Priors Hardwick

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Priors Hardwick
Warwickshire

St Mary's, Priors Hardwick
Location
Grid reference: SP470559
Location: 52°12’0"N, 1°18’36"W
Data
Population: 172  (2011)
Post town: Southam
Postcode: CV47
Dialling code: 01327
Local Government
Council: Stratford-on-Avon
Parliamentary
constituency:
Stratford-on-Avon

Priors Hardwick is an affluent village and parish in Warwickshire, adjacent to the border with Northamptonshire. The population of the civil parish as taken at the 2011 census was 172.[1] The name derives from the fact that it was originally a manor belonging to the Priors of Coventry.[2]

History

The oldest houses in the village are centred on the village green, with The Butcher's Arms dated as 1562,[2] although some sources place it back as far as 1375.

The proximity to the drover's 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.[3]

The original settlement is on the government's list of Scheduled Ancient Monuments[4] with most of the village being enclosed in a Conservation Area.[5]

Landmarks

The Butcher's Arms

The major business in the village is The Butcher's Arms, originally a pub, now a Portuguese restaurant. The Anglican parish church of St Mary is a Grade-II* listed building, with parts dating from the 12th century. It is part of the Bridges Group of Parishes.

References

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material
about Priors Hardwick)