Harbury
| Harbury | |
|---|---|
| Population | 2,485 (2001) |
| OS grid reference | SP3760 |
| Civil parish |
|
| District | |
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | SOUTHAM |
| Postcode district | CV33 |
| Dialling code | 01926 |
| Police | Warwickshire |
| Fire | Warwickshire |
| Ambulance | West Midlands |
| UK Parliament | |
Harbury is a large village and civil parish in the Stratford-on-Avon district of Warwickshire, England. In the 2001 census it had a population of 2,485.
The village is located around 3 miles (5 km) south-west of Southam, and around 5 miles (8 km) south-east of Leamington Spa, just south of the A425 road. The Chiltern Main Line runs just to the north of Harbury. The cutting in which the line runs was said to be the deepest hand-dug cutting in the world, at the time of its construction in 1852. The village used to have a station called Southam Road & Harbury but this closed long ago.
History
Harbury has ancient origins. Bronze Age cooking pots have been found in the area, and the name of the village is said to be derived from Hereburgh, a woman tribal chief of around 500 BC. The Romans built the Fosse Way nearby. The Domesday Book recorded the name as Edburberie where it is listed amongst the lands given to Henry de Ferrers [1] by William I. The land provided work for over five ploughs and was valued at £4. The village appears as Harberbury on the 1637 Christopher Saxton map of Warwickshire. The first mention of a post office in the village was in September 1847, when a type of postmark known as an undated circle was issued.[2]
Harbury today
Harbury has a former windmill which still stands but has no sails. It also contains All Saints' parish church, which dates partly from the 13th century although with a Victorian brick top. Within the parish of Harbury lies the hamlet of Deppers Bridge. The parish borders with the parishes of Ladbroke, Bishop's Itchington, Bishop's Tachbrook, Chesterton and Southam.
The parish has recently seen proposals for development of the land known as the Harbury Estate by the owners, Follett Property Holdings Ltd, who envisage a development of houses and a business estate. There have also been proposals put forward for a new Harbury Station; however it is believed that the current infrastructure of the railway is incapable of facilitating this. The Parish Council and Stratford District Council are reviewing the proposals.
Amenities
Harbury has a primary school, with around 200 pupils, and a pre-school. It also has a number of shops, including a Londis and The Co-op (once managed, fittingly, by the late Mrs Coop), a chemists, a grocery shop (Mugleston's Country Fayre), an estate agent, a library, and a post office (confined to the corner of Londis) and a village hall. The village has five pubs: The Shakespeare, The Crown, The Dog Inn, The Old New Inn and The Gamecock.
There is also a large park and playground, known as "The Rec", which houses 3 tennis courts, a netball court, the 60 Seconds Arena and a strategically-placed skate park right at the end near the football pitches.
Notable residents
Harbury is home to Justin King, the Chief Executive of Sainsbury's, and to Philip Bushill-Matthews, Conservative MEP for the West Midlands region, former Managing Director of Red Mill Snack Foods and author of two books.
References
- Allen, Geoff. (2000). Warwickshire Towns and Villages, Sigma Leisure. ISBN 1-85058-642-X.
External links
- Harbury parish council
- Harbury Villagebuzz online community
- Harbury Pre-School
- Harbury Choir School
- Harbury Rugby Club
- Harbury All Saints Church
- Photos of Harbury and surrounding area on geograph.org.uk
