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Wellesbourne
Chestnut Square, Wellesbourne
WellesbourneLocation within Warwickshire
Population	7,283 (2021)
OS grid reference	SP278552
Civil parish	Wellesbourne and Walton
District	Stratford-on-Avon
Shire county	Warwickshire
Region	West Midlands
Country	England
Sovereign state	United Kingdom
Post town	WARWICK
Postcode district	CV35
Dialling code	01789
Police	Warwickshire
Fire	Warwickshire
Ambulance	West Midlands
UK Parliament	Kenilworth and Southam Stratford-on-Avon
List of places UK England Warwickshire 52°11′40″N 1°35′41″W / 52.19434°N 1.59472°W / 52.19434; -1.59472

Wellesbourne is a large village in the civil parish of Wellesbourne and Walton, in the county of Warwickshire, in the West Midlands region of England. In the 2021 census the parish had a population of 7,283, a significant increase from 5,849 In the 2011 census. The civil parish was renamed from Wellesbourne to Wellesbourne and Walton on 1 April 2014.

Wellesbourne sits on the A429 road, and is located around 7 miles (11 km) south of Warwick and 5 miles (8.0 km) east of Stratford-upon-Avon. Nearby villages include Loxley, Hampton Lucy, Charlecote, Walton and Kineton.

History

The name was first recorded in 862 as Wallesburam. It was later referred to as Waleborne in the Domesday Book.

In May 1140 Wellesbourne was hit by a tornado – one of the earliest recorded in the British Isles. It damaged several buildings and killed a woman.

Wellesbourne was once two villages – Wellesbourne Mountford and Wellesbourne Hastings, the two villages being divided by the River Dene; the former lying to the south of the river, and the latter to the north. In 1947 the two parishes were merged, and are now considered to be a single village. For these historical reasons Wellesbourne has two village centres, Chestnut Square and the Precinct respectively. The Chestnut Square area no longer contains commercial premises but the old shop fronts are visible in what are now houses.

Wellesbourne Hall in the village, dates from about 1700 and is grade II* listed,

Perhaps the most significant event in Wellesbourne's history was the founding in 1872 of the National Agricultural Labourers Union by Joseph Arch – an event once celebrated by an annual parade, which it was hoped to be revived in 2010. There was little interest from the Trade Unions which once featured quite prominently, but the Wellesbourne Action Group still organises a walk from Barford to Wellesbourne around 9 June each year along the Joseph Arch Way. There is a somewhat unusual memorial in the form of a plaque in the village bus shelter dating from 1952. The initial meetings were held in the historic Stag's Head pub, which the bus shelter is located opposite. The thatched building was built in 1640 and became a pub in 1830. It was devastated by fire in 2021, but following extensive restoration was reopened a year later. The King's Head on Warwick Road is the village's only other pub.

During the Second World War the Royal Air Force opened an airfield; RAF Wellesbourne Mountford immediately south of the village, from 1965 this was converted into a civilian airfield.

Since the 1960s new housing developments have meant that Wellesbourne has grown significantly. In the 1980s 800 houses were built on the Dovehouse estate, this was built on part of the site of the airfield and the streets are named after the aircraft which once flew from there.

Features

Outside the village is Warwick Crop Centre which is part of the University of Warwick. It was originally established in 1949 as the National Vegetable Research Centre. It became Horticulture Research International in 1990, which was bought by the university in 2004. The establishment, which covers 472 acres (191 ha) is recognised internationally for its research in sustainable agriculture, horticulture and food security.

Chedham's Yard, a historic agricultural building with blacksmith's and wheelwright's workshops, won BBC TV's Restoration Village competition in 2006.

Airfield

There is a small airfield called Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield, also the site of Wellesbourne Market, the Midlands' largest open-air market, held every Saturday and bank holiday Mondays.

The airfield hosts a Wings and Wheels event each year. In 2009 the event took place on 19 August and featured Avro Vulcan XH558, Avro Vulcan XM655, Red Arrows (with Avro Vulcan XM655 being the star of the show) and a number of classic vehicles and military vehicles. Events have taken place in June since 2010 including 21 June 2015 and 19 June 2016. 2014 celebrated the 50th anniversary of XM655 having been delivered to the RAF and the 30th anniversary of the aircraft's delivery to Wellesbourne.

There is also a museum which includes a number of aircraft and a wartime emergency underground bunker.

Churches

There are two churches in Wellesbourne, St. Peter's parish church and a Methodist church.

Schools

Wellesbourne is home to Wellesbourne Church of England primary school.

Sport

Wellesbourne has a football club, Wellesbourne Wanderers FC.

Wellesbourne has a badminton club, based at Kineton School and a cycling club called the Wellesbourne Wheelers.

Politics

Following a boundary change most of Wellesbourne is now in the Parliamentary Constituency of Kenilworth and Southam. Two roads, Hammond Green and Ramsay Green built west of the old parish boundary are still attached to Stratford.

For local government, Wellesbourne falls under the areas of Warwickshire County Council and Stratford-on-Avon District Council, which are both responsible for different aspects of local government. Wellesbourne also has a parish council as the most local tier of government, which is represented by 11 councillors from three wards.

Climate

References

1. "WELLESBOURNE AND WALTON Parish in West Midlands". City Population. Archived from the original on 15 November 2022. Retrieved 15 November 2022.
2. "The Stratford-on-Avon (Electoral Changes) Order 2014". Legislation.gov.uk. Archived from the original on 17 March 2018. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
3. ^ Geoff, Allen (2000). Warwickshire Towns & Villages. Sigma Press. pp. 147–148. ISBN 1-85058-642-X.
4. Lane, F.W. The Elements Rage (David and Pandey 1966), pp.50-51
5. ^ The Warwickshire Village Book. Countryside Books. 2000. pp. 208–210. ISBN 1-85306-652-4.
6. "Walk 5 – Wellesbourne to Walton and Back" (PDF). Walks Around Wellesbourne. Wellesbourne. p. 1. Archived (PDF) from the original on 13 November 2023. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
7. "Wellesbourne Hall A Grade II* Listed Building in Wellesbourne, Warwickshire". British Listed Buildings. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
8. "Your Village Pub". Stags Head Wellesbourne. Archived from the original on 10 August 2022. Retrieved 13 March 2023.
9. "University of Warwick to showcase Wellesbourne campus as innovation hub". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 15 February 2017. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
10. "BBC - History - Restoration". Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 20 February 2012.
11. "Wellesbourne Airfield Visitor Maps and Information". Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield. Archived from the original on 4 September 2012. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
12. "Past Taxi Runs". 655 Maintenance & Preservation Society. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
13. "Wings & Wheels 2013". 655 Maintenance & Preservation Society. Archived from the original on 22 March 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
14. "A Brief History of Wellesbourne Airfield". Wellesbourne Mountford Airfield. Archived from the original on 30 April 2013. Retrieved 15 December 2012.
15. http://www.stpeterswellesbourne.org.uk/ Archived 26 June 2015 at the Wayback Machine St Peter's Church website
16. http://www.wellesbourneceprimary.co.uk/ Archived 20 November 2008 at the Wayback Machine Wellesbourne CofE Primary School website
17. "Wellesbourne Wanderers FC". Wellesbourne Wanderers. Archived from the original on 9 May 2008. Retrieved 15 October 2008.
18. "Wellesbourne Badminton Club". Wellesbourne Badminton Club. Archived from the original on 19 October 2018. Retrieved 18 October 2018.
19. "Councillors". Wellesbourne and Walton Parish Council. Retrieved 16 May 2024.
20. "Wellesbourne 1991-2020 averages". Meteoclimat. Retrieved 29 January 2021.

External links

• Wellesbourne and Walton Parish Council
• Photos of Wellesbourne and surrounding area on geograph.org.uk
• Wellesbourne and Walton News
• Wellesbourne archives - Our Warwickshire

v t e Stratford-on-Avon District towns, parishes and settlements
Warwickshire County Council elections District Council elections Stratford-on-Avon Constituency
Towns	Alcester Henley-in-Arden Shipston-on-Stour Southam Stratford-upon-Avon
Large villages	Bidford-on-Avon Bishop's Itchington Harbury Kineton Studley Wellesbourne
Other civil parishes, villages and hamlets	Admington Alderminster Ardens Grafton Arlescote Arrow Aston Cantlow Atherstone on Stour Avon Dassett Barton-on-the-Heath Bearley Beaudesert Billesley Binton Brailes Burmington Burton Dassett Butlers Marston Charlecote Claverdon Clifford Chambers Combrook Compton Verney Compton Wynyates Coughton Ettington Exhall Fenny Compton Gaydon Great Alne Great Wolford Halford Hampton Lucy Honington Idlicote Ilmington Kinwarton Ladbroke Lighthorne Lighthorne Heath Little Compton Long Itchington Long Marston Lower Shuckburgh Loxley Luddington Milcote Morton Bagot Moreton Morrell Napton on the Hill Oldberrow Oxhill Pillerton Hersey Preston Bagot Preston on Stour Priors Hardwick Priors Marston Quinton Radbourne Radway Salford Priors Sambourne Snitterfield Spernall Stockton Tanworth-in-Arden Temple Grafton Tidmington Tredington Ullenhall Upper Shuckburgh Warmington Welford-on-Avon Weston-on-Avon Whichford Whitchurch Wilmcote Wixford Wolverton Wootton Wawen Wormleighton
List of parliamentary constituencies in Warwickshire List of places in Warwickshire List of civil parishes in Warwickshire

• Villages in Warwickshire
• Stratford-on-Avon District