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Witherley

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Description in 1887:
"Witherley, par., township, and vil., Leicestershire - par., 1570 ac., pop. 515; township, pop. 457; vil., 1 mile E. of Atherstone and 6 miles SW. of Market Bosworth; P.O.; in vicinity is Witherley House, seat."
[John BARTHOLOMEW's "Gazetteer of the British Isles," 1887]

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Cemeteries

Robert FARROW has a photograph of St. Peter's churchyard on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2013.

>p>Eirian EVANS also has a photograph of the Churchyard on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2010.

 

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Census

  • The parish was in the Atherstone sub-district of the Atherstone Registration District.
     
  • The 1851 census for Leicestershire has been indexed by the Leicestershire & Rutland Family History Society. The whole index is available on microfiche. The society has also published it in print.
     
  • The table below gives census piece numbers, where known:
     
Census
Year
Piece No.
1841H.O. 107 / 603
1861R.G. 9 / 2192
1871R.G. 10 / 3166
1891R.G. 12 / 2443
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Church History

  • The Anglican parish church in Witherley is dedicated to Saint Peter.
     
  • The church was built in the 14th century and has a tower and 5 bells.
     
  • The church chancel was rebuilt in 1858.
     
  • The church tower and spire were restored in 1895.
     
  • The church was restored in 1906.
     
  • The church seats 350.
     
  • Andy and Hilary have a photograph of St. Peter's Church on Geo-graph, taken in May, 2005.
     
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Church Records

  • The Anglican parish register dates from 1564.
     
  • The church was in the rural deanery of Sparkenhoe (first portion).
     
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Civil Registration

  • The parish was in the Atherstone sub-district of the Atherstone Registration District.
     
  • Civil Registration began in July, 1837.
     
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Description & Travel

Witherley is a village, a township and a parish sitting on the east bank of the Anker River. The River and Watling Street separate the parish from the county of Warwick. This place is about a mile east of Atherstone (Warwick), 8 miles south-west of Market Bosworth, 7 miles north-west of Hinckley and 103 miles north of London. The parish covers 1,570 acres and includes the hamlet (and township) of Atterton.

The village sits in the hills in south-west Leicestershire. If you are planning a visit:

  • By automobile, from the A5, just east of Atherstone, turn north at the first opportunity for Witherley.
     
  • Mat FASCIONE has a photograph of the village sign on Geo-graph, taken in February, 2008.
     
You can see pictures of Witherley which are provided by:

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Gazetteers

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History

  • Much of the parish land was in pasturage.
     
  • The parish was the site of the "Atherstone Hunt".
     
  • Rob FARROW has a photograph of the Blue Lion pub. on Geo-graph, taken in March, 2013.
     
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Manors

  • The webpage author found mention of a Witherley house, Witherley Hall and "the manor", but no descriptions.
     
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Maps

  • See our Maps page for additional resources.
     

You can see maps centred on OS grid reference SP327974 (Lat/Lon: 52.573443, -1.51893), Witherley which are provided by:

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Military History

The war Memorial is a wheel cross of granite in the parish churchyard. At last report (2014) it was overgrown with moss and lichen and needs to be professionally cleaned.

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Military Records

The parish has a war memorial plaque inside the parish church.

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Politics & Government

  • This place was an ancient Township and Parish of Leicestershire.
     
  • The parish was in the ancient Sparkenhoe Hundred (Wapentake) in the southern (or western) division of the county.
     
  • In March, 1885, this parish was enlarged by gaining a part of Atterton Civil Parish.
     
  • In April, 1935, this parish was enlarged by 640 acres when Atterton Civil Parish was abolished.
     
  • That same date, this parish was enlarged by 1138 acres when Fenny Drayton Civil Parish was abolished.
     
  • That same date, this parish gave up 148 acres to enlarge Mancetter Civil Parish in Warwickshire.
     
  • That same date, this parish gained 1,238 acres by the abolition of Ratcliffe Culey Civil Parish in Leicestershire.
     
  • You can check on the Witherley Parish Council page. Be aware that they will NOT assist with family history searches.
     
  • The Hinckley and Bosworth Borough Council provide district governance.
     
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Poor Houses, Poor Law

  • As a result of the 1834 Poor Law Amendment Act, this parish became part of the Atherstone Poorlaw Union in Warwickshire.
     
  • Bastardy cases would be heard in the Market Bosworth petty session hearings.
     
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Population

Many of these figures are for the Chapelry boundaries and not the parish boundaries:

YearInhabitants
1841425
1871453
1881457
1891455
1901493
1911482
1921429
1931468
1951968
1961703
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Schools

  • A Public Elementary School was built in Atterton hamlet in 1875 and enlarged in 1900 to hold 120 students.
     
  • The Witherley CofE Primary School website no longer functions.
     
  • Eirian EVANS has a photograph of the Witherley Primary School on Geo-graph, taken in April, 2010.