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Witherley
Witherley is a village in the Hinckley and Bosworth district of the County of Leicestershire, England. It is located in the far west of County with the Warwickshire/Leicestershire border running along the parish boundary, formed by the River Anker to the west and the A5 to the south. Mancetter and Atherstone are on the opposite banks of the river.
History
Witherley means woodland clearing of a woman called Wigthryth. In old deeds the name was written as Witheredeley.
Witherley was given by William the Conqueror to Robert de Mellen, Earl of Leicester, from whom it passed to Geoffrey Ridell. It then passed to his brother, Ralph Basset, and afterwards (temp. Henry II) granted it to Geoffrey de Marmian. (*1)
Witherley does not appear in the doomsday book and it is speculated that the roman town of Manduessum (Mancetter) took in part of Witherley covering an area forming a square from Mancetter Church to the bull inn to a point known as the minster furlong north of Witherley (The Rectory) across the Great Road and Back to Mancetter Church.
The Romans arrived in this area in AD49, building Watling Street (the A5). Some historians speculate that Queen Boudica fought her last battle here.
The Anglo-Saxon's and Vikings divided the country using Watling Street a a frontier. Southwest was Mercia and Northeast was Danelaw. This means that Witherley would have been under Danelaw.
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).(*2)
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)(*2)
Notable Buildings
The church, noted for its very tall steeple, "52 yards high", was given by Richard Bassett and his wife Maud, to the Abbey of Laund, near Leicester. At a later date Robert Bossu, Earl of Leicester, gave the church to the Abbey of Lyra in Normandy. (*1)
St Peter's Church dates from the early 14th Century, with West tower added in the 15th Century.
The porch is 14th Century. Both the wood and iron work on the door are original. Thjere is a continuous moulding round the archways.
The Kerb stones lining the pathway to the porch came from the old bridge carrying Watling Street over the River Anker. The old bridge was built in 1779, up to which date there had only been a ford.
The tower at the west end of the church is a typical example of Perpendicular architecture. It is is square and consists of two storeys. There are diagonal buttresses at all four angles, with well developed base mouldings and set-offs. The tower is completed by battlements which have bold traceried panels and a square pinnacle at each angle.
The spire is octagonal with three groups of spire lights, each light under its own arched head. It is 156 feet high.
The west door has a four centred arch, above which is a three light window.
The plan of the church with its broad nave and broad north aisle is characteristic of the 14th Century. There is an arcade of three arches which are pointed, with double chamfered orders. They are supported on octagonal columns, with 14th Century moulded capitals and bases.
One of the most interesting features of the church is the development of window tracery, as shown by the three windows in the south wall, beginning nearest the tower with a form of plate tracery. In the centre window it is geometrical with an equilateral triangle as the basis of the design. In the nearest the pulpit it is in its most flamboyant form. Note in the centre window a fragment of 15th Century glass representing the Virgin Mary and Child.
The north aisle shows every indication of the existence of a chapel (piscina and aumbry) the dedication of which is unknown but very likely 13th Century. The windows are varied forms of reticulated tracery as in the centre window of the south wall.
The nave and aisle walls appear to have been raised and the original 14th Century parapets replaced with the present roofs added in the 16th Century.
The east window dates from 1911 donated by sir Edward Bates. It shows St Peter, Isaiah, St Stephen and St Edward the Confessor, illustrating the Te Deum. Below, the heavenly bank surrounded by birds and animals praising their creator. In the tracery are angels and the Coats of Arms representing the Diocese of Peterborough, in which Witherley then was, the reigning sovereign George V, and the Chamberlayne family (daughter of donor), Lord Seagrave (the builder of the previous tower), and four past Lords of the manor.
The church plate consists of holly communion cup, silver, dated 1575, figured in the book of Leicestershire church plate. The silver paten is dated 1804. The pewter flagon is dated 1688 R. F. Churchwarden (Richard Farmer). The Pewter plate marked R. Farmer, R,Kiss - Churchwardens 1686. There are monuments to the Farmer and Kiss Families on the south wall and in the floor of the central aisle.
The font is 14th Century, once painted by a too zealous churchwarden.
Dating the Church
14th Century - Nave, Porch and Font
15th Century - Fragments of glass in south middle window, possibly tower
The Bells date from the 17th and 18th Century
1) A.D. 1609 "BE IT KNOWN TO ALL THAT DOTH ME SEE, THAT NEWCOMBE OF LEICESTER MADE ME"
2) MISERE MEI. 1619. I. H.S. NAZARENUS, REX DUDEDRUM, FILI DEI
3) JESUS NAZARETUS REX JUDEDRUM
4) OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI. THOMAS EYRE EECIT. RICHARD FARMER CHURCH WARDEN 1744
5) THOMAS EYRE EECIT 1744. OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI. GLORIA DEO SOLI.
(*3)
References
*1. Nicol's Risi & Antiq. Witherley
*2. Contibuted to by Alan Roberts
*3. Architectural notes written by Henry F. Tralen, Esq., Architect to the Dean & Chapter of Peterborough Cathederal, in 1924.
Witherley is a village in the Hinckley and Bosworth district of the County of Leicestershire, England. It is located in the far west of County with the Warwickshire/Leicestershire border running along the parish boundary, formed by the River Anker to the west and the A5 to the south. Mancetter and Atherstone are on the opposite banks of the river.
History
Witherley means woodland clearing of a woman called Wigthryth. In old deeds the name was written as Witheredeley.
Witherley was given by William the Conqueror to Robert de Mellen, Earl of Leicester, from whom it passed to Geoffrey Ridell. It then passed to his brother, Ralph Basset, and afterwards (temp. Henry II) granted it to Geoffrey de Marmian. (*1)
Witherley does not appear in the doomsday book and it is speculated that the roman town of Manduessum (Mancetter) took in part of Witherley covering an area forming a square from Mancetter Church to the bull inn to a point known as the minster furlong north of Witherley (The Rectory) across the Great Road and Back to Mancetter Church.
The Romans arrived in this area in AD49, building Watling Street (the A5). Some historians speculate that Queen Boudica fought her last battle here.
The Anglo-Saxon's and Vikings divided the country using Watling Street a a frontier. Southwest was Mercia and Northeast was Danelaw. This means that Witherley would have been under Danelaw.
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).(*2)
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)(*2)
Notable Buildings
The church, noted for its very tall steeple, "52 yards high", was given by Richard Bassett and his wife Maud, to the Abbey of Laund, near Leicester. At a later date Robert Bossu, Earl of Leicester, gave the church to the Abbey of Lyra in Normandy. (*1)
St Peter's Church dates from the early 14th Century, with West tower added in the 15th Century.
The porch is 14th Century. Both the wood and iron work on the door are original. Thjere is a continuous moulding round the archways.
The Kerb stones lining the pathway to the porch came from the old bridge carrying Watling Street over the River Anker. The old bridge was built in 1779, up to which date there had only been a ford.
The tower at the west end of the church is a typical example of Perpendicular architecture. It is is square and consists of two storeys. There are diagonal buttresses at all four angles, with well developed base mouldings and set-offs. The tower is completed by battlements which have bold traceried panels and a square pinnacle at each angle.
The spire is octagonal with three groups of spire lights, each light under its own arched head. It is 156 feet high.
The west door has a four centred arch, above which is a three light window.
The plan of the church with its broad nave and broad north aisle is characteristic of the 14th Century. There is an arcade of three arches which are pointed, with double chamfered orders. They are supported on octagonal columns, with 14th Century moulded capitals and bases.
One of the most interesting features of the church is the development of window tracery, as shown by the three windows in the south wall, beginning nearest the tower with a form of plate tracery. In the centre window it is geometrical with an equilateral triangle as the basis of the design. In the nearest the pulpit it is in its most flamboyant form. Note in the centre window a fragment of 15th Century glass representing the Virgin Mary and Child.
The north aisle shows every indication of the existence of a chapel (piscina and aumbry) the dedication of which is unknown but very likely 13th Century. The windows are varied forms of reticulated tracery as in the centre window of the south wall.
The nave and aisle walls appear to have been raised and the original 14th Century parapets replaced with the present roofs added in the 16th Century.
The east window dates from 1911 donated by sir Edward Bates. It shows St Peter, Isaiah, St Stephen and St Edward the Confessor, illustrating the Te Deum. Below, the heavenly bank surrounded by birds and animals praising their creator. In the tracery are angels and the Coats of Arms representing the Diocese of Peterborough, in which Witherley then was, the reigning sovereign George V, and the Chamberlayne family (daughter of donor), Lord Seagrave (the builder of the previous tower), and four past Lords of the manor.
The church plate consists of holly communion cup, silver, dated 1575, figured in the book of Leicestershire church plate. The silver paten is dated 1804. The pewter flagon is dated 1688 R. F. Churchwarden (Richard Farmer). The Pewter plate marked R. Farmer, R,Kiss - Churchwardens 1686. There are monuments to the Farmer and Kiss Families on the south wall and in the floor of the central aisle.
The font is 14th Century, once painted by a too zealous churchwarden.
Dating the Church
14th Century - Nave, Porch and Font
15th Century - Fragments of glass in south middle window, possibly tower
The Bells date from the 17th and 18th Century
1) A.D. 1609 "BE IT KNOWN TO ALL THAT DOTH ME SEE, THAT NEWCOMBE OF LEICESTER MADE ME"
2) MISERE MEI. 1619. I. H.S. NAZARENUS, REX DUDEDRUM, FILI DEI
3) JESUS NAZARETUS REX JUDEDRUM
4) OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI. THOMAS EYRE EECIT. RICHARD FARMER CHURCH WARDEN 1744
5) THOMAS EYRE EECIT 1744. OMNIA FIANT AD GLORIAM DEI. GLORIA DEO SOLI.
(*3)
References
*1. Nicol's Risi & Antiq. Witherley
*2. Contibuted to by Alan Roberts
*3. Architectural notes written by Henry F. Tralen, Esq., Architect to the Dean & Chapter of Peterborough Cathederal, in 1924.
