Harlaston

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Harlaston
Staffordshire
St Matthew, Harlaston.jpg
Location
Grid reference: SK215109
Location: 52°41’46"N, 1°40’59"W
Data
Population: 394  (2011[1])
Post town: Tamworth
Postcode: B79
Dialling code: 01827
Local Government
Council: Lichfield
Parliamentary
constituency:
Tamworth
Website: www.harlaston.org.uk

Harlaston is a village and parish in Staffordshire. It lies on the River Mease, about five miles north of Tamworth. There is an Early English church, dedicated to St Matthew,[2] and a public house, the White Lion.

Harlaston is a conservation area, and has won the Staffordshire Best Kept Small Village award five times.[2]

History

The name Harlaston comes from Old English, and means either Heoruwulf's farm or Heorulaf's farm.[3] It has been suggested that the church goes back to the 11th century and is of Anglo-Saxon origin. Certainly, a corn mill is mentioned in the Domesday Book.[2]

Until 1845 Harlaston was a chapelry of the parish of Clifton Campville, after which date it became an independent ecclesiastical parish.[2]

In 1851 the population was 221, on about 1,400 acres of land. There were two lords of the manor, Captain Theophilus Levett and W Chettle, though much of the land belonged to other people.[4]

Landmarks

Harlaston includes a number of historic buildings. Listed Grade II* is the parish church of St Matthew; Grade II listings include the Manor House, as well as several other houses, mileposts, and a telephone box.[5]

The Church is mainly built of red brick in Norman and Early English styles. There is a tower with three bells and a clock. The upper part of the tower is half-timbered – this is said to be unusual for Staffordshire. A small spire was added in the 19th century.[2]

The Manor House dates back to 1540. It is of traditional timber construction.[2]

The Homestead dates back to 1773. It was built by William Mercer, a harness maker. It may have once also been the village pub, the Whip and Saddle.[2]

Other settlements

Haselour is an ancient manor and hamlet about a mile west of Harlaston. The name Haselour comes from Old English and means hazel ridge.[3] In 1851 it was described as having a population of 29 people in 5 houses, and covered 570 acres. The area was extra-parochial and the people were served by the chapel at Harlaston.[6]

Listed Grade II* are Haselour Hall and its associated chapel.[5] The manor house of Haselour Hall, with its traditional half-timbered Tudor appearance, dates back to the 16th century.[7] The chapel dates from the 14th century, and was restored in the 1880s, but is now in poor condition and is on the English Heritage at risk register.[8]

The now-closed Elford railway station was originally named Haselour.

References

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("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Harlaston)

Outside links