Brailes: Difference between revisions
m Punctuation. |
|||
| Line 51: | Line 51: | ||
==Events== |
==Events== |
||
Castle Hill, Mine Hill and Brailes Hill are covered in the annual [[Brailes Three Hills Walk]], held on the first Monday in May each year. |
Castle Hill, Mine Hill and Brailes Hill are covered in the annual [[Brailes Three Hills Walk]], held on the first Monday in May each year. The route starts at the Village Hall and proceeds by footpaths through fields to St Georges Church and then to the Park in Lower Brailes. |
||
A long climb to the top of Mine Hill, then down to Sutton Lane before climbing again to the top of Brailes Hill. For this walk, walkers are allowed across private land to the Highwall Coppice, which is not normally accessible at other times of year. |
|||
There are commanding views of Warwickshire, as walkers turn back towards Upper Brailes, before the final climb of Castle Hill. Then a short descent to return to the finish at the Village Hall. |
|||
Many walkers will then retreat to the George or the Bell. |
|||
The money raised by the walk goes to the school and the pavilion. |
|||
On the Saturday following [[Guy Fawkes Night]] a large [[Bonfire]] with [[fireworks]] is held in the playing fields. On this night, there is a [[barbecue]] and a popular hog roast. |
On the Saturday following [[Guy Fawkes Night]] a large [[Bonfire]] with [[fireworks]] is held in the playing fields. On this night, there is a [[barbecue]] and a popular hog roast. |
||
Revision as of 13:38, 19 May 2010
Brailes (spelled Brayles in early historical documents) is a civil parish about 3 miles (4.8 km) east of Shipston-on-Stour in Warwickshire, England. It comprises the two villages of Lower and Upper Brailes but is often referred to as one village as the two adjoin each other. Brailes parish includes the hamlet of Winderton about 1.5 miles (2.4 km) northeast of Brailes.
Brailes stands among many hills, with Upper Brailes built on the side of Brailes Hill, recognisable by the Highwall Coppice clump of trees on its top and the second-highest point in Warwickshire.[1] The east side of the village is bordered by Mine Hill, which can be easily identified by the TV mast at its centre, and Holloway Hill, up which the B4035 road runs towards Banbury.
History
In the middle of the village is the man-made Castle Hill, a prehistoric burial ground that was used as the mound for a motte-and-bailey castle.[1]
Remains of a Roman villa have been found, but the artifacts are too scattered by centuries of cultivation to be of much significance.[citation needed]
Brailes was the home of William de Brailes, a 13th century medieval painter of illuminated manuscripts. Of the many artists who painted such manuscripts, William is one of only two whose name has been recorded.[2]
The Church of England parish church of Saint George is the largest in the Kington Hundred and is locally referred to as "The Cathedral of the Feldon".[3] Feldon is an Old English word meaning "the land from which the timber has been cleared away".[4] Excavations in 1879 beneath the arcade between the nave and south aisle are said to have found 12th century foundations.[3] The south aisle was added in about 1280[3] and is the oldest part of the present church building.[5] The western part of the south arcade was added in about 1330-40 when the nave seems to have been extended westwards to its present length of six bays.[3] At the same time the clerestorey was added to the nave and the chancel was rebuilt[3] with its present Decorated Gothic east window.[5] The north aisle may also be 14th century, but rebuildings and alterations in 1649 and 1879 have obscured the evidence for its original appearance.[3] In the 15th century an additional window was inserted in the south wall of the chancel.[3]
The bell tower is 120 feet (37 m) high and has the third-heaviest ring of six bells in England.[6] One of the bells was cast late in the 15th century.[3] The tenor bell was also 15th century but was recast in 1877.[3] Two more bells are 17th century and another 17th century bell was recast in 1900.[3] The bells have been rehung a number of times, including by White's of Appleton in 1894 and most recently by John Taylor & Co in 1957.[6]
From 1584 until at least 1712 the advowson of St. George's parish belonged to the Bishop family, although most of the family was Roman Catholic.[3] The manor house was built early in the 17th century.[5] In 1726 a member of the Bishop family added the range that includes the Roman Catholic Church of St. Peter and St. Paul on the upper floor.[3]
A Quaker Meeting House, said to have been founded in the 17th century, was in existence in 1850.[3] Brailes had two Methodist chapels.[3] The one in Upper Brailes was built in 1863.
On the other side of Stocks Hill is Brailes House, once home to the Sheldon family and now owned by John Maples, MP.
Amenities
Brailes has two pubs: the 16th century George Hotel[7] in Lower Brailes and the Gate Inn[8] in Upper Brailes. Both belong to the Hook Norton Brewery.
In Lower Brailes there are three old school buildings, the Free School, the Old School and a third building next to the churchyard, which also served as a practice room for the village brass band in the 1950's. All have now been converted to homes. In the area between the two villages, there is situated Brailes Primary School (opened in 1960), with about 100 pupils; the playing fields and pavilion; and the Village Hall.
Just south of Lower Brailes is Brailes Golf Club, which has an 18-hole course.[9]
About 2 miles (3.2 km) southeast of Lower Brailes is Traitor's Ford, a popular spot for family picnics and children playing.
Events
Castle Hill, Mine Hill and Brailes Hill are covered in the annual Brailes Three Hills Walk, held on the first Monday in May each year. The route starts at the Village Hall and proceeds by footpaths through fields to St Georges Church and then to the Park in Lower Brailes.
A long climb to the top of Mine Hill, then down to Sutton Lane before climbing again to the top of Brailes Hill. For this walk, walkers are allowed across private land to the Highwall Coppice, which is not normally accessible at other times of year.
There are commanding views of Warwickshire, as walkers turn back towards Upper Brailes, before the final climb of Castle Hill. Then a short descent to return to the finish at the Village Hall.
Many walkers will then retreat to the George or the Bell.
The money raised by the walk goes to the school and the pavilion.
On the Saturday following Guy Fawkes Night a large Bonfire with fireworks is held in the playing fields. On this night, there is a barbecue and a popular hog roast.
On usually the second Saturday in August the Brailes Show is held.[10] At this agricultural show there are various equestrian events and a dog show. A marquee with flowers, vegetables and produce on show, various stalls, a barbecue, vintage and classic cars, motorcycles, tractors and steam engines, as well as a main ring in which activities, such as tug of war and performances such as falconry are held. On the evening of the show, the "Farmer's Ball" is held in the marquee, with two or three live bands playing, often including the Strolling Bones (a Rolling Stones tribute band).
References
- ^ a b Warwickshire Federation of Women's Institutes, 1988, page 26
- ^ Mee, 1936, pages 65-67
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n Salzman, 1949, pages 17-26
- ^ Herbert, 1905 pages 131-132
- ^ a b c Pevsner & Wedgwood, 1966, page 217
- ^ a b Church Bells of Warwickshire: Brailes St George
- ^ The George Hotel
- ^ The Gate Inn
- ^ Brailes Golf Club
- ^ Welcome to the Brailes Show website
Sources
- Salzman, L.F. (1945). Victoria County History: A History of the County of Warwick, Volume 5: Kington Hundred. pp. 17–26.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Herbert, A. (1905). Highways and Byways in Oxford and the Cotswolds. Macmillan & Co. pp. 131–132.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Mee, Arthur (1936). The King's England - Warwickshire. Hodder and Stoughton. pp. 65–67.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help) - Pevsner, Nikolaus (1966). The Buildings of England: Warwickshire. Harmondsworth: Penguin Books. pp. 217–218.
{{cite book}}: Unknown parameter|coauthors=ignored (|author=suggested) (help) - Warwickshire Federation of Women's Institutes (1988). The Warwickshire Village Book. Countryside Books. p. 26.
{{cite book}}: Cite has empty unknown parameter:|coauthors=(help)
