| Wixford | |
|---|---|
 Wixford with St. Milburga's in the background | |
  Wixford Location withinWarwickshire | |
| Population | 155 (2011 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SP088543 |
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Alcester |
| Postcode district | B49 |
| Police | Warwickshire |
| Fire | Warwickshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
| |
Wixford is avillage andcivil parish in theStratford-on-Avon District ofWarwickshire, England, situated 1.5 miles (2.4 km) south ofAlcester. The population at the2011 census was 155.[1] The area is largely agricultural with no large employers in the area, most residents commuting to larger towns nearby.
The name derives from a compound of theOld English personal name Whitlac with the noun for a river crossing "ford".[2] The village is first mentioned when Ufa, aSaxonEarl of Warwick, gave the land at Wixford and his body to be buried to themonastery ofEvesham Abbey in 974. However, Godwine, a powerful man who had purchased the inheritance of thatabbey fromKing Ethelred, granted it to Wulfgeat, son and heir to Ufa, for life, upon condition it was returned. Notwithstanding this agreement, Wulfgeat's heirs retained the land until the time ofKing Edward the Confessor, whenAbbot Agelwyne purchased it from Wygod, a potentbaron and heir to Wulfgeat. Wulfgeat's heirs paid a valuable price and regained the land for themonks.[3] It is recorded in theDomesday Book "In Ferncombe Hundred, Evesham Abbey holds 5hides in Witelavesford. Land for 6 ploughs. In lordship 2; 3 male and 2 female slaves; 4 villagers and 6 smallholders with 2 ploughs. A mill at 10s and 20 sticks of eels; meadow, 24 acres; woodland 1 furlong long and 1/2 wide. Value before 1066, 40s; later 30s; now 50s. Wigot held this land before 1066."[4]
William Shakespeare is said to have joined a party ofStratford folk which set itself to outdrink a drinking club atBidford-on-Avon, and as a result of his labours in that regard to have fallen asleep under the crab tree of which a descendant is still called Shakespeare's tree. When morning dawned, his friends wished to renew the encounter but he wisely said "No, I have drunk with "PipingPebworth, DancingMarston, Haunted Hillboro', HungryGrafton, DodgingExhall, Papist Wixford, BeggarlyBroom and Drunken Bidford" and so, presumably, I will drink no more. The story is said to date from the 17th century, but of its truth or of any connection of the story or the verse to Shakespeare there is no evidence.[5] The reasons for the village being described as papist remain unclear, but may be a reference to theCatholicThrockmorton family. In 1541, the village passed to SirGeorge Throckmorton, in whose family it remained until 1919, when the estate was sold and themanorial rights extinguished.[6]
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Theparish church is dedicated to St.Milburga of Wenlock and was founded in the 12th century. TheDomesday Book makes no mention of a priest at Wixford. The dedication of the church to theSaxon St. Milburg seems to be evidence of its antiquity, but not necessarily of a pre-Conquest foundation, for the cult of St. Milburg was revived, after long neglect, by the translation of her relics atWenlock Priory in 1101.[6] The church comprises anave andchancel under one roof, southchantry chapel, south porch, andbell turret. There is one ancient, uninscribed bell, and another by John Martin ofWorcester, dated. The bell was recast in 1937, retaining the old inscription.[7] The church was restored in 1881 and the south porch and the western bell turret probably date from then.[6]
There are twoNorman doorways on the south having columns.[8] The southernchapel, dedicated toSt. John the Baptist, was built early in the 15th century by Thomas de Cruwe, who was legal advisor toMargaret Beauchamp. In the south chapel is the fine table tomb to Thomas de Cruwe and his wife, Juliana (1400–11), with fine canopiedbrasses.[9] The church is approached by achurchyard shaded by an old yew. In 1660, six parishioners accused therector of wishing to cut down ayew tree in the churchyard 'the like whereof is not to be found in all the diocese'.[5] In 1730 Dr. Thomas, rector here, gave its height as 53 feet (16 m) and its circumference as 18 feet 3 inches (5.56 m). However, according to a rhyme in a volume of cuttings relating toRagley at theShire Hall. 'In 1763 in Wixford churchyard there was felled a yew tree. In 1765 there was planted another that never will thrive.'[6]
Thechurchyard also contains agrade II listed horsehouse of hurdle and gorse with athatched roof dating from the 18th century.[10] Wixford never having a separateliving, being achapel ofExhall since thereformation so it was provided for the mounts of the visiting clergy from otherparishes. There is also a fine large base of a churchyard cross with a moulded top edge, the stump of a shaft, and three steps to the platform dating from the 15th century.[6] For much of the late 19th and early 20th century people travelled fromAlcester to the Sunday evening services inSt Milburga's. The remains of OversleyCastle are zero point five miles (0.80 km) north of the village and theRoman roadIcknield Street runs very close by.
Wixford is part of theAlcester & Rural ward ofStratford-on-Avon District Council and is represented by Susan Adams (Conservative).[11] Nationally, it is part of theStratford-on-Avon constituency; the current member of parliament isNadhim Zahawi of the Conservative Party. Prior toBrexit in 2020 it was part of theWest Midlands electoral region of theEuropean Parliament.
The village formerly was served byWixford railway station, built by theEvesham &Redditch Railway Company in September 1866 as part of theGloucester Loop Line. At the time of its closure in January 1950 it belonged toBritish Railways. The line, the station, and the associated railway bridge no longer exist, with the line through the station closing in 1963 as a result of theBeeching Axe. However, theHeart of England Way, popular withhikers, runs along part of the old line. TheRiver Arrow also runs through the village.
The village has twopubs, the FishInn and the Three Horseshoes. Because of its proximity to the border ofWorcestershire, theExhall & Wixfordcricket club, which plays in theCotswold Hills League, is affiliated to both theWarwickshire and Worcestershire County Cricket Boards. The smallvillage hall, with a capacity of 70, is available for hire by members of the public.
Neighbouring towns and moors. | |
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