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Atherstone in Warwick County England History and GeographyATHERSTONE, a market town and chapelry in the parish of MANCETTER, Atherstone division of the hundred of HEMLINGFORD, county of WARWICK, 20 miles (N. by E.) from Warwick, and 105 (N.W. by N.) from London, on the road to Chester, containing 3434 inhabitants. The name of this place, in Domesday book written Aderestone, is by Dugdale derived from Edred or Aldred who possessed it in the time of the Saxons, and thence called Edredstone or Aldredstone; by others its name is deduced from its situation near Mancester or Mancetter, the Manduessedum of the Romans, reckoning from which station here was the first or nearest milliarium on the line of the Roman Watling street, and thence called Hither-stone or Atherstone. In 1485, the Earl of Richmond, previously to the battle of Bosworth Field, entered this town on the 20th of August, encamped his forces in a meadow north of the church, still called the royal meadow, and took up his own quarters at an ancient inn, now the Three Tuns, where he passed the night; here he had an interview with the Stanleys, and concerted those measures which secured him the victory in the celebrated battle which took place on the 22d, and terminated the war between the houses of York and Lancaster. In 1376, Ralph, Lord Basset, of Drayton, founded a convent of Augustine Friars, the church of which is now the parochial chapel, part of it is appropriated to the use of the Free Grammar school, and partto an endowed charity school. The town consists of one principal street, containing many ancient and several very respectable modern houses, from which another, branching off, leads to the market-place. It is paved, well lighted, and amply supplied with water: there is a subscription library and news room; and assemblies are held occasionally in the town-hall, a neat brick building on piazzas. The manufacture of hats is carried on to a considerable extent, and that of ribbons upon a smaller scale: the Coventry and Fazeley canal passes on the north-western extremity of the town, where extensive coal and lime wharfs have been constructed. The market, principally for corn, is on Tuesday; the fairs are held on April 7th and July 18th, for cattle, September 19th, 20th, and 21st, for cattle, cheese, and pedlary, on the Tuesday after which is a statute fair; and on December 4th is a great cattle fair and Christmas show. The town is within the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, who hold a petty session weekly; the hundred court is held here alternately with other towns; and a court leet annually, at which constables and other officers are appointed. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the archdeaconry of Coventry, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, and in the patronage of the Vicar of Mancetter. The chapel, dedicated to St. Mary, and originally belonging to the Augustine priory, is a cruciform structure, in the early and decorated styles of English architecture, with an octagonal tower rising from the centre, but its original character has been impaired by additions. There are places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists. The free grammar school, founded by Sir William Devereux, of Merevale, and others, and endowed with estates now producing £600 per annum, is under the management of trustees, who appoint the master; there is at present only one scholar on the foundation. Here is also an endowed charity school, in which thirty boys are instructed in reading, writing, and arithmetic. The infant school, a handsome modern building near the church, is well supported; and there is another upon a smaller scale. The self-supporting dispensary, upon the plan of Mr. Smith, of Southam, established in 1825. affords relief to a considerable number of patients. Drayton, the poet, and one of the earliest topographical writers, whose works were published by the learned Selden, was born here. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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