The History of Cubbington: A Warwickshire
Village Through Time
Before delving into the rich tapestry of Cubbington’s history, it is important to understand that
this Warwickshire village has defied the typical pattern of rural population decline. Unlike most
rural parishes, Cubbington has exhibited an almost continuous increase in population from 1801
Today, it is one of the few villages in Warwickshire outside industrial districts to
maintain over 1,000 inhabitants. Now a parish with nearly 4,000 residents, the village has
transformed from a medieval settlement to a thriving community while preserving essential
elements of its historical character. This comprehensive history explores Cubbington’s journey
from its earliest recorded mentions through to contemporary challenges, revealing how this
“Open village” with historically divided property ownership developed its distinctive identity
within the Warwickshire landscape.
Origins and Early History
Etymology and First Mentions
The placename ‘Cubbington’ is first attested in the Domesday Book of 1086, where it appears as
‘Cobintone’ and ‘Cubintone’
. Linguistically, the name means ‘the town or settlement of
Cubba’s people’
. This naming pattern was common throughout Anglo-Saxon England, with
personal names often forming the prefix of settlement names. Interestingly, there is a related
name that is the source of the village of Cublington in Buckinghamshire, suggesting possible
historical connections between these settlements
.
The Domesday survey of 1086 provides our first detailed record of Cubbington, showing a
settlement already divided among multiple landholders. The village was assessed at 10 hides (a
unit of land measurement), held in three distinct parts: 2 hides by Coventry Cathedral Priory, 3
by the Count of Meulan with Boscher as sub-tenant, and by Roger de Ivri. These divisions
reflected changes in ownership following the Norman Conquest, as the survey notes explicitly
that before 1066, parts of the land were held by Lewin, Chetelbern, and Turbern, presumably
Anglo-Saxon landholders were displaced after the Norman invasion.
Medieval Cubbington: Manorial History
The complex pattern of landholding established in the Domesday Book continued throughout the
medieval period, with various portions of Cubbington passing through different hands. The
Coventry Cathedral portion was formally confirmed to the priory by Pope Honorius III in 1222,
strengthening the Church’s claim to this land. Meanwhile, the overlordship of part of Cubbington
came into the hands of the Hastings family, who would later become Earls of Pembroke.
By the mid-14th century, we find the first mention of a windmill in Cubbington. Documentary
Evidence suggests it was already built by 1355, when it became the subject of a dispute
between the Prior of Kenilworth and the Abbot of Stoneleigh. This indicates that by this
time, the village had sufficient agricultural activity to warrant a mill, which would have been an
important focal point for the community.
The medieval manor structure in Cubbington was not straightforward. The overlordship of the
portion held by Roger de Ivri eventually passed to the Hastings family, later Earls of
Pembroke. By 1332, there are records of a manor, and in the 16th century, part of Cubbington
was held by the Balsall preceptory of the Hospitallers. Following the dissolution of religious
houses under Henry VIII, this manor passed to the Blissett family of Warwick, who in 1730 held
courts leet and baron in that part of Cubbington then known as St. John’s Holt.
Foundation and Early Development
The religious history of Cubbington is closely tied to the powerful Augustinian priory at
Kenilworth. Cubbington was originally a chapelry (a dependent place of worship) of Leek
Geoffrey de Clinton granted Wootton to Kenilworth Priory at the priory’s foundation
in 1122. By 1331, it had become a separate parish and was fully granted to the monastery,
with a vicarage with house, mortuaries, altarage, and small tithes being granted in 1345.
The Augustinian Canons at Kenilworth probably started building the present St. Mary’s Church in the early 12th century. When completed, it consisted of the nave, chancel, South
aisle, and Western tower. Kenilworth sandstone would have been used, and masons from the
monastery would have been employed in its construction. The church evolved, with the North aisle
added in the 13th century and the South doorway. The windows date from the 14th
century, during which time the chancel may have been rebuilt and lengthened. In the 15th
century, the South wall of the Nave was raised to admit light through a series of clerestory windows
Post-Reformation Changes
After the Dissolution of the Monasteries under Henry VIII, the right of advowson (the right to
appoint a priest) For Cubbington was held by the Crown, but in 1550 it was granted to Sir Ralph
Sadleir.
The advowson changed hands several times over the centuries, being bought by
Thomas Shuckburgh in 1555, then held by the Greswold family until the early 1700s, before
passing to Edward, Lord Leigh in 1768. It remained with the Leigh family until the 1830s, after
which it passed to the Bishop of Coventry.
The church structure itself underwent significant alterations in the late 19th century. In 1885, new
pews replaced the old high-backed ones, and plaster was removed from the internal walls to
reveal the stonework.
These and other renovations cost £836.4.0d, with subscriptions totalling
£838.1.0d raised to cover the expense. After the alterations, the church was reopened on
Thursday, 17th September 1885. Further improvements continued, with the vestry and organ
added in 1896, and electric lighting installed in 1933 to replace gas.
