Radford Semele

Radford Semele
Radford Semele
 Radford Semele shown within Warwickshire
Population 2,012 (2011 census)
OS grid referenceSP344644
Civil parishRadford Semele
DistrictWarwick
Shire countyWarwickshire
RegionWest Midlands
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town Leamington Spa
Postcode district CV31
Police Warwickshire
Fire Warwickshire
Ambulance West Midlands
EU Parliament West Midlands
List of places
UK
England
Warwickshire

Coordinates: 52°16′37″N 1°29′46″W / 52.277000°N 1.496000°W / 52.277000; -1.496000

Radford Semele /ˈrædfərd ˈsɛmli/ is a village and civil parish in Warwickshire, England, close to the town of Leamington Spa. According to the 2001 UK census, Radford Semele parish had a population of 2,034,[1] reducing to 2,012 at the 2011 Census.[2] It lies to the east of Leamington, on the A425 road between Leamington and Southam. It has a 16th-century pub with a priest hole. The local school is the Radford Semele Church of England School. This is a primary school and most senior pupils go to school in either Southam, Leamington Spa or Warwick which are close by. As well as the parish church of St Nicholas the village also has a second church built in 1874, the Radford Semele Baptist Church.[3]

History

A poorly preserved Roman villa was excavated in 1974 at NGR SP 342624 near Pounce Hill Farm, approximately 1 mile (1.5 km) south of the village.[4][5]

The village is named after a family from Saint-Pierre-de-Semilly in Normandy - they were lords of the manor in around 1120.

The old Weedon to Leamington Spa line used to run through the village but in the late 1960s the line was closed to passengers. The site of where the old line used to be is now a new cycleway as part of The National Cycle Network.

Pubs

The village has a 16th-century pub called The White Lion situated on the main road running through the village. On 2 February 2006 the pub caught alight, ruining the thatched roof and interior.[6] As of January 2011 the pub is open again.

St Nicholas Church

St Nicholas Church in 2005
St Nicholas Church following fire of 2008

St Nicholas Church, a Grade II listed building, caught fire on 16 March 2008 and all that remained was the tower and shell of the building.[7] The fire was initially not considered suspicious;[8] however, since there is evidence that there was a break-in on the night of the fire, it is believed to have been arson, following failed attempts at several other churches nearby.[9] The church has since been restored and was reopened on 15 May 2013.[10]

References

  1. "2001 Census: Key Statistics: Parish Headcounts: Area: Radford Semele CP (Parish)". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 13 July 2008.
  2. "Civil Parish population 2011". Neighbourhood Statistics. Office for National Statistics. Retrieved 29 December 2015.
  3. Radford Semele Baptist Church. "Home - RSBC". Radford Semele Baptist Church. Retrieved 1 January 2012.
  4. "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 15 May 2011. Retrieved 16 October 2007.
  5. "JSTOR: Search Results".
  6. "Firefighters tackle old pub blaze". BBC News Online. BBC. 3 February 2006. Retrieved 13 May 2016.
  7. "Medieval church damaged by fire". BBC News Online. BBC. 16 March 2008. Retrieved 18 March 2008.
  8. "Warwickshire blaze church will cost millions". icCoventry.co.uk. Coventry Telegraph. 18 March 2008. Retrieved 19 March 2008.
  9. "Fire church now cleared of debris". BBC News Online. BBC. 25 May 2008. Retrieved 11 November 2008.
  10. "Arson-hit St Nicholas' Church to reopen after restoration". BBC News Online. BBC. 12 May 2013. Retrieved 14 May 2013.
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