Priors Hardwick

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Priors Hardwick

Coordinates: 52.20° N 1.31° W

Priors Hardwick (United Kingdom)
Priors Hardwick
Population 167 (2001 Census)
OS grid reference SP470559
Parish Priors Hardwick
District Stratford-on-Avon
Shire county Warwickshire
Region West Midlands
Constituent country England
Sovereign state United Kingdom
Post town Coventry
Postcode district CV47
Dial code 01327
Police Warwickshire
Fire Warwickshire
Ambulance West Midlands
UK Parliament Stratford-on-Avon
European Parliament West Midlands
List of places: UKEnglandWarwickshire

Priors Hardwick is a village and civil parish in the Stratford district of Warwickshire, England. The name derives from the fact that it was originally a manor belonging to the Priors of Coventry[1].

Contents

[edit] History

The oldest houses in the village are centred on the village green, with The Butchers Arms pub dated as 1562[1], although some sources place it back as far as 1375.

The proximity to the Roman road known as the Welsh Road influenced the village and the naming of local landmarks. The cattle drovers used to water their animals at a pond outside the village, which resulted in it being named Cowpool. This is unusual, since locally, such waterholes were named pits, rather than the welsh-derived name pool (pwyll). London End in the village, and various buildings with welsh in their name also derive from the closeness of the road. [2].

The original settlement is on the government's list of Scheduled Ancient Monuments[3] with most of the village being enclosed in a Conservation Area[4].

In 1831 the area of the parish was 1,600 acres, which was reduced to 1,535 some time between 1881 and 1891[5]

In 1836 the village became part of the Southam Poor Law Union which ran a workhouse in Southam.[6]

Until 1974, the parish belonged to the Southam Rural District.

[edit] Population

According to census information[5] the population figures have been:

  • in 1831 there were 69 males aged over 20
  • Total Population
Year Total Population Males Females
1801 228 110 118
1811 252 120 132
1821 263 132 131
1831 296 153 143
1841 280 138 142
1851 303 159 144
1861 323 182 141
1871 335 190 145
1881 280 141 139
1891 267 131 136
1901 225 115 110
1911 193 89 104
1921 177 88 89
1931 142 72 70
1951 151 72 79
1961 143 73 70
1971 162 n/a n/a

[edit] Agriculture

In an 1801 survey[5] the agricultural output of the parish was:

Crop Acreage Percent
Wheat 32 40%
Barley and Oats 26 33%
Potatoes 2 3%
Peas and Beans 19 24%
Turnips or Rape 0 0
Rye 0 0
Other 0 0

[edit] Occupations

In an 1831 study [5] the following occupations were categorised:

Occupation Persons Percent
Farmers employing Labourers 9 13%
Farmers not employing Labourers 1 1%
Agricultural Labourers 39 58%
Manufacturing 0 0%
Retail and Handicrafts 14 20%
Capitalists, Professionals 1 1%
Labourers (non-agricultural) 2 3%
Servants 3 4%
Other 0 0

[edit] Population

According to the 2001 census[7], the parish consists of 79 households with a population of 167 (80 males and 87 females). Of the 79 households, 63 were owner-occupied, 4 were rented from the council, and 12 were rented from a private landlord. 11 households had no car or van, 27 had one car or van, 23 had two and 18 had three or more. the mean population age was 43.88 and the median was 46. The average distance travelled to a fixed place of work was 24.25km.

[edit] Landmarks

The major business in the village is The Butchers Arms, originally a pub, but now a Portuguese restaurant. The church in the village is dedicated to St. Mary Blessed Virgin.

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b Priors Hardwick (HTML). Parishes. The Birmingham and Midland Society for Genealogy and Heraldry. Retrieved on March 13, 2007.
  2. ^ Colyer, Richard. Welsh Cattle Drovers in the Nineteenth Century (HTML). National Library of Wales journal. 1974, Summer. Volume XVIII/3. Retrieved on March 13, 2007.
  3. ^ Stratford-on-Avon District Local Plan Review 1996-2011, Appendix 5 - Scheduled Ancient Monuments (PDF). Stratford-on-Avon District Council (2003-01). Retrieved on March 13, 2007.
  4. ^ Priors Hardwick Conservation Area (PDF). Stratford-on-Avon District Council (2006-02). Retrieved on March 13, 2007.
  5. ^ a b c d A vision of Priors Hardwick AP/CP (HTML). Vision of Britain (2006-02). Retrieved on March 13, 2007.
  6. ^ Southam Union Workhouse (HTML). Rossbret Institutions Website. Rossbret (2005-03-16). Retrieved on March 13, 2007.
  7. ^ Neighbourhood Statistics: Priors Hardwick (HTML). nationalSTATISTICS. Retrieved on March 13, 2007.

[edit] External Links