Bishop's Itchington

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bishop's Itchington is a village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 2,009.

The somewhat unusual name of the village is derived from the River Itchen, and a link to the bishops of Lichfield, who were formerly the local land owners.

The village is located upon the B4451 road about three miles south-west of Southam, and around two miles from Junction 12 (Gaydon) of the M40 motorway. The Chiltern Main Line passes just to the east of the village, at Deppers Bridge, although there is no longer a station there. The village was very much associated with a blue lias limestone quarry and a cement works (Harbury Works) which ceased operation in 1970. Blue Circle is still a major land-owner in the area on that account.

There are fishing lakes just outside Bishop's Itchington, formed from the old quarries. The "Bishop's Bowl" comprises five lakes on a 100 acre complex. The fishery offers match, pleasure and specimen carp angling on waters which vary in characteristics from large and open sheer-faced flooded disused quarries to small, shrub surrounded pools.

The history of the village was researched and published in the local-history book "Icetone: The Story of a Warwickshire Village" by Peter James, the former head teacher of the village school.

The village includes one pub - The Butchers Arms, a working Men's Club - the Greaves Club^[1], a Post Office, local shop and newsagent. There is also a local primary school, St Michael's church (Church of England), and a branch of The Royal British Legion.