village of Offchurch, Warwickshire, England.It was originally built in the 17th century, but most of the current house dates from the 19th century. In 1954 approximately 75% of the house was demolished. It is in private...
.
Amenities
The local amenities include the Church of England parish churchChurch of England parish church
A parish church in the Church of England is the church which acts as the religious centre for the people within the smallest and most basic Church of England administrative region, known as a parish.-Parishes in England:...
of St. Gregory, a redeveloped 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...
(part of the former village school) and the Stag's Head public house
Public house
A public house, informally known as a pub, is a drinking establishment fundamental to the culture of Britain, Ireland, Australia and New Zealand. There are approximately 53,500 public houses in the United Kingdom. This number has been declining every year, so that nearly half of the smaller...
, now renamed "The Stag at Offchurch".
The trackbed of the former railway between Leamington and Rugby
Leamington to Rugby line
The railway from Rugby to Leamington Spa was a 15-mile branch line built by the London & North Western Railway and opened in 1851 The branch connected Leamington with the mainline from London to Birmingham The railway from Rugby to Leamington Spa was a 15-mile branch line built by the London &...
, the Grand Union Canal
Grand Union Canal
The Grand Union Canal in England is part of the British canal system. Its main line connects London and Birmingham, stretching for 137 miles with 166 locks...
and a network of footpaths make Offchurch a focus for walks in this part of rural Warwickshire.