History of Atherstone
Atherstone has a long History going back to Roman times. An important defended Roman settlement named Manduessedum existed at Mancetter near the site of modern day Atherstone, and the Roman road, the Watling Street (now known as the A5) ran through the town. It is believed by some historians that the rebel Queen of the Britons Boudica was defeated at the Battle of Watling Street by the Romans in her final battle near Manduessedum.
St Marys
The ancient St Mary’s chapel in Atherstone dates from the early twelfth century when the monks of Bec made a donation of twelve acres to a house of friars hermits, later referred to as “Austin friars”. According to Nichols the chapel was granted to Henry Cartwright in 1542, then left abandoned and neglected until 1692 when Samuel Bracebridge gent. settled a yearly sum for the parson of Manceter to preach there every other Sunday in the Winter season.
After this, St Mary’s chapel seems to have experienced something of a revival, its square tower being rebuilt in the fashionable “Gothic” style in 1782. This drastic alteration probably aroused some controversy. although the fine architectural drawing of the chapel made by Mr Schnebbelie in 1790 prompted Nichols to assert that “the new tower provides a good effect”.
Battle of Bosworth
It is said that the Battle of Bosworth actually took place in the fields of Merevale above Atherstone. Certainly reparation was made to Atherstone after the battle, and not to Market Bosworth.
Tudor Atherstone
In tudor times Atherstone was a thriving commercial centre for weaving and clothmaking. The town’s favourable location laid out as a long ‘ribbon development’ along Watling Street, ensured its growth as a market town. While it remained an agricultural settlement in medieval times, attempts were made to encourage merchants and traders through the creation of burgage plots, a type of land tenure that provided them with special privileges. A manuscript discovered by Marjorie Morgan among the muniments of Cambridge’s Kings College (Ms.C9), refers to the creation of nine new burgage strips from land belonging to seven of the tenants in Atherstone vill.
By the late tudor periods Atherstone had become a thriving centre for leatherworking, clothmaking, metalworking and ale-brewing. Local sheep farmers and cattle graziers supplied wool and leather to local tanners and shoemakers, while metalworkers, locksmiths and nailers fired their furnaces with local coal and the alemakers supplied thirsty palates on market days.
The surviving inventories from 16th century Mancetter provide a fascinating glimpse into Atherstone’s Elizabethan merchants and traders, before the town was economically overshadowed by the bustling city of Coventry. They show Atherstone at this time as a typical midland market town, taking full advantage of its location and agricultural setting.
Hatting Industry
Atherstone was once an important hatting town, and became well known for its felt hats. The industry began in the 17th century, and at its height there were seven firms employing 3000 people. Due to cheap imports, the trade had largely died out by the 1960s, and ended completely in 1998.
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December 19th, 2005 at 2:38 pm
My wife and I are researching a clockmaker from Atherstone named Robert Bates. Do you know of anyone we can contact for information on him or the clock makers from your city?
January 10th, 2006 at 2:36 pm
Hi there
The is a Clock for sale by Robert Bates, Atherstone Clockmaker on Antiques-atlas.com . Click on antiques for sale , then longcase clocks and its around number 52 in the longcase clocks for sale. Direct link
best regards
Ian
July 31st, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Does anyone know where the name MYTHE comes from, as in Mythe Lane?
Pronounced in Atherstone ‘Marther’ It sounds very ancient to me. Even as a child “evacuee” in Atherstone Iwondered but could not find any references. Incidentally-Ilearned to swim in the river off Mythe Lane. jumping from the banks onto floating clumps of rushes. I also swam from the ‘bathing bridge’in the canal by the Rion Hill. I cannot imagine now that anyone would swim in the canal. My parents back here in Coventry would have been horrified had they known. In the summertime the miners would sit on the edge and soap themselves all over. Then they would dive in and swim across. No luxury of pit baths in those war days.
October 10th, 2006 at 2:18 pm
Hi Catherine,
Mythe mithe or myp(th)e is from an old english word meaning ‘waters meet’ or ‘ junction of streams’. The rivers Anker and Sense meet at Atherstone by Mythe Meadow at a place called King Dicks hole, Which used to be a favourite place for swimming. Nearby are Mythe Cottage, Mythe Farm, Mythe Cottage Farm, Mythe Lane and also Mythe view on the housing Estate . There is said to be a lost village of Mythe nearb to King Dicks Hole
May 29th, 2008 at 10:56 am
Yes, the name Mythe is ancient and is parallelled by Mitton on the River Ribble and Emmetts on the River Wyre, both in Lancashire, all in places where streams meet. They derive from Old English gemyth, the last th in Old English being represented by a single letter that indeed looks a bit like a p. As far as I can work out, the moated forts of Ratcliffe Culey, the Mythe and a site north of Sibson Lane, Ratcliffe Culey seem to be border fortresses of Danelaw (including Leicestershire) against the Saxons of Mercia (including Warwickshire) and so probably dates from the 10th Century. The Mythe was then a meeting point of roads from Hinckley and probably Derby.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:50 pm
I’ll be visiting Atherstone 1 August and staying until the 8th for family research on Farmers in Ratcliffe Culey. I’ll be videotaping and taking still digital photos for this once-in-a-lifetime trip. I’ll be at the Red Lion and hope to meet any interested parties there for interviews and any information you can provide.
August 13th, 2008 at 10:55 am
Hi Cameron,
I believe we met while in Atherstone. I spoke with you while you were at the Red Lion with your lap-top. I was also there researching family. I’m back in Seattle. I do hope you had some success and you made it safely back to California.
Regards,
Randall
March 9th, 2009 at 1:02 pm
I am interested in the query you received on Dec 19th 2005 from Douglas Racine above.
I have also been trying to trace a clock I have at home its made by G Bates of Atherstone.Is it still possible to trace the name above as there are details I require for my restoration project and there must be similarities.