Witherley
Encyclopedia
Witherley is a village and civil parish
in the Hinckley and Bosworth
district of Leicestershire
, England
. It is in the far south-west of Leicestershire. The Warwickshire
/Leicestershire border runs along the parish boundary, along the River Anker
to the west and the A5 to the south, with Witherley village close by the town of Atherstone
and the village of Mancetter
. One of its notable features is the church of St Peter, noted for its very tall steeple, "52 yards (47.5 m)”. The village school is located next to the church - Witherley C of E primary school.In most circumstances, Children attending the school later transfer to Market Bosworth High School
when of age.
Proximity to the county border meant that parliamentary troops from the Warwickshire garrisons made several visits to Witherley and Atterton during the Civil War. A list of claims for losses and "free quarter" to the Warwickshire county committee in June, 1646 includes a claim for free quarter for a hundred men and horse under the command of Captain Levell and Captain Astewe from Colonel Purefoy's regiment of the Coventry garrison, estimated to be worth £9. Mr Lloyd, the rector, charged Captain Ottway's lieutenant for four horses and mares worth £13.6.8, and for three heifers worth £7.10.
In 1650 this same Robert Lloyd was “sequestered” and forced to pay a fine in 1650 as a ‘malignant’ or for neglecting his duties (it is not certain exactly which as few details of his offences are provided).
William King claimed that Captain Flower's men had taken a horse worth 5s and John King claimed for a saddle worth 8s taken by Captain Flower's lieutenant and asked for £2 for quartering about forty soldiers from Coventry. The Astley garrison also plundered the villages, leading to a claim for forced requisitioning including the "carriage of a load of hay from Hartshill Leaz to Astley House" worth £1, and the carriage of 14 loads of hay worth £2.6.8. Francis Orton claimed he was taken prisoner by Lieutenant Hunt of Astley about Michaelmas, 1643 and forced to pay £1.13.4 for his release. The constable of the parish claimed 12s 9d for provinder. John Mason senior wanted compensation for his gelding, worth £2.10 taken by Lieutenant Hunt to Astley and William King for a mare worth £2.13.4. (Exchequer accounts, SP 28/161)
The civil parish of Withereley includes Atterton
, Fenny Drayton
, and Ratcliffe Culey
as well as the village of Witherley itself.
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 Hinckley and Bosworth
Hinckley and Bosworth
Hinckley and Bosworth is a local government district with borough status in south-western Leicestershire, England, administered by Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council. Its only towns are Hinckley, Earl Shilton and Market Bosworth...
district of Leicestershire
Leicestershire
Leicestershire is a landlocked county in the English Midlands. It takes its name from the heavily populated City of Leicester, traditionally its administrative centre, although the City of Leicester unitary authority is today administered separately from the rest of Leicestershire...
, 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...
. It is in the far south-west of Leicestershire. The 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...
/Leicestershire border runs along the parish boundary, along the River Anker
River Anker
The River Anker is a river in England. The river flows through the centre of Nuneaton towards Tamworth in Staffordshire. The river continues on before merging with the River Tame in Tamworth...
to the west and the A5 to the south, with Witherley village close by the town of Atherstone
Atherstone
Atherstone is a town in Warwickshire, England. The town is located near the northernmost tip of Warwickshire, close to the border with Staffordshire and Leicestershire and is the administrative headquarters of the borough of North Warwickshire.-History:...
and the village of Mancetter
Mancetter
Mancetter is a village and civil parish on the outskirts of Atherstone in North Warwickshire, at the crossing of Watling Street over the River Anker.-History:...
. One of its notable features is the church of St Peter, noted for its very tall steeple, "52 yards (47.5 m)”. The village school is located next to the church - Witherley C of E primary school.In most circumstances, Children attending the school later transfer to Market Bosworth High School
Market Bosworth High School
Market Bosworth High School is a secondary school in the small town of Market Bosworth in Leicestershire, England.Market Bosworth was established in 1969, as a comprehensive school for both sexes of any ability between the ages of 11 and 14. The school is next door to Dixie Grammar School...
when of age.
Proximity to the county border meant that parliamentary troops from the Warwickshire garrisons made several visits to Witherley and Atterton during the Civil War. A list of claims for losses and "free quarter" to the Warwickshire county committee in June, 1646 includes a claim for free quarter for a hundred men and horse under the command of Captain Levell and Captain Astewe from Colonel Purefoy's regiment of the Coventry garrison, estimated to be worth £9. Mr Lloyd, the rector, charged Captain Ottway's lieutenant for four horses and mares worth £13.6.8, and for three heifers worth £7.10.
In 1650 this same Robert Lloyd was “sequestered” and forced to pay a fine in 1650 as a ‘malignant’ or for neglecting his duties (it is not certain exactly which as few details of his offences are provided).
William King claimed that Captain Flower's men had taken a horse worth 5s and John King claimed for a saddle worth 8s taken by Captain Flower's lieutenant and asked for £2 for quartering about forty soldiers from Coventry. The Astley garrison also plundered the villages, leading to a claim for forced requisitioning including the "carriage of a load of hay from Hartshill Leaz to Astley House" worth £1, and the carriage of 14 loads of hay worth £2.6.8. Francis Orton claimed he was taken prisoner by Lieutenant Hunt of Astley about Michaelmas, 1643 and forced to pay £1.13.4 for his release. The constable of the parish claimed 12s 9d for provinder. John Mason senior wanted compensation for his gelding, worth £2.10 taken by Lieutenant Hunt to Astley and William King for a mare worth £2.13.4. (Exchequer accounts, SP 28/161)
The civil parish of Withereley includes Atterton
Atterton
Atterton is a hamlet in Leicestershire, England. It has a population of approximately 40 people.-Governance:Atterton is part of the civil parish of Witherley that, in turn, forms part of the borough of Hinckley and Bosworth ....
, Fenny Drayton
Fenny Drayton
Fenny Drayton is a village in Leicestershire England, in the district of Hinckley and Bosworth. Near to the county border of Warwickshire and using a Warwickshire County postcode, it is just off the A444 road an old Roman road, north of Nuneaton close to its crossroads with the A5...
, and Ratcliffe Culey
Ratcliffe Culey
Ratcliffe Culey is a hamlet near the border of Warwickshire and Leicestershire, England. It is part of the civil parish of Witherley.The Gate, a popular non-smoking pub is situated in Ratcliffe Culey along with a post office, greyhound kennels and an All Saints Church.The name Ratcliffe derives...
as well as the village of Witherley itself.
External links
- Witherley on leicestershirevillages.com
- atherstoneforum Witherley and Atherstone online forums
- Atherstone Organised Includes nearby Witherley. News, property, jobs, photos.