Wilnecote

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Date:1086 - 2015 (c.)

Description:Wilnecote is situated about two miles south-west of the town of Tamworth, between the River Tame on the west and the Kettle Brook on the north-east. It was a former township of Tamworth but its location on Warwickshire’s border with Staffordshire placed it in the Warwickshire hundred of Hemlingford. Wilnecote became part of Staffordshire in 1965.

Wilnecote’s main development took place in the 20th century when it was transformed from a relatively small rural village. In 1831 for example only 138 inhabited houses were recorded on the national census, including nearby Dosthill in this total.

The place name is thought to mean “Wilmund’s cottage or shelter”, Wilmund being an Old English personal name.

In the Domesday Book of 1086 Wilnecote appears in the Warwickshire section. The name is recorded as ‘Wilmundecote’ and it was part of the extensive lands of the Count of Meulan, one of the major landholders in the county and a hero of the Battle of Hastings. There was sufficient land to support nine and a half ploughs. The recorded population was 11 villeins (tenants who held land in return for labour services) and five bordars (smallholders who had brought land into cultivation on the edges of the settlement). In addition two smiths were recorded and a smithy or ironworks, which was worth five shillings annually. In total Wilnecote was worth .30 shillings annually.

Communications have always been important here. Wilnecote is situated on the Roman road, Watling Street, now the A5, which linked London to Wroxeter and then to Chester. The road was turnpiked in the 18th century and Wilnecote had its own toll house, which stood at the bottom of Quarry Hill. From here tolls were collected from travellers along Watling Street to help to pay for the upkeep of the road. See the entry for the toll house on the census extract for Wilnecote. The Birmingam and Derby Junction Railway, later part of the Midland Railway, ran through Wilnecote, which has its own station. This was particularly important in supporting the movement of manufactured materials from the village.

As is shown by the Domesday Book, industry came early to Wilnecote. By the 19th century the valuable deposits of clay in the area were being worked for the production of brick and tiles as well as drain pipes. In particular the firm of George Skey and Co. became a terracotta manufacturer of national importance. A large colliery had also been opened in the vicinity, Kettlebrook Colliery owned by John Dumolo, which was one of the main employers for the village. The Reliant Engineering Company, makers of the Reliant Robin, had works at nearby Two Gates. Despite the presence of industry and retail trades in the village, however, farming also continued in the area until well into the 20th century.

The parish church, situated at the junction of Ninefoot Lane and Glascote Lane, is dedicated to Holy Trinity. It was rebuilt in 1821 of brick, faced with ashlar stonework. A re-seating design in 1882 extended the number of seats in the church to 350. The parish registers date from 1763. Nonconformity was also important in the village and there were both Wesleyan Methodist and Congregational chapels. The cemetery was opened in 1876 and was managed by local committee

There was a parish or National school in Wilnecote by about 1850. A public elementary school was built in 1877 for 510 boys and girls. There was also an infants’ school built shortly afterwards. In 1846 a secondary modern school opened, later to become Wilnecote High School from September 1959.