Area Guide: North Warwickshire/Leicestershire borders
Why live in North Warwickshire/Leciestershire border
A mostly rural area with several small towns and many attractive villages, north Warwickshire is relatively remote from the rest of Warwickshire and borders the counties of Staffordshire and Leicestershire. The countryside is mildly undulating and the northern most village is No Man’s Heath which is only about 35 miles from the southern tip of the Derbyshire Peak District. The area is ideal for those needing good access to the road networks – the M42, A5, A50, M1, M6 and M6 Toll are easily accessible.
The main town is Atherstone which has a long history; the Domesday Book of 1086 records that Atherstone was held by Countess Godiva who according to legend rode naked through the streets of Coventry. It is said that the Battle of Bosworth took place just outside Atherstone rather than at Market Bosworth itself. Atherstone was well known for weaving and cloth making and especially for its felt hats. This was a thriving industry and at its height employed 3000 people. It died out in the 1960s.
Attractive villages around Atherstone include Ratcliffe Culey, Sheepy Magna, Sheepy Parva, Fenny Drayton, Upton, Sibson and Baxterley.
Another town is Tamworth, which sits right on the Staffordshire/Warwickshire borders. It is home of the historic castle and moat house and also boasts the UK’s first full sized, real snow, indoor ski slope. The Anker and Tame Rivers run through the town. There are some lovely rural villages to the north such as Harlaston, Haunton, Wigginton, Thorpe Constantine, Clifton Campville and Newton Regis.
Further to the south and popular for commuting into the centre of Birmingham is Coleshill, a small market town full of former coaching inns. Villages close by include Maxstoke, Shustoke, Fillongley, Nether Whitacre, Over Whitacre, Meriden and Hampton-in-Arden.
Market Bosworth is a delightful market town just over the border into Leicestershire; well know for the final Battle in the War of the Roses in 1485. After the battle the town belonged to the Grey family but after the beheading of Lady Jane Grey in 1554, the manor of Bosworth was confiscated by Queen Mary I. It was awarded to a Catholic nobleman Edward Hastings whose heirs sold it to Sir Wolston Dixie, Lord Mayor of London. The Dixie Family established the free Dixie Grammar School and also built Bosworth Hall.
History
Richard III’s final battle took place at Market Bosworth in 1485.
North Warwickshire boasts more monasteries than any other part of Warwickshire. Remains of Polesworth Abbey, Mastoke Priory and Alvecote Priory can still be seen.
George Eliot was inspired by Astley Church and Astley Castle, both of which featured under other names in her book Scenes of Clerical Life.
Traditions
The Shrovetide Ball Game takes place annually on the streets of Atherstone. It has been taking place for just over 810 years.
Property type
The area offers mainly red brick properties of all shapes and sizes such as cottages, village houses, farmhouses, manor houses and old rectories.
Places of interest
- Drayton Manor Park
- Conkers
- The Snow Dome, Tamworth
- Bosworth Battlefield Country Park
- The Battlefield Line Railway
- Market Bosworth Water Park
- Mallory Park Racing Circuit
- The Ashby Canal
Schools in the area
| Primary |
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Twycross House School
Tywcross, Warwickshire,
CV9 3PL
01827 880 651 |
Repton Preparatory School
Foremarke Hall, Milton, Derbyshire
DE65 6EJ
01283 703 269 |
The Lichfield Cathedral School
The Close, Lichfield, Staffordshire
WS13 7LH
01543 306 176
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The Dixie Grammar School Junior School
Temple Hall, Wellsborough, Warwickshire
CV13 6PA
01455 293 024
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| Secondary |
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The Dixie Grammar School
Market Bosworth, Leicestershire
CV13 0LE
01455 292 244 |
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Repton School
Repton, Derbyshire
DE65 6FH
01283 559 200
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