Statfold
Encyclopedia
Statfold is a former village
in Staffordshire
, England, about 3 miles (5 km) north-east of Tamworth
. These days little remains of the village itself, but the Norman
parish church
, and the Tudor
manor house
of Statfold Hall still exist, as do a few scattered farms and houses.
The Statfold Barn Railway
is on the other side of the Ashby Road, in the borough of Tamworth
.
fold. Older documents often use the form Stotfold. The name is not mentioned in Domesday, but does occur in 12th century records of Lichfield Cathedral. It is also possible that Statfold was one of the unnamed estates belonging to the 5 canons of Lichfield that are mentioned in Domesday. The equine tradition continues at Statfold Farm to this day.
The history
of the ecclesiastical parish is traceable back to the 12th century, when "Stotfold" was named as one of the dozen or so prebends of the parochia of Lichfield Cathedral
. By the 14th century it had become a prebendary parish, one of the 5 core prebends of Lichfield, supporting the 3 city churches. Already by 1241 the prebendary of Stotfold had been one of the 5 who provided special duties at the high altar of Lichfield Cathedral. The earliest known prebendary
was John de Berewyk, who died in 1312. The title of Prebendary of Stotfold continued after the Reformation
, with the last, Samuel Smallbrook, dying in 1803, after which the Statfold tithes were collected directly by the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield Cathedral. The parish of All Saints became part of the parish of St Andrew Clifton Campville
in the 18th century.
For local government
purposes Statfold became part of Tamworth Poor Law Union in 1836
. In 1894
it became a civil parish within the newly-constituted Tamworth Rural District
. This lasted until 1934
, when Statfold civil parish was incorporated into Thorpe Constantine
, and became part of Lichfield Rural District
.
These days no obvious signs of the village centre exist, but it has been suggested that it lay just north of the chapel, and that it was deserted as a result of enclosure
in the early Tudor Period
. By 1851 there were only 45 residents of the parish, living in the Hall or in one of 5 other houses. In 1870 the population was listed as 26, occupying 450 acres (182.1 ha).
The main fabric of the building dates to around 1700.
Described in 1851 as "neglected", and the parish too small to support a minister, the chapel was restored for use as a parish church in 1906. These days it is described as "a private chapel and not open to the public".
The building is a simple one-roomed construction, with pitched roof and gable ends. The church possesses features of Norman architecture
, including typical rounded archways. The oldest parts are the west doorway and the font, both dating back to the 12th century. Other parts have been altered at various times through the centuries, especially in the early 14th century. Some parts may possibly be of Anglo-Saxon
date.
Outside the chapel stands the also listed Wolferstan Memorial.
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...
in Staffordshire
Staffordshire
Staffordshire is a landlocked county in the West Midlands region of England. For Eurostat purposes, the county is a NUTS 3 region and is one of four counties or unitary districts that comprise the "Shropshire and Staffordshire" NUTS 2 region. Part of the National Forest lies within its borders...
, England, about 3 miles (5 km) north-east 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...
. These days little remains of the village itself, but the Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
parish church
Parish church
A parish church , in Christianity, is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish, the basic administrative unit of episcopal churches....
, and the Tudor
Tudor style architecture
The Tudor architectural style is the final development of medieval architecture during the Tudor period and even beyond, for conservative college patrons...
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...
of Statfold Hall still exist, as do a few scattered farms and houses.
The Statfold Barn Railway
Statfold Barn Railway
The Statfold Barn Railway is a mixed gauge railway of , and gauges, near Tamworth, Staffordshire. It is privately owned by Mr Graham Lee, chairman of LH Group Services Ltd – which in 2005 bought what remained of the Hunslet Engine Company....
is on the other side of the Ashby Road, in the borough 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...
.
History
The name is believed to come from the Old English stōd fald with the meaning studStud farm
A stud farm or stud in animal husbandry, is an establishment for selective breeding of livestock. The word "stud" comes from the Old English stod meaning "herd of horses, place where horses are kept for breeding" Historically, documentation of the breedings that occur on a stud farm leads to the...
fold. Older documents often use the form Stotfold. The name is not mentioned in Domesday, but does occur in 12th century records of Lichfield Cathedral. It is also possible that Statfold was one of the unnamed estates belonging to the 5 canons of Lichfield that are mentioned in Domesday. The equine tradition continues at Statfold Farm to this day.
The history
History of the Church of England
The history of the Church of England has its origins in the last five years of the 6th century in the Anglo-Saxon Kingdom of Kent, and the Gregorian mission of Saint Augustine. The Church of England emphasises continuity through apostolic succession and traditionally looks to these early events for...
of the ecclesiastical parish is traceable back to the 12th century, when "Stotfold" was named as one of the dozen or so prebends of the parochia of Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral
Lichfield Cathedral is situated in Lichfield, Staffordshire, England. It is the only medieval English cathedral with three spires. The Diocese of Lichfield covers all of Staffordshire, much of Shropshire and part of the Black Country and West Midlands...
. By the 14th century it had become a prebendary parish, one of the 5 core prebends of Lichfield, supporting the 3 city churches. Already by 1241 the prebendary of Stotfold had been one of the 5 who provided special duties at the high altar of Lichfield Cathedral. The earliest known prebendary
Prebendary
A prebendary is a post connected to an Anglican or Catholic cathedral or collegiate church and is a type of canon. Prebendaries have a role in the administration of the cathedral...
was John de Berewyk, who died in 1312. The title of Prebendary of Stotfold continued after the Reformation
English Reformation
The English Reformation was the series of events in 16th-century England by which the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church....
, with the last, Samuel Smallbrook, dying in 1803, after which the Statfold tithes were collected directly by the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield Cathedral. The parish of All Saints became part of the parish of St Andrew Clifton Campville
Clifton Campville
Clifton Campville is a village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. It lies on the River Mease, about east of the City of Lichfield, west of Measham and north of Tamworth. In 2001 the parish had a population of 764....
in the 18th century.
For local government
History of local government in England
The history of local government in England is one of gradual change and evolution since the Middle Ages. England has never possessed a formal written constitution, with the result that modern administration is based on precedent, and is derived from administrative powers granted to older systems,...
purposes Statfold became part of Tamworth Poor Law Union in 1836
Poor Law Amendment Act 1834
The Poor Law Amendment Act 1834, sometimes abbreviated to PLAA, was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom passed by the Whig government of Lord Melbourne that reformed the country's poverty relief system . It was an Amendment Act that completely replaced earlier legislation based on the...
. In 1894
Local Government Act 1894
The Local Government Act 1894 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales outside the County of London. The Act followed the reforms carried out at county level under the Local Government Act 1888...
it became a civil parish within the newly-constituted Tamworth Rural District
Tamworth Rural District
Tamworth was a rural district in the English Midlands from 1894 to 1965.It was created under the Local Government Act 1894 from Tamworth rural sanitary district, and was one of a handful of rural districts to cross county boundaries, with part in Staffordshire and part in Warwickshire...
. This lasted until 1934
Local Government Act 1929
The Local Government Act 1929 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom that made changes to the Poor Law and local government in England and Wales....
, when Statfold civil parish was incorporated into Thorpe Constantine
Thorpe Constantine
Thorpe Constantine is a small village and civil parish in Staffordshire, England. It lies about north-east of Tamworth and 6 miles south-west of Measham. The nucleus of the parish is the Thorpe estate.-History:...
, and became part of Lichfield Rural District
Lichfield Rural District
Lichfield was a rural district in the county of Staffordshire, England from 1894 to 1974.It was enlarged in 1934 by gaining part of Staffordshire that has been administered since 1894 as part of Tamworth Rural District, which was otherwise in Warwickshire....
.
These days no obvious signs of the village centre exist, but it has been suggested that it lay just north of the chapel, and that it was deserted as a result of enclosure
Enclosure
Enclosure or inclosure is the process which ends traditional rights such as mowing meadows for hay, or grazing livestock on common land. Once enclosed, these uses of the land become restricted to the owner, and it ceases to be common land. In England and Wales the term is also used for the...
in the early 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...
. By 1851 there were only 45 residents of the parish, living in the Hall or in one of 5 other houses. In 1870 the population was listed as 26, occupying 450 acres (182.1 ha).
Statfold Hall
The manor house of Statfold Hall is a brick building dating from 1571, and is Grade II listed. The manor has been in the hands of the Wolferstan family since 1590, following the marriage of Humphrey Wolferstan to Katherine, the heiress of the Stanley family, in 1565.The main fabric of the building dates to around 1700.
Chapel of All Saints
The mediaeval Chapel of All Saints is Grade II* listed, and stands in the grounds of the Hall. For many years it was used as a mortuary chapel for the Wolferstan family.Described in 1851 as "neglected", and the parish too small to support a minister, the chapel was restored for use as a parish church in 1906. These days it is described as "a private chapel and not open to the public".
The building is a simple one-roomed construction, with pitched roof and gable ends. The church possesses features of Norman architecture
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
, including typical rounded archways. The oldest parts are the west doorway and the font, both dating back to the 12th century. Other parts have been altered at various times through the centuries, especially in the early 14th century. Some parts may possibly be of Anglo-Saxon
History of Anglo-Saxon England
Anglo-Saxon England refers to the period of the history of that part of Britain, that became known as England, lasting from the end of Roman occupation and establishment of Anglo-Saxon kingdoms in the 5th century until the Norman conquest of England in 1066 by William the Conqueror...
date.
Outside the chapel stands the also listed Wolferstan Memorial.