Abbots Bromley
Template:Short description Template:Use British English Template:Use dmy dates Template:Infobox UK place Abbots Bromley is a village and civil parish in the East Staffordshire district of Staffordshire and lies approximately Template:Convert east of Stafford, England. According to the University of Nottingham English Place-names project, the settlement name Abbots Bromley could mean 'clearing/wood frequented by broom'. The prefix 'abbots' was added because the village was held by Burton Abbey.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The population of the civil parish at the 2011 census was 1,779.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Abbots Bromley was rated the best place to live in the Midlands by the Sunday Times in 2013 and again in 2016.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The village is a regular entrant and often winner of the Staffordshire Best Kept Village Competition which takes place across the county each year. Originally organised by the Community Council of Staffordshire there is a best-kept village award for a large and small village in each of the county's Districts and Boroughs. Whilst down the years the East Staffordshire district prize has been awarded to Abbots Bromley on a number of occasions the overall county title continues to elude. In August 2017 the village won the double honour of winning both the best kept village and community council trophy award, a double not achieved for many years. This double was repeated again in 2018. In 2019 the competition was taken on by The Community Foundation for Staffordshire and Abbots Bromley won for the third consecutive year.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Through the competition Abbots Bromley maintains a healthy rivalry with nearby Yoxall, also a regular winner in the East Staffordshire section.
The village is world-renowned for its annual Horn Dance, an ancient tradition which attracts visitors from far and wide.
Location
The village sits within the Postal Area of the nearby settlement of Rugeley which is the closest town to the village at Template:Convert from Abbots Bromley. The village and civil parish lie within the East Staffordshire District. The village is Template:Convert north of the city of Lichfield and is Template:Convert south west of Uttoxeter.<ref name="AZSTAFF">- Staffordshire A-Z County Atlas: 2011 Edition: Scale:3.8 inches to 1 mile (5.9cm to 1km) Template:ISBN</ref> The nearest railway station is at Rugeley which is Template:Convert south west of the village. The Blithfield Reservoir<ref name="BLITH">History of Reservoir Template:Webarchive retrieved 11 April 2013</ref> is Template:Convert from the centre of the village. Within the parish there are the natural features of Bagot's Wood and the largest remaining part of the Needwood Forest. Phil Drabble's Goats Lodge nature reserve is also in the parish. Chaserider hourly bus service 63 links the village to Uttoxeter, Rugeley, Hednesford and Cannock.
History
The first historical record of the village dates from 942, when the manor of "Bromleage" was given to Wulfsige the Black. The will, dated 1002, of Wulfric Spot, Earl of Mercia, gave the village to the Abbey of Burton upon Trent. There is some evidence that the current settlement was a planned town – there is evidence of burgage plots, a grid pattern of streets and a wide market place.
Domesday Book
Abbas Bromley is recorded in the Domesday Book of 1086–7 as Brunlege, when it was part of the land of St Mary of Burton.<ref>Template:Cite book</ref>
Royal Charter
In 1227, a weekly market was confirmed by Royal Charter at the site of the Buttercross (recorded in 1339, the present structure said by Pevsner to date from the 17th century), which survives to the present. The current, triangular market place is now grassed over and serves as a village green and the focus for events on Horn Dance Day.
Dissolution of the Monasteries
The village remained affiliated to the Abbey till the Dissolution of the Monasteries in 1545. Henry VIII gave Bromley Abbatis to Sir William Paget, Clerk of the Signet and Privy Councillor. The village was known as Paget's Bromley for several centuries, (distinguishing it from the part of the parish in the hands of the Bagot family, still known as Bagot's Bromley) but eventually the influence of the Paget family declined, and the name reverted to Abbots Bromley.
Industry
Despite being an agricultural centre on account of its market and fairs, Abbots Bromley enjoyed some industrial success. In the 16th century it was a major centre for glass manufacture.<ref>Template:Cite journal</ref> In 1606 it gained a grammar school, now Richard Clarke First School.
Decline
Despite nineteenth century efforts to connect the village to the expanding railway network the North Staffordshire Railway received an act of parliament to build a branch line from Stowe-by-Chartley which was never taken advantage of. Abbots Bromley remained comparatively isolated and in decline, losing its market, fairs and economic status.
20th century
By the 1950s the village faced economic decay and an ageing population. It was also comparatively late in receiving mains electricity and gas services. More recently it has become a dormitory settlement for surrounding urban areas such as the West Midlands conurbation and Derby. There has been some new development as well as the restoration of historic buildings, with a Millennium Hall perhaps the most noted recent example.Template:Citation needed
Parish Council
Nine Parish Councillors, elected every four years represent the community.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Every year the Council elects a chair (currently Cllr Richard Love) and vice chair. The Parish Council is supported by the Parish Clerk. Meetings are usually held in the village hall at 19:00 on the last Wednesday of every month (except August and December due to holidays). All meetings are open to the public. One Parish surgery is also held every other month on a Saturday morning in the Church House to enable Parishioners to bring any local issues to the attention of a Councillor so that it can be reported to the full Parish Council meeting. Following the election of new Parish Councillors in May 2015 the council began the process of developing a Neighbourhood Plan, administered through a sub-group of the Parish Council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Other local representation
Abbots Bromley is part of the Bagots and Needwood Ward on East Staffordshire Borough Council and is currently represented by three Conservative Borough Councillors. At County level the village is part of the Needwood Forest Division, represented by Conservative Catherine Brown on Staffordshire County Council.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The village is part of the parliamentary constituency of Lichfield and is currently represented by Labour MP Dave Robertson.
Schools
The village is home to The Richard Clarke First School, run by the Uttoxeter Learning Trust for pupils aged 4–9. The school was founded in 1606 via a bequest made by Richard Clarke a local man who achieved success in London in the trade of a dyer. The school was originally known as 'Clarke's Grammar School'. The current school is rated as good by OFSTED with outstanding features. The village is part of the three tier school system, now quite rare in England.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> From age 9-13 pupils go to Oldfields Hall Middle School in Uttoxeter and then from age 13-16 (or 18 if students opt to stay on in the sixth form) to Thomas Alleyne's High School also in Uttoxeter.
The village was also the home of one of the original Woodard Schools, and the first in the Woodard Group for girls Abbots Bromley School (formerly known as Abbots Bromley School for Girls and before that the School of S. Mary and S. Anne). In 2015 the school opened a new International College on the former St Mary's site. The school closed in July 2019 and the site has been sold. The future of the site since the sale is as yet unclear.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Historic buildings
The village has a large number of listed buildings, and its historic core has conservation area status, reflecting its pre-industrial townscape. Of these, the half timbered Church House,<ref name="CHL">Listed building status- Church House Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref> The Goats Head Inn,<ref name="GHI">Listed building status-Goats head Inn Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref> which is claimed to be the original town hall, and the Schoolhouse<ref name="SHL">Listed building status- Old School House Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref> (Richard Clarke's 1606 Grammar School) are some of the most noteworthy. The Market Cross (Buttercross) has been designated a scheduled Ancient Monument.<ref>Template:NHLE</ref>
Gallery
- Listed Buildings in Abbots Bromley
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The Butter Cross, A scheduled Ancient Monument. -
Bentilee Park Farmhouse, Grade II listed -
Hurst Farmhouse, Grade II listed -
Coleridge House, School of St Mary and St Anne, Grade II listed -
Church of St. Nicholas, Grade II listed
Listed Buildings in Abbots Bromley
- Dwellings at No's 5, 6, 7, 8, High Street, Grade II, Hall Hill Lane<ref name="renamed_from_5678_on_20130514035040">4 Houses Listings Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Bagot's Bromley Monument, near Bromley Farmhouse, Grade II<ref name="BBMON">Bromley Monument Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Bank House, Grade II, High Street.<ref name="BHOUSE">Bank House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Barn and Cartshed close to Park Lodge, Grade II.<ref name="B&CSHED">Barn and Cart shed listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Barn in Goose Lane, Grade II.<ref name="BGL">Goose Lane Barn Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Barn, Hurst Farm, Grade II.<ref name="BHF">Hurst Farm Barn Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Barn, High Elms Farm, Grade II.<ref name="BHEF">High Elms Barn Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Batkin House, Harley Lane, Grade II.<ref name="BATHOUSE">Batkin House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Bentilee Park Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="BPARK">Bentilee Park Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Bromley House, Grade II.<ref name="BOLEY">Bromley House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Cael Cottage, Grade II.<ref name="CAEL">Cael Cottage Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Cedar Cottage, Grade II.<ref name="CED">Cedar Cottage Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Chesterton House, Grade II.<ref name="CHEST">Chesterton House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Saint Nicholas Parish Church, Grade II.<ref name="CHU">Parish Church Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Church View Farmhouse. Grade II.<ref name="CHVFH">Church View Farmhouse Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- North West Leafields Farm, Associated building and structures. Grade II.<ref name="NWLF">Leafield Farm Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Coleridge House School, Grade II.<ref name="CHS">Coleridge House School Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Croft's House, Grade II.<ref name="CFTH">Croft House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Crofts Cottage, Grade II.<ref name="CCOT">Crofts Cottage Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Dandelion Cottages and Associated structures, Grade II.<ref name="DANDL">Dandelion Cottages listings Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Falcott Inglenook, Grade II.<ref name="FAL">Falcott Inglenook Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Georgian House, Grade II,<ref name="GH">Georgian House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Gilleon's Hall, Grade II.<ref>Gilleon’s Hall Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Goats Lodge, Grade II.<ref name="GTL">Goats Lodge Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Granary and Associated structures at Hurst Farmhouse, Grade II,<ref name="GHF">Hurst Farm Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Grange Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="GRAG">Grange Farmhouse Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Narley Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="NAR">Narley Farmhouse Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Heatley Green Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="HEAT">Heatley Green Farmhouse Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Dwelling on Market Place, Grade II.<ref name="DMP">Market Place Dwelling Listed Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Dwelling Owned by Goodwin, Grade II.<ref name="GODW">Goodwin Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Inglenook Oak Cottage, Grade II.<ref name="IOCG">Oak Cottage Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Lancsuss House, Grade II.<ref name="LANC">Lancsuss House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Laurel Cottage, Grade II.<ref name="LAUR">Laurel Cottage Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Leacross Cottage, Grade II.<ref name="LEAC">Leacross Cottage Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Leafields Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="LEAFARM">Leafields Farmhouse Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Lychgate to the parish Church Saint Nicholas, Grade II.<ref name="LYC">Lychgate Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Manor Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="MANF">Manor Farmhouse Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Maxstoke House, Grade II.<ref name="MAX">Maxstoke House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Middleton House, Grade II<ref name="MID">Middleton House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- five different Milepost in the parish, Grade II.<ref name="MPOST">Mile Post Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Mount Pleasant Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="MOUNTPL">Mount Pleasant Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Norfolk House, Grade II.<ref name="NOR">Norfolk House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Norman Villa, Grade II.<ref name="NORM">Norman Villa Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Northwood House, Grade II.<ref name="NH">Northwood House listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Park Lodge, Grade II.<ref name="PARK">Park Lodge Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Parkside Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="PKSID">Parkside Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Premises of C. Taswell, Grade II.<ref name="CTAS">C. Taswell Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Newsagent Premises of J.M. Meadows, grade II.<ref name="JMM">JM Meadows Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Butchers Shop Premises of V.G. Wilson, Grade II.<ref name="VGW">Premises Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Rose House, Grade II.<ref name="RHG">Rose House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Saint Helens, Grade II.<ref name="STH">Saint Helens Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Assorted structures Bentilee Park Farm, Grade II.<ref name="BENT">Bentilee Listings Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Assorted structures Leafields Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="LFFL">Leafields Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Sunny Brae and Sunny Mead, Grade II.<ref name="SBSM">Sunny Listings Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Bagot Almshouses, Grade II.<ref name="BAGALM">Almshouse Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Bagot Arms, Grade II.<ref name="BAGINN">Bagot Inn Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Bakery, Grade II.<ref name="BAKE">Bakery Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 12 April 2013</ref>
- Big House, School, Grade II.<ref name="BIG">Big House Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- Butter Cross, Grade II.<ref name="BUT">Butter Cross Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- St. Mary and St. Anne school, Grade II.<ref name="MASCH">School Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- Coach and Horses Public House, Grade II.<ref name="C&H">Coach and Horses Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- The Cross, Dwelling, Grade II.<ref name="CROSS">Cross Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- The Green, Grade II.<ref name="GRE">Green Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- Hurst Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="HURST">Hurst Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- The Maltings, Dwelling, Grade II.<ref name="MALT">Maltings Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- Old Schoolhouse, Grade II.<ref name="SCHHOU">Schoolhouse Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- Royal Oak Public House, Grade II.<ref name="OAF">Royal Oak Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- Town End Farmhouse, Grade II.<ref name="TEF">Town End Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- Gilleon's Hall, Associated structures. Grade II.<ref>Gilleon Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- War Memorial, Grade II.<ref name="WAR">Memorial Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
- Wheelwright House, Grade II.<ref name="WHH">Wheelwright Listing Template:Webarchive retrieved 13 April 2013</ref>
Traditions
The Horn Dance
Abbots Bromley is known for its annual Horn Dance, an English folk dance dating back to the Middle Ages. The modern version of the dance involves reindeer antlers, a hobby horse, Maid Marian, and a Fool.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> The dance takes place on Wakes Monday, the day following Wakes Sunday, which is the first Sunday after 4 September. It begins in the morning on the village green and passes to Blithfield Hall, returning to the village in the early afternoon with the dancers then making their way around the pubs and houses, eventually finishing with a service of Compline at the church.
Sport and leisure
Cricket
Abbots Bromley Cricket Club is an English amateur cricket club with a history of cricket in the village dating back to 1881.<ref name="Derbyshire County Cricket League 2019">Template:Cite book</ref> The club ground is based on Mill Green Lane.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> Abbots Bromley CC have 2 Saturday senior XI teams that compete in the Derbyshire County Cricket League,<ref name="DCCL">Template:Cite web</ref> a Sunday XI team, and a junior training section<ref>Template:Cite web</ref> that play competitive cricket in the Burton & District Youth Cricket League.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Football
Abbots Bromley has a men's senior football team, Abbots Bromley FC, nicknamed 'The Stags'.<ref name="ABSTG">Abbots Bromley FC Template:Webarchive retrieved 14 April 2013</ref> They were reformed after over 10 years in 2010. They compete in division 2 of the Stafford & District league and play home games at the Abbots Bromley School grounds named 'The Lowers'. The Stags main sponsors are Gallery 3, The Room Network & Edwin Ferneyhough Vehicle Sales. The president of the club is former Aston Villa & Stoke City footballer, Harry Burrows.
The club reached the Uttoxeter & District division 2/3 cup final in May 2012 but narrowly lost to Cheadle Town End on penalties in front of a crowd of 150+. The Stags also narrowly missed out on promotion to the Uttoxeter & District first division in 2012 after finishing third. The Stags were finally promoted to division 1 the following year and completed the double by winning the Subsidiary Cup after beating The Three Tuns FC in the final 4-1 at the Oldfield sports ground, Uttoxeter. The Subsidiary Cup win was repeated in 2017 when a 6-2 victory against Stone Town FC at Abbots Bromley School saw Will Ferneyhough score five goals.
The club remained in division 1 until 2018, a campaign that ended in relegation. The following season saw a second placed finish and promotion, narrowly losing out by a point to Doveridge FC as well as a 2-1 Division 2 League Cup final victory over Doveridge FC at Hillsfield, Rocester FC in front of over 200 spectators.
The club's committee voted to transfer to the Stafford & District League for the 2019-20 season and started out in the third tier (Division 2).
Netball
Abbots Bromley Netball Club is affiliated to England Netball with a Bronze CAPS status through the Sport England Clubmark scheme and consists of players of all ages from Abbots Bromley and surrounding areas. The club uses the training and playing facilities at Abbots Bromley School, and field up to 3 squads in the Burton and District league.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Tennis
Abbots Bromley Tennis Club was founded in 1913 and has two outdoor courts situated behind the Village Hall, off Bagot Street.<ref>Template:Cite web</ref>
Notable people
- Alice Mary Coleridge (1846–1907) a British promoter of girls' schools. founded Abbots Bromley School for Girls
- Stephen Smith (1874 in Abbots Bromley – 1935) an England international footballer, he played 162 games for Aston Villa
- Phil Drabble OBE (1914 – 2007 in Abbots Bromley) countryman, author and TV presenter. He created a local nature reserve and also lived in wrote about the countryside of north Worcestershire.
- Philip Lawley (1927 in Abbots Bromley – 2011) chemist, demonstrated that DNA damage was the base cause of cancer
- Harry Burrows (born 1941) footballer who played 420 games, mainly for Aston Villa and Stoke City. He lived locally on retirement and is the president of Abbots Bromley Stags