Atherstone Genealogical Records

Atherstone Birth & Baptism Records

England & Wales Birth Index (1837-2006)

An index to births registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of birth certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Atherstone Baptism Records (1825-1910)

Baptisms records for children living in and around Atherstone, detail the names of their parents - their occupations and residence from 1825 to 1910.

St Mary, Atherstone Baptisms (1875-1914)

Transcriptions of registers kept by the parish church, which record baptisms into the Christian faith. The records are in effect records of birth, naming parent(s), places of habitation and occupations.

Atherstone Baptisms (1825-1909)

Baptism registers are the primary source of birth details before 1837, though are useful to the present. They record a child's name, parents' names and date of birth and/or baptism.

Atherstone Independent Chapel Baptisms (1796-1837)

Transcriptions of registers recording baptisms of children to non-conformist parents. The records are in effect records of birth, naming parent(s), places of habitation and occupations.

Atherstone Marriage & Divorce Records

England & Wales Marriage Index (1837-2008)

An index to marriages registered throughout England & Wales. This is the only national marriage index that allows you to search by both spouse's names. Provides a reference to order copies of marriage certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Atherstone Marriage Records (1850-1910)

Marriage records from people who married at Atherstone between 1850 and 1910. Lists an individual's abode, marital status, father's name, age and signature

St Mary, Atherstone Marriages (1899-1908)

Transcriptions of registers kept by the parish church, which record marriages.

Atherstone Marriages (1856-1909)

An index to marriages recorded by the church, listing the date of marriage and the names of the bride and groom.

Warwickshire Marriage Index with Images (1754-1910)

Original images of marriage registers, searchable by a name index, covering almost all Warwickshire parishes.

Atherstone Death & Burial Records

England & Wales Death Index (1837-2006)

An index to deaths registered throughout England & Wales. Provides a reference to order copies of death certificates from the national registrar of births, marriages and deaths – the General Register Office.

Atherstone Burial Records (1875-1910)

Burial registers are the primary source for death documentation before 1837, though are relevant to the present. They record the date someone was buried, their age & residence. Details given may include the deceased's name, residence, age, names of relations, cause of death and more.

St Mary, Atherstone Burials (1875-1902)

Transcriptions of registers kept by the parish church, which record burials, which typically occur within a few days after the deceased's death.

Atherstone Burials (1875-1910)

An index of burials recorded at the church. The index includes the name of the deceased and the date of burial.

Chapel of Mancetter St Mary, Atherstone Burials (1813-1836)

Burial records covering those buried at Chapel of Mancetter St Mary, Atherstone_. This resource is an index and may not include all the details that were recorded in the burial registers from which they were extracted.

Atherstone Census & Population Lists

1939 Register (1939)

An index to and digital images of records that detail 40 million civilians in England and Wales. Records list name, date of birth, address, marital status, occupation and details of trade or profession.

England, Wales, IoM & Channel Islands 1911 Census (1911)

The 1911 census provides details on an individual's age, residence, place of birth, relations and occupation. FindMyPast's index allows searches on for multiple metrics including occupation and residence.

Warwickshire 1841 Census (1891)

A transcription of records that record households, occupations, age, place of birth and relations.

Warwickshire 1861 Census (1861)

A transcription of records that record households, occupations, age, place of birth and relations.

Warwickshire 1841 Census (1841)

A transcription of records that record households, occupations and rough ages.

Newspapers Covering Atherstone

Birmingham Daily Mail (1914-1918)

Regional news, notices of births, marriages and deaths, business notices, details on the proceedings of public institutions, adverts and a rich tapestry of other regional information from the Birmingham district. Every line of text from the newspaper can be searched and images of the original pages viewed.

Coventry Evening Telegraph (1891-1918)

Original images of a local newspaper, searchable via a full text index. Includes news from the Coventry area, business notices, obituaries, family announcements and more.

Lichfield Mercury (1877-1950)

This fully searchable newspaper will provide a rich variety of information about the people and places of the Lichfield district. Includes family announcements.

Tamworth Herald (1870-1950)

A searchable newspaper providing a rich variety of information about the people and places of the Tamworth district. Includes obituaries and family announcements.

Birmingham Daily Gazette (1862-1868)

A searchable newspaper providing a rich variety of information about the people and places of the Birmingham district. Includes obituaries and family announcements.

Atherstone Wills & Probate Records

England & Wales National Probate Calendar (1858-1966)

Searchable index and original images of over 12.5 million probates and administrations granted by civil registries. Entries usually include the testator's name, date of death, date of probate and registry. Names of relations may be given.

Lichfield and Coventry Diocese Probate Index (1650-1760)

An index to wills, administrations and inventories proved by the Diocese of Lichfield and Coventry. Copies of wills can be ordered or viewed at the record office in Lichfield.

Worcester Diocese Probate & Administration Index (1601-1652)

An index to probates and administrations granted by the Consistory Court of the Bishop of Worcester. Contains the deceased's name, occupation, residence and whether the grant was for probate or administration. Also lists which records contain an inventory.

Prerogative Court of Canterbury Admon Index (1559-1660)

An index to estate administrations performed by the Prerogative Court of Canterbury. The index covers the southern two thirds of England & Wales, but may also contain entries for northerners.

Lichfield Diocese Probate & Administration Index (1516-1652)

A searchable database providing brief details of surviving probates and administrations granted by the Diocese of Lichfield, which covered parts of Derbyshire, Shropshire, Staffordshire and Warwickshire. Contains a reference to order the original documents.

Atherstone Immigration & Travel Records

Passenger Lists Leaving UK (1890-1960)

A name index connected to original images of passenger lists recording people travelling from Britain to destinations outside Europe. Records may detail a passenger's age or date of birth, residence, occupation, destination and more.

UK Incoming Passenger Lists (1878-1960)

A full index of passenger lists for vessels arriving in the UK linked to original images. Does not include lists from vessels sailing from European ports. Early entries can be brief, but later entries may include dates of births, occupations, home addresses and more. Useful for documenting immigration.

Victoria Assisted & Unassisted Passenger Lists (1839-1923)

An index to and images of documents recording over 1.65 million passengers who arrived in Victoria, Australia, including passengers whose voyage was paid for by others.

Alien Arrivals in England (1810-1869)

Details on over 600,000 non-British citizens arriving in England. Often includes age and professions. Useful for discerning the origin of immigrants.

17th Century British Emigrants to the U.S. (1600-1700)

Details on thousands of 17th century British immigrants to the U.S., detailing their origins and nature of their immigration.

Atherstone Military Records

Warwickshire Militia Papers (1776-1825)

A collection of documents primarily composed of certificates verifying a man’s service, account statements related to reimbursements to his family for his service, notices of commissions that were to be printed in a gazette, and documents outlining qualifications to serve as a Deputy Lieutenant.

Warwickshire WWI Memorials (1914-1918)

A list of names found on World War One monuments in Warwickshire, with some service details.

Warwickshire WWII Memorials (1914-1918)

A list of names found on World War Two monuments in Warwickshire, with some service details.

Prisoners of War of British Army (1939-1945)

A searchable list of over 100,000 British Army POWs. Records contains details on the captured, their military career and where they were held prisoner.

British Prisoners of World War II (1939-1945)

Details on around 165,000 men serving in the British Army, Navy and Air Force who were held as prisoners during WWII.

Warwickshire Quarter Sessions (1696-1850)

Thousands of documents pertaining largely to occupations from one of Warwickshire lower courts. Contains considerable amounts of personal information.

Warwickshire Poor Law Index (1660-1835)

A calendar of records kept by parish churches recording the administration of the poor. These records, can include genealogical details, such as age and place of birth; biographical details and more. The index contains over 80,000 names.

Warwickshire Parish Poor Law Records (1546-1904)

Digital images of records detailing the maintenance of the poor by the Church of England. Also includes rate books, which are useful for genealogists and the study of land ownership.

Warwickshire Parish Records (1538-1939)

Digital images of parish records, besides baptism, marriage & burial registers. These records can include genealogical and biographical information that does not occur in registers. The collection includes: account books, vestry books, marriage licences, letters, rate books, orders of removal, churchwarden’s books, rents, constable records, papist estates, parish addresses, deeds, logs, minutes & orders.

Warwickshire Illegitimacy Orders (1816-1831)

An index to orders against men alleged to have fathered illegitimate children.

Atherstone Taxation Records

Warwickshire Land Tax (1773-1830)

An index linked to original images of over 250,000 land tax assessments. These records can be a useful aid for establishing ancestry among land owning families and their tenants; and are also useful for locating relevant estate records.

Warwickshire Hearth Tax Returns (1670)

A transcription of records naming those who had taxes levied against them for the privilege of owning a hearth.

Warwickshire Hair Powder Certificates (1795-1796)

Certificates for individuals who paid a tax for the privilege of using hair powder.

Warwickshire Hearth Tax Returns (1662)

Over 1,000 documents listing those taxed for owning or occupying houses with hearths.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Atherstone Land & Property Records

Warwickshire Land Tax (1773-1830)

An index linked to original images of over 250,000 land tax assessments. These records can be a useful aid for establishing ancestry among land owning families and their tenants; and are also useful for locating relevant estate records.

Warwickshire Parish Poor Law Records (1546-1904)

Digital images of records detailing the maintenance of the poor by the Church of England. Also includes rate books, which are useful for genealogists and the study of land ownership.

Warwickshire Parish Records (1538-1939)

Digital images of parish records, besides baptism, marriage & burial registers. These records can include genealogical and biographical information that does not occur in registers. The collection includes: account books, vestry books, marriage licences, letters, rate books, orders of removal, churchwarden’s books, rents, constable records, papist estates, parish addresses, deeds, logs, minutes & orders.

Freeholders of Warwick (1820)

An alphabetical list of people who owned, rather than leased, land in the county.

Warwickshire Freeholder Lists (1710-1713)

Lists of freeholders entitled to vote.

Atherstone Directories & Gazetteers

Kelly's Directory of Warwickshire (1940)

An exhaustive gazetteer, containing details of settlement's history, governance, churches, postal services, public institutions and more. Also contains lists of residents with their occupation and address.

Kelly's Directory of Warwickshire  (1936)

A directory of residents and businesses; with a description of each settlement, containing details on its history, public institutions, churches, postal services, governance and more.

Kelly's Directory of Warwickshire  (1932)

A directory of residents and businesses; with a description of each settlement, containing details on its history, public institutions, churches, postal services, governance and more.

Kelly's Directory of Warwickshire  (1928)

A directory of residents and businesses; with a description of each settlement, containing details on its history, public institutions, churches, postal services, governance and more.

Kelly's Directory of Warwickshire  (1924)

A directory of residents and businesses; with a description of each settlement, containing details on its history, public institutions, churches, postal services, governance and more.

Atherstone Cemeteries

Warwickshire Monumental Inscriptions (1538-2004)

An index to over 200,000 gravestones and memorials in the county of Warwickshire.

Warwickshire Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Warwickshire's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

Warwickshire Memorial Surname Index (1700-1970)

An index to surnames occurring on monuments, such as gravestones, that have been transcribed by the Birmingham and Midlands Society.

Deceased Online (1629-Present)

Images of millions of pages from cemetery and crematoria registers, photographs of memorials, cemetery plans and more. Records can be search by a name index.

Billion Graves (1200-Present)

Photographs and transcriptions of millions of gravestones from cemeteries around the world.

Atherstone Obituaries

iAnnounce Obituaries (2006-Present)

The UKs largest repository of obituaries, containing millions of searchable notices.

United Kingdom and Ireland Obituary Collection (1882-Present)

A growing collection currently containing over 425,000 abstracts of obituaries with reference to the location of the full obituary.

Quakers Annual Monitor (1847-1848)

A collection of 364 obituaries of Quakers from the British Isles. The volume was published in 1849 and includes obituaries of those who died in late 1847 through 1848.

Musgrave's Obituaries (1421-1800)

This transcribed and searchable work by Sir William Musgrave contains 10,000s of brief obituaries. The work is a reference point for other works containing information on an individual.

British Medical Journal (1849-Present)

A text index and digital images of all editions of a journal containing medical articles and obituaries of medical practitioners.

Atherstone Histories & Books

Victoria County History: Warwickshire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Midlands History Books (1000-1910)

This database contains digitized copies of historical publications from Warwickshire and Birmingham. Their pages can include biographical details, newsworthy events, member lists, obituaries, court dockets, and other historical tidbits.

Warwickshire Church Photographs (1890-Present)

Photographs and images of churches in Warwickshire.

Warwickshire Church Photographs (2006-Present)

High quality photographs of Warwickshire church interiors and exteriors.

Warwickshire Windmills (1998-Present)

An index of windmills in the county, with brief notes and some photographs.

Atherstone School & Education Records

National School Admission & Log Books (1870-1914)

A name index connected to digital images of registers recording millions of children educated in schools operated by the National Society for Promoting Religious Education. Records contain a variety of information including genealogical details, education history, illnesses, exam result, fathers occupation and more.

Teacher's Registration Council Registers (1870-1948)

A name index linked to original images of registers recording the education and careers of teachers in England & Wales.

Oxford University Alumni (1500-1886)

A name index linked to original images of short biographies for over 120,000 Oxford University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge University Alumni (1261-1900)

A transcript of a vast scholarly work briefly chronicling the heritage, education and careers of over 150,000 Cambridge University students. This is a particularly useful source for tracing the ancestry of the landed gentry.

Cambridge Alumni Database (1198-1910)

A searchable database containing over 90,000 note-form biographies for students of Cambridge University.

Atherstone Occupation & Business Records

Warwickshire List of Freemasons (1799-1850)

Almost 200 records documenting members of freemasonic lodges.

Warwickshire Boat Owners (1795-1796)

Nearly 200 documents relating to people who operated boats on canals running through Warwickshire.

Warwickshire Flax Bounties (1784-1795)

Over 1,500 documents relating to bounties offered to farmers by the government to grow flax.

Warwickshire Gamekeeper Records (1772-1788)

Over 2,000 documents relating to those employed as gamekeepers in Warwickshire.

John Crossling's History of Warwick Pubs (1700-2000)

Profiles of the county's public houses, including details of their owners and operators.

Pedigrees & Family Trees Covering Atherstone

Victoria County History: Warwickshire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Visitation of Warwickshire (1066-1619)

Genealogies of Warwickshire families who had the right to bear arms. Illustrations of arms and some biographical details are given.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Atherstone Royalty, Nobility & Heraldry Records

Victoria County History: Warwickshire (1086-1900)

A detailed history of the county's hundreds, parishes and religious houses.

Visitation of Warwickshire (1066-1619)

Genealogies of Warwickshire families who had the right to bear arms. Illustrations of arms and some biographical details are given.

Warwickshire Church Monuments (1300-1900)

Photographs and descriptions of Warwickshire's most illustrious church monuments, often featuring effigies, medieval inscriptions and heraldic devices.

British & Irish Royal & Noble Genealogies (491-1603)

Extensive and impeccably sourced genealogies for British, Irish & Manx royalty and nobility. Scroll down to 'British Isles' for relevant sections.

FamilySearch Community Trees (6000 BC-Present)

A searchable database of linked genealogies compiled from thousands of reputable and not-so-reputable sources. Contains many details on European gentry & nobility, but covers many countries outside Europe and people from all walks of life.

Atherstone Church Records

Atherstone Parish Registers (1825-1910)

The parish registers of Atherstone are the primary source for birth, marriage and death details before civil registration (1837). A full index to names with original images of the registers are available between 1825 and 1910. Parish registers can assist tracing a family as far back as 1825.

Warwickshire Parish Registers (1821-1936)

The primary source of documentation for baptisms, marriages and burials before 1837, though extremely useful to the present. Their records can assist tracing a family as far back as 1821.

Warwickshire Parish Register Index with Images (1535-1812)

Original images of parish registers, searchable by a name index, covering almost all Warwickshire parishes.

Warwickshire Parish Poor Law Records (1546-1904)

Digital images of records detailing the maintenance of the poor by the Church of England. Also includes rate books, which are useful for genealogists and the study of land ownership.

Warwickshire Parish Records (1538-1939)

Digital images of parish records, besides baptism, marriage & burial registers. These records can include genealogical and biographical information that does not occur in registers. The collection includes: account books, vestry books, marriage licences, letters, rate books, orders of removal, churchwarden’s books, rents, constable records, papist estates, parish addresses, deeds, logs, minutes & orders.

Biographical Directories Covering Atherstone

Midlands History Books (1000-1910)

This database contains digitized copies of historical publications from Warwickshire and Birmingham. Their pages can include biographical details, newsworthy events, member lists, obituaries, court dockets, and other historical tidbits.

Debrett's Peerage (1923)

A searchable book, listing pedigrees of titled families and biographies of their members.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1902)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Dod's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage of Britian (1885)

A book containing genealogies and biographies of Britain's titled families.

Crockford's Clerical Directories (1868-1914)

Brief biographies of Anglican clergy in the UK.

Atherstone Maps

Warwickshire Parish Map (1841)

A map delineating Church of England parishes in Warwickshire.

Maps of Warwickshire (1610-1924)

Digital images of maps covering the county.

UK Popular Edition Maps (1919-1926)

Detailed maps covering much of the UK. They depict forests, mountains, larger farms, roads, railroads, towns, and more.

Ordnance Survey 1:10 Maps (1840-1890)

Maps showing settlements, features and some buildings in mainland Britain.

Tithe Apportionments (1836-1856)

An index to 11,000,000 parcels of land and property, connected to digital images of registers that record their owner, occupier, description, agricultural use, size and rateable value.

Atherstone Reference Works

England Research Guide (1538-Present)

A beginner’s guide to researching ancestry in England.

Parish Register Abstract (1538-1812)

Compiled in 1831, this book details the coverage and condition of parish registers in England & Wales.

Building History Research Guide (1066-Present)

A comprehensive guide to researching the history of buildings in the British Isles.

Surname Origins (1790-1911)

A service that provides advanced and custom surname maps for the British Isles and the US.

British Family Mottoes (1189-Present)

A dictionary of around 9,000 mottoes for British families who had right to bear arms.

Historical Description

Atherstone, a name said to be a corruption from Arden Town, it being situated at the northern extremity of the extensive and ancient forest of Arden. It is a hamlet in the parish of Mancetter, the Manduessedum of the Romans; and consists chiefly of one street, three-quarters of a mile in length, and a neat square marketplace, in the midst of which has (within these few years) been erected a very good market-house on pillars, over which is an elegant assembly-room, &c. The town stands on the old Roman road, called Watling-street; and here was formerly a monastery of mendicant friars, the only one they had in this county. It has a weekly market on Tuesday, and being situated between the fertile county of Leicester, and the populous town of Birmingham, its fairs are much resorted to for the mutual barter of their respective commodities; but more especially the one held on the 4th of December, when London dealers attend as purchasers. Of late years the adjacent roads have been greatly improved, by which means the communication between Coventry, Burton, Derby, Manchester, and the neighbouring parts of the county of York, has been facilitated; and the canal, which unites the Isis, the Trent, and the Mersey, crosses the county within one hundred yards of the town.

Atherstone is a constablewick, governed by a constable and two third-boroughs. There is an exceeding good grammar-school, with a good endowment, free for the boys of the town. It is remarkable in history, for being the place where the Earl of Richmond and the nobles of his party held a council, the night before the battle of Bosworth Field, where he gained a complete victory over Richard the Third, who lost his life in the combat.

Nehemiah Grew, M. D. was born in this town about the beginning of the civil wars, and his father being an eminent minister among the Puritans, became a nonconformist, when the act of uniformity took place in 1662. This induced the father to send his son to the university of Leyden, where he finished his studies, and took his highest degrees in the physical line.

When he returned to England, he might have obtained high preferments; but the same scruples of conscience continued to operate on his mind, and although he was employed by many people of fashion as a physician, yet he could not enjoy any public benefit, because he would not take the sacramental test.

The Royal Society made him one of their fellows, and he was soon after elected into the college of physicians. His works are numerous; and although he devoted the greatest part of his time to the study of botany, yet it appears that he never lost sight of anatomy, or such other sciences as could be of any service to him in propagating the knowledge of nature. He lived to be an ornament to his country, and died at London, in the year 1711.

The town of Atherstone is very pleasantly situated, with a range of hills and woods on the back, and on the front a most delightful extensive prospect of a fine cultivated country, and bounded, at a great distance, by the hills in the counties of Derby and Leicester. The river Anker runs about a mile from the town, which divides the counties of Warwick and Leicester, and retains its name till it joins the Tame near Tamworth.

About one mile northwest of Atherstone is Merevalo Hall, the seat of D. Stratford Dugdale, Esq. a most delightful spot, with a most extensive prospect; it is remarkable for having in the park some of the best oaks in the kingdom, and being the clearest from underwood, it being exceeding rare even to find the smallest bramble encircling the aged trunks.

Topography of Great Britain (1829) by George Alexander Cooke

ATHERSTONE, an early Saxon settlement, called in Domesday “Aderestone,” and in other ancient records “Edredestone” and “Aldredstone,” is a small market and union town, head of a petty sessional division, and county court district, with a station on the Trent Valley section of the London and North-Western Railway, and is 8 miles southeast from Tamworth, 5 north-west from Nuneaton and 25 north-east from Birmingham and 100 from London, on the borders of Leicestershire, from which it is separated by the river Anker, locally in the parish of Mancetter, but separated for all parochial and ecclesiastical purposes, in the North-Eastern division of the county, hundred of Hemlingford, rural deanery of Atherstone, archdeaconery of Coventry, and diocese of Worcester. The town consists of one long straight street, with several side streets, forming a portion of the old Roman road, Watling Street. The Coventry and Fazeley canal skirts it on the north-west and south. In 1868 the “Street” was excavated for nearly a mile, in order to lay down a system of drainage for the town; at a depth varying from 2 to 7 feet, the well-known large Roman paving stones were everywhere discovered; in some places they were strongly cemented together, and identical in shape with those in the Roman Forum, with grooves for the chariot wheels; above this old road were, in places, portions of another road, more roughly constructed than the former, and attributed to the Plantagenets, in which coins of an Edward, of Queen Elizabeth and Queen Anne were found. The town is well paved, lighted with gas, and supplied with water from a reservoir at Bentley, which is filled from a pumping station at Ainsley. The church of St. Mary (formerly monastic), is a building of stone in the Perpendicular style, consisting of chancel, nave of five bays, aisles, south porch, and an octagonal embattled central tower with eight pinnacles containing a clock and 1 bell; the church was entirely rebuilt with the exception of the tower and chancel in 1849; the chancel has been restored since 1873 at a cost of £1,400: there are 1,400 sittings, 700 being free. The register dates from the year 1825, when this was separated from the mother parish of Mancetter. The living is a vicarage, average tithe rent-charge £7, net yearly value £330, including 20 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of the vicar of Mancetter, and held since 1888 by the Rev. William Northcott M.A. of St. John’s College, Cambridge. There is a Catholic church, erected in 1859, and dedicated to St. Benedict, and a Priory of Benedictine Nuns, consecrated 4th September, 1861, and dedicated to St. Scholastica. There is also a Congregational chapel with 600 sittings; a Unitarian chapel, seating 200 persons; and a Wesleyan chapel with sittings for 400. The Albert Hall, Long Street, a building for promiscuous religious services, was erected in 1874, at a cost of £700, raised by subscriptions, and will seat 230 persons. The town cemetery, covering 3 ½ acres, was opened on the 26th of April, 1870, but has 110 mortuary chapel; it is now (1895) under the control of the parish council. The chief trade is in hats, the manufacture of which supplies work to the whole town. The Corn Exchange, in Long street, is an edifice of brick and stone, and the Town Hall, also of brick, was erected in 1854. The Atherstone Literary Institution, formed in 1890, occupies rooms at the Corn Exchange, formerly used by the Conservative Association; the Excelsior Club is in Market street. The ‘ ‘ Old Red Lion” is the principal hotel; and outside it stands a milestone, which is equi-distant from London, Liverpool and Lincoln, being 100 miles from each. Tuesday is the market day and there is a sale of cattle, sheep and pigs fortnightly; a pleasure fair is held in July. A statute fair for the hiring of servants is held every September. The Atherstone fox hounds, a pack maintained for local sport, are supported by subscription; besides this town, Nuneaton, Tamworth, Rugby and Lutterworth are convenient places for hunting visitors. The kennels are at Witherley, Leicester; Gerald H. Hardy esq. of Merevale Hall, is master. The Atherstone Volunteer Fire Brigade consists of twelve members, who have three manual engines and a hose cart. The Isolation Hospital for infectious diseases in the Atherstone Rural District is in Mancetter parish. The Atherstone Provident Dispensary was established for the purpose of placing surgical and medical assistance within the reach of the working classes, by means of their own small periodical payments; it is under the management of a committee elected annually by the medical staff of the town and the subscribing members.

Benefactions.-In 1687 W. Symons left by will land in the county of Leicester of the value of £14 yearly, and also £5 yearly, for apprenticing. Sir J. Repington left in 1625 £5 yearly to be given to 50 of the poor of Atherstone, each receiving 2s. Richard Warwick left by will in 1664 two houses and land, the interest to be expended in coats and hats for poor men of Atherstone. Richard Martin left in 1664 land called “Cawsey Close,” for the use of the poor of Mancetter. H. Dayton gave in 1671 £5 a year to provide 6 coats and 6 pairs of shoes for 6 poor women, the remainder to be used in apprenticing one child every year for ever. W. Simmons left by will in 1685 three acres of land, the rent to be distributed weekly in bread to six poor widows. Wm. Sharpe left money in 1709 to be laid out in land for apprenticing poor children. William Strong, by will in 1736, left £11, which was invested in enlarging the parish workhouse; the interest, amounting to 10s. is given away yearly to 20 poor widows on St. Thomas’ Day. John Choyce, by will in 1786, directed the transfer of the sum of £150 in the Four Per Cents., the dividends on which, amounting to £5 5s. yearly, is distributed in sums of 3s. 6d. each to poor persons, chiefly widows, in Atherstone. One Gramer left £20 a year to be given in 10s. each to 20 poor parishioners.

Henry, Earl of Richmond, leaving his forces at Tamworth, entered this town Aug. 21st, 1485, the day before the battle of Bosworth, and received the sacrament of the mass in the parish church; he held a conference with Sir William Stanley in the Hall closes, near the Coleshill road, and subsequently slept at an inn called the “Three Tuns”: an old carved oak chair, which formed part of the furniture of his sleeping room, is now in the possession of Mrs. Dudley Baxter, late of Atherstone. At Merevale, within a mile of the town, are the ruins of the Abbey of that name, and here was an establishment of Austin Friars, founded 49 Edward III. (1375-6) by Ralph, Lord Basset, of Drayton, who gave land for the erection of a church and other buildings; at the dissolution of this house, 35 Henry VIII. (1543-4) it was granted to Henry Cartwright, the revenues being then only £1 10s. yearly. Atherstone Hall, built from the ruins of the Friary, by Sir John Repington about 1620, was sold to Abraham Bracebridge esq. about 1690, and by him rebuilt; it is now occupied by the Rev. Berdmore Compton M.A.; many curiosities have been disinterred near the old house, including an amulet, highly perfumed, a cannon ball, musket balls, and several pieces of silver money of the time of Elizabeth. In Edward the Confessor's days this manor was the property of the Countess Godiva, and was granted by the Conqueror to Hugh Lupus, Earl of Chester: it subsequently passed through various owners to Humphrey, Earl of Stafford, who exchanged some estates in Staffordshire with John de Clinton for Maxstoke Castle, and the reversion was afterwards granted by King Henry VI. to his newly founded college in Cambridge, and at a later date to Edmund Earl of Richmond: King Edward IV. gave it with Fulbrooke, in Warwickshire, to Richard Neville, Earl of Warwick, and on his attainder, it was transferred, in 1464, to the Carthusian monks of Mountgrace, in Yorkshire, and afterwards to the chapel of St. George at Windsor, passing through many other hands, until by marriage, it was brought into the family of Sir John Repington knt. of Amington in this county, whose successor, Charles Edward Repington, sold it in 1786 to Stafford Squire Baxter esq. F.S.A. of Gray's Inn, and he in 1811, to Dugdale Stratford Dugdale esq. of Merevale, the representative of the Stratford family. William Francis Stratford Dugdale esq. who is lord of the manor, and the Rev. Berdmore Compton M.A. are the principal landowners. The district on the Warwickshire, or south, side of the town, consists of red stone, with coal measures. The population of the town in 1891 was 4,991, including 52 officers and inmates in the workhouse; rateable value, £14,435.

WARWICK COUNTY COUNCIL.

Under the above Act, Warwickshire, after the 1st April, 1889, for the purposes of the Act, except certain boroughs for which see below (a), became a separate and distinct administrative county (sec. 461-b), governed by a County Council, consisting of chairman, aldermen and councillors the number of councillors determined by the Local Government Board) and elected in manner prescribed by the Act (sec. 2).

The chairman is, by virtue of his office, a justice of the peace for the county, without qualification (sec. 46).

The police for the county is under the control of a standing joint committee of the Quarter Sessions and the County Council, appointed as therein mentioned (sec. 9).

The coroners for the county are elected by the County Council, and the clerk of the peace appointed by such joint committee, and may be removed by them (sec. 83-2).

The clerk of the peace for the county is the clerk of the County Council (83-1).

The administrative business of the county (which would, if this Act had not been passed, have been transacted by the justices) are transacted by the County Council.

(a) The following large boroughs are for the purposes of this Act administrative counties in themselves, and called County boroughs (sec. 30), of which the municipal authority has the power of a County Council (sec. 31)-Birmingham, Coventry.

Petty sessions are held at the Town hall every alternate Tuesday at 11.0 a.m. & at the Newdegate Arms, Nuneaton, every alternate Thursday at 11.0 a.m. The following places are included in the petty sessional division:-Atherstone, Ansley, Austrey, Amington & Stonedelgh, Baddesley Ensor, Baxterley, Bentley, Bolehall & Glascote, Chilvers Coton, Caldecote, Grendon, Harlshill, Kingsbury, Mancetter, Merevale, Nuneaton, Newton Regis, Normans Heath, Oldbury, Polesworth, Seckington, Shuttington, Tamworth Castle, Wilnecote & Weddington.

The Atherstone union comprises the following parishes:-Ansley, Atherstone, Atterton (Leicester), Baddesley Ensor, Baxterley, Bentley, Fenny Drayton (Leicester), Grendon, Hartshill, Mancetter, Merevale, Oldbury, Polesworth, Ratcliffe Culey (Leicester), Sheepy Magna (Leicester), Sheepy Parva (Leicester) & Witherley (Leicester). The population of the union in 1891 was 15,441; area, 28,939 acres; rateable value in 1895, £86,432.

Workhouse, Long street, a building of brick, erected to hold 200 inmates. Rev. G. F. Matthews, chaplain.

Places of Worship, with times of service:—

St. Mary’s Church, Market place, Rev. William Northcott M.A. vicar; Rev. William Bernard Atherton B.A. curate; 8 & 10.45 a.m. 3 p.m. 6.30 p.m.; daily 10 a.m.

St. Benedict’s Catholic, Owen street, Rev. Francis James Clayton, priest; mass 10.30 a.m. & even, service 6 p.m.; holidays of obligation, mass 9 a.m. & even, service 7.30 p.m.

Congregational, North street, Rev. George Seymour, 10.45 a.m. 6 p.m.; Thursdays, 7.30 p.m.

Unitarian, Long street, 3 p.m.

Wesleyan, Coleshill street, Rev. Philip H. Taylor, 10.30 a.m. 6 p.m.; Thursdays 7.30 p.m.

Albert Hall (unsectarian), Long street, 3 p.m. & 6 p.m.

Schools

Free Grammar School, founded by royal charter in the fifteenth year of Queen Elizabeth, 1573, by Sir William Devereux, Thomas Fulner & Amias Hill; & was held until 1799 in the chancel of the church; in 1608 a decision was obtained in Chancery for the settlement of lands belonging to it, which now produce upwards of £300 yearly. New premises were erected in 1864, & the management vested in trustees under a scheme. There are exhibitions tenable at the school, which now numbers about 50 boys, including boarders, of whom 40 can be received.

A school board of 7 members was formed June 5, 1878; J. C. Fowke, clerk to the board; John Samwell Pickering, Long street, attendant officer; the board meets at the boar school every 1st Tuesday in the month at 6.30 p.m.

Board School, North street (infants), erected in 1882 at a cost of £3,500 for 500 infants; average attendance, 318.

Board School, Owen street (girls), erected in 1893 for 300 girls; average attendance, 154.

Board (formerly Endowed Free) School, South street (boys), built in 1842, for 188 boys; average attendance, 167.

Board School, Ratcliffe road (mixed), erected in 1842 for 300 children; average attendance, 217.

Catholic, Owen street (mixed), built in 1855 for 103 children; average attendance, 100.

Kelly's Directory of Warwickshire (1896)

Most Common Surnames in Atherstone

RankSurnameIncidenceFrequencyPercent of ParentRank in Hemlingford Hundred
1Smith781:450.53%1
2Hall471:751.77%17
3Hatton391:9111.02%324
4Baker381:931.41%16
5Thompson361:991.50%24
5Orton361:997.73%226
7Morris351:1011.38%20
8Ford331:1073.16%84
8Matts331:10757.89%1,835
10Cheshire301:11812.50%499
11Everett281:12734.15%1,311
12Taylor271:1310.42%3
13Bailey261:1361.82%50
13Atkins261:1362.66%94
13Deeming261:1368.87%392
16Wilson251:1421.07%27
16Spencer251:1422.20%72
16Wills251:1428.77%407
19Ball241:1482.26%81
19Holland241:1484.06%174
19Blower241:14811.37%573
22Fox231:1544.08%182
23Roberts221:1611.08%32
23Hill221:1610.74%12
23Martin221:1611.58%52
23Ward221:1610.75%14
23Miller221:1612.78%123
23Rogers221:1611.92%71
23Starkey221:1616.90%363
30Clark211:1691.31%43
30Cook211:1691.29%42
32Barnsley201:17710.36%625
33Marshall191:1872.08%101
33Webster191:1874.04%223
33Read191:1873.23%175
33Stringer191:1875.51%336
37Walker181:1970.70%19
37Jackson181:1970.76%25
39Cooper171:2090.62%15
40Harrison161:2220.76%31
40Clarke161:2220.48%9
40Rose161:2221.37%69
40Gilbert161:2221.62%92
40Gallagher161:22221.33%1,424
40Lakin161:2226.50%490
40Shilton161:2226.99%526
40Simonds161:22231.37%1,997
40Gudger161:22276.19%3,842
49Lewis151:2360.82%37
49Cooke151:2361.72%110
49Austin151:2362.88%198
49Kent151:2364.66%361
49Eaton151:2365.23%402
49Hallam151:23615.96%1,174
49Toon151:23620.00%1,424
49Earp151:2367.54%605
49Scanlan151:23662.50%3,509
49Masser151:23624.59%1,741
49Charnell151:23640.54%2,570
60White141:2530.56%22
60Cox141:2530.59%26
60Harding141:2532.68%196
60Everitt141:2538.92%763
64Harris131:2730.35%7
64Barnes131:2731.75%141
64Hargreaves131:27335.14%2,570
64Archer131:2731.96%155
64Shelton131:2736.37%591
64Gisbourne131:27334.21%2,510
64Vero131:273100.00%5,280
71Brown121:2960.31%5
71Richardson121:2961.32%102
71Baxter121:2963.55%344
71Keen121:2964.62%458
71Hopley121:29625.53%2,127
71Kitchin121:296100.00%5,587
71Buckerfield121:29622.64%1,937
71Gudsen121:296100.00%5,587
71Millerships121:296100.00%5,587
80Turner111:3220.42%18
80Watts111:3221.03%80
80Hudson111:3221.47%139
80Blomer111:322100.00%5,931
84Wood101:3550.44%29
84King101:3550.60%40
84Fletcher101:3550.84%67
84French101:3551.98%205
84Lawton101:3557.25%861
84Bourne101:3553.27%373
84Beale101:3554.55%546
84Flowers101:3554.33%523
84Clamp101:3557.19%857
84Fairfield101:3558.77%1,016
84Chetwynd101:3556.13%742
84Mellar101:35576.92%5,280
84Hambry101:355100.00%6,286
84Winderidge101:355100.00%6,286
98Jones91:3940.11%2
98Knight91:3940.60%48
98Miles91:3941.65%188
98Jennings91:3941.16%128
98Brierley91:39413.04%1,548
98Bonner91:39411.54%1,362
98Sale91:3947.89%1,016
98Ison91:3946.87%905
98Scanlon91:39481.82%5,931
98Palfreyman91:39450.00%4,236
98Sketchley91:39413.64%1,618
98Battey91:39427.27%2,801
110Richards81:4430.60%57
110Sharp81:4431.84%249
110Bates81:4430.63%61
110Norman81:4435.19%776
110Winter81:4434.76%714
110Beck81:4432.07%292
110Sands81:4436.35%943
110Shephard81:44310.00%1,341
110Birks81:44316.67%2,090
110Challis81:44380.00%6,286
110Dowell81:4435.80%861
110Halton81:44342.11%4,080
110Beckley81:44347.06%4,400
110Benford81:44318.18%2,229
110Deering81:443100.00%7,397
110Hextall81:44324.24%2,801
110Bircher81:44361.54%5,280
110Arms81:44347.06%4,400
110Eppleston81:443100.00%7,397
110Rese81:443100.00%7,397
110Rates81:44388.89%6,771
110Fite81:443100.00%7,397
110Spinna81:443100.00%7,397
110Geraughly81:443100.00%7,397
134Green71:5070.19%8
134Holmes71:5070.88%122
134Booth71:5072.04%339
134Elliott71:5071.25%184
134Lucas71:5071.03%153
134Baldwin71:5071.67%265
134Rowley71:5071.67%261
134Mercer71:5074.96%847
134Dent71:5073.68%632
134Denton71:5077.95%1,237
134Hales71:5073.61%621
134Hands71:5070.63%74
134Kettle71:5078.64%1,325
134Luck71:50728.00%3,411
134Moreton71:5072.41%395
134Thurman71:50714.00%2,027
134Fitter71:5072.66%450
134Mingay71:507100.00%8,230
134Hargreave71:50741.18%4,400
134Muston71:50724.14%3,078
134Pallin71:507100.00%8,230
134Vern71:507100.00%8,230
134Allreck71:507100.00%8,230
157Williams61:5910.16%6
157Moore61:5910.24%21
157Parker61:5910.38%44
157Newton61:5911.23%210
157Reed61:5913.21%647
157Hodgson61:5916.90%1,252
157Hardy61:5911.81%351
157Griffin61:5910.66%103
157Jarvis61:5911.40%253
157Lees61:5911.00%169
157Warner61:5910.83%149
157Wallis61:5911.86%360
157Sims61:5913.08%618
157Ingham61:59133.33%4,236
157Mead61:5915.00%969
157Cope61:5910.96%164
157Stafford61:5912.80%567
157Stanton61:5912.74%551
157Whiting61:5913.85%768
157Crisp61:5913.35%674
157Key61:5912.80%567
157Smyth61:59110.00%1,765
157Cleaver61:5910.78%130
157Orme61:5913.39%685
157Layton61:5914.38%867
157Oxford61:5918.11%1,442
157Chinn61:5911.98%378
157Callis61:59150.00%5,587
157Fowke61:59137.50%4,591
157Barsley61:59175.00%7,397
157Cluley61:5919.23%1,637
157Bodin61:591100.00%9,237
157Ealing61:591100.00%9,237
157Boyard61:59146.15%5,280
157Mavins61:591100.00%9,237
157Gisburn61:591100.00%9,237
157Starnier61:591100.00%9,237
157Stickey61:591100.00%9,237
157Shearsson61:591100.00%9,237
157Shimild61:591100.00%9,237
197Thomas51:7090.29%38
197Shaw51:7090.39%62
197Owen51:7090.48%86
197Ross51:7091.64%375
197Day51:7090.50%91
197Stevenson51:7091.89%448
197Hopkins51:7090.38%58
197Hutchinson51:7092.73%656
197Briggs51:7092.63%632
197Blake51:7092.44%588
197Cunningham51:7093.36%805
197Swift51:7092.07%498
197Bevan51:7092.29%552
197Croft51:7092.72%654
197Swann51:7092.46%594
197Salisbury51:7096.58%1,404
197Mears51:70911.90%2,333
197Bostock51:7097.69%1,637
197Flood51:7098.93%1,864
197Furness51:70910.42%2,090
197Summerfield51:7093.52%842
197Michell51:70941.67%5,587
197Burchell51:70920.00%3,411
197Handford51:70938.46%5,280
197Blount51:7096.94%1,482
197Sisson51:709100.00%10,525
197Grayston51:70945.45%5,931
197Giddins51:70919.23%3,317
197Windridge51:7094.42%1,026
197Holyland51:70971.43%8,230
197Sharrott51:70916.67%3,000
197Orrill51:70938.46%5,280
197Avins51:70933.33%4,780
197Chadaway51:70915.15%2,801
197Matham51:70983.33%9,237
197Chatwynd51:70971.43%8,230
197Gisbourn51:709100.00%10,525
197Torth51:709100.00%10,525
197Isson51:709100.00%10,525
197Hirant51:709100.00%10,525
197Brucley51:709100.00%10,525